WotC WotC's Chris Perkins On D&D's Inclusivity Processes Going Forward

Over on D&D Beyond, WotC's Chris Perkins has written a blog entry about how the company's processes have been changed to improve the way the D&D studio deals with harmful content and inclusivity. This follows recent issues with racist content in Spelljammer: Adventures in Space, and involves working with external cultural consultants.

The studio’s new process mandates that every word, illustration, and map must be reviewed by multiple outside cultural consultants prior to publication.

Leveling Up Our Creative Process: Learnings From Spelljammer

In this blog post, I'll talk about how we in the D&D Studio are changing our review process following the problematic content that appeared in Spell...

www.dndbeyond.com

 

[glass]

The mind of the people can change. For example the sitcom "Friends" was very..... "modern" for its age, but today it wouldn't be wellcome by the current generation.

I do not disagree with the general point that mainstream tastes change over time, but that is not a great example. The sitcom Friends is stupendously popular with the current generation, to the point that there was big bidding war between the streaming services to secure it a couple of years back (HBO Max would with a total bid of $425m over five years).

 

[AnotherGuy]

No offense, but you mean the Thor that decides to make one of the protagonists of the movie, basically the comic relief, because he is dimwitted. I have a hard time accepting of people being so acutely aware of racist tropes, yet completely oblivious to low IQ tropes.

Did you have a problem with Joey in Friends? Did you have a problem with Chris Hemsworth's character in Ghostbusters? Did you have a problem with Kelly in Married with Children? Did you have a problem with Norm in Cheers? Did you have a problem with Penny in Big Bang Theory?...etc

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I read something about the sitcom Friends is not right for the current standards. Today more no-Caucasian people should be added, although I guess we should forgive it.

'Friends' criticized for all-white cast, Lisa Kudrow argues: 'Look at it as a time capsule'

The actress, who famously played Phoebe on the sitcom, came to the defense of 'Friends' when asked how it would be different if it were recreated today.

scoop.upworthy.com

Other point is being right is not enough. You can't say it always in an aggresive way. Some times the things have to be said subtly, softly or diplomatically. If you try other to feel guilty or ashamed because this has got a different point of view, then you aren't doing it in the right way. Don't force others to agree you, never. The art of can convince is not like this. You have to earn their trust and then these will be willing to keep listening you.

And we can't forget the main goal is the work to be loved by the fandom or audience. If this gets bored and doesn't enjoy, then all the effort has been useless. Showing a new characters is not enough. The authors have to worry about to add the right traits to be popular, how to create an empathy link, and not to be a boring Mary Sue.

 

[Hussar]

Did you have a problem with Joey in Friends? Did you have a problem with Chris Hemsworth's character in Ghostbusters? Did you have a problem with Kelly in Married with Children? Did you have a problem with Norm in Cheers? Did you have a problem with Penny in Big Bang Theory?...etc

Homer Simpson... Fry from Futurama... Jar Jar... Well, ok, maybe sometimes it's a bad idea.

 

[wellis]

Frankly instead of criticizing past stuff all the time, focus on newer stuff being more appropriate in showing more diversity or whatever.

I kind of feel like a lot of time is wasted on criticism of past stuff instead of focusing on putting out a higher quality product that isn't just an inferior rehash of an older product.

Like so many reboot attempts.

Honestly the obsession with reboots instead of creating aomething new has limited creativity so much in modern media.

 

[Alzrius]

The mind of the people can change. For example the sitcom "Friends" was very..... "modern" for its age, but today it wouldn't be wellcome by the current generation.

I recently finished reading They Came to Slay: The Queer Culture of D&D (which was published about six months ago), and was surprised when the author lambasted the D&D Fifth Edition PHB for its line about how PCs don't need to be binary, and which cited Corellon Larethian as an example of that. While the line was celebrated at the time, apparently the specific wording used doesn't pass today's muster.

 

[Alzrius]

I'm willing to guess

Don't. Seriously, just don't. Assuming something about people's personality/character based on the fiction that they consume, or even create, is a recipe for misjudging them.

People who play FPS games are not idolizing mass shootings. People who enjoy watching Dexter do not fantasize about torturing people to death. People who play fantasy elf games where they wipe out orcs and take their stuff are not budding white supremacists.

Trying to read anything into people based on their media consumption is a failure of a guessing game. It's far better to actually talk to someone who consumes media that you don't care for, rather than trying to suss out their motives.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Wouldn't claiming someone who sleeps around a lot as a good LGBT representation be kind of iffy to those LGBT members who stay in monogamous relationships and such?

Kind of unfortunate she couldn't have been just praised as a character (who has as some of her characteristics being bisexual and being a swinger) versus attaching her swinging ways to her bisexuality somehow.

the thing is the show was full of gay and bi characters and her and john slept around a lot, but so did that universe's version of green arrow (most versions). She was far from the only LGBT character, so she was good for being able to be who she is... but 2 of her partners where VERY monogamous (to the point people didn't like that she got one drunk and slept with her during a bad break up)

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Did you have a problem with Joey in Friends? Did you have a problem with Chris Hemsworth's character in Ghostbusters? Did you have a problem with Kelly in Married with Children? Did you have a problem with Norm in Cheers? Did you have a problem with Penny in Big Bang Theory?...etc

Norma and Penny were not dumb... in fact MOST jokes at Penny's expense were cheap shots.

I loved Joey on friends becuse even though he wasn't the smartest and often got cheap jokes made, like penny on BBT he also was a functional adult (as close as anyone on friends was at least).

Thor got dumber and more the but of the jokes with each movie.

 

[Umbran]

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This discussion no longer has relation to WotC's inclusivity process.

Thread closed.