D&D 5E WOTC Possibly Removing "Druids" for Religious/Cultural Sensitivity Reasons

[Vaalingrade]

'Cultist'.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I don't have a problem with any but the bolded. Don't use the term "priest". It's a term used for a very narrow group of religious leaders (Orthodox and Catholics specifically). I think the goal is use terms more broad and not pulled from a specific religion.

Eh. Priest is way more generic than cleric. We would say ’a priest of Zeus’ or ”a priest of Ra’ etc.

 

[MGibster]

Eh. Priest is way more generic than cleric. We would say ’a priest of Zeus’ or ”a priest of Ra’ etc.

I think this illustrates a problem in that no matter what word you choose you're likely stepping on someone's toes.

 

[Willie the Duck]

Before we start proposing replacements, let's remember no one is actually objecting to the term and the article is clickbait.

Yes, we all recognize that the inspiration for this was absolute contrivetroversy. That said, the discussion topic of class names is fairly fun and honestly better than martial v. caster thread iteration #59,684,958,596 or such.

Personally, I would have been fine with Druids becoming Hermits (had that not become part of the background system) and Bards becoming Lorekeeper or (de-emphasizing the whole minstrel part of them, which honestly other than the recent music-magic interpretation, has always seemed like an aside to what they bring to the game). Clerics (adventuring ones), to, are more focused on their faith than performing priestly duties, and could easily instead be Devout, Divinely Favored/Favored Souls, or yes Cultists.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Yes, we all recognize that the inspiration for this was absolute contrivetroversy. That said, the discussion topic of class names is fairly fun and honestly better than martial v. caster thread iteration #59,684,958,596 or such.

Proposal:

We rename the Fighter as Martial. And we rename the Wizard as Caster.

Then we can combine our debates!

 

[Knorrrssk]

I have to admit that with Backgrounds being a thing in 5e, I never really saw the point in there being more than the four basic classes; Fighter, Wizard, Rogue, Cleric. Just expand the Backgrounds.

 

[TwoSix]

Proposal:

We rename the Fighter as Martial. And we rename the Wizard as Caster.

Then we can combine our debates!

Let's go full circle and rename the Fighter as "Warlord" with lots of damage-on-a-miss mechanics and Fortune in the Middle healing, and the Wizard is renamed "Druid" but still has a terrible Necromancer subclass.

 

[MGibster]

I'm curious, was there any particular reason they removed Magic User and Thief? I kind of get the negative connotation associated with Thief, but why get rid of Magic User?

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

why get rid of Magic User?

Same reason we don't have Fighting Man. It's a clumsy thing to say.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I'm curious, was there any particular reason they removed Magic User and Thief? I kind of get the negative connotation associated with Thief, but why get rid of Magic User?

It’s not very evocative.