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WotC's Jeremy Crawford Talks D&D Alignment Changes
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<blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 8035165" data-attributes="member: 7635"><p>I'm beginning to think this is a straw man, not a real point. Let m make it clear.</p><p></p><p>"Always evil" is a misnomer. It hasn't been true in 20+ years of not longer. Every book that has offered the option to play an orc has allowed the PC to pick any alignment they want. The DM has always had the ability to make unique NPCs that differed from evil as well. There is no rule that says "all orcs are always evil 100% of the time" so if everyone can stop that argument, we can move on.</p><p></p><p>The argument is around how often are they evil and how often they are not. </p><p></p><p>The debate as I see it is that since orcs are coded with certain racial stereotypes and are usually evil antagonists, the game implies that orcs are a stand-in for the racial group being stereotyped and thus the game is also saying that group is evil. The solution being discussed has two parts to it. </p><p></p><p>A.) Remove or severely limit the racial stereotypes or racist language used to describe orcs. (Good)</p><p>B.) Make orcs no longer primarily evil and antagonists. (Bad)</p><p></p><p>Why bad? Well again too reasons. First, the game already has a wide list of strong warrior races and the orc doesn't bring much to the table that dragonborn, goliaths, and the half-orc does. Second, orcs are defined by being "bad". Orcs and drow and other races like it are played to play against the type; you're a race normally seen as a monster who is trying to be a hero and defy their origin. People didn't play Drizzt clones because drow ranger was the most mechanically powerful combo in 2e or 3e, but because they wanted to be an antihero.</p><p></p><p>So if the game already allows non-evil PC humanoids to exist, why do we need to remove the alignment from the stat blocks?</p><p></p><p>Because some people don't want evil orcs at all. They want orcs to be like elves; another racial choice with no penalty for playing them. They want to come from non-evil homelands with non evil family. They want to walk into town without being harassed by the guards and order a drink in the tavern without everyone starring at them. Because to them, it brings up images of scared white people who lock thier car doors when a black man walks by. </p><p></p><p>So it's no longer that "all orcs are evil", but "orcs shouldn't be treated as if they are evil". And it starts with orcs and drow because they are popular and have some baggage that needs to be addressed. But it's going to end with both of those races (and I wager a fair amount of others when it's all said and done) being reduced to just another PC choice next in the PHB or some supplement having all the menace removed from them. They will be green-skinned humans with darkvision and powerful build.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Remathilis, post: 8035165, member: 7635"] I'm beginning to think this is a straw man, not a real point. Let m make it clear. "Always evil" is a misnomer. It hasn't been true in 20+ years of not longer. Every book that has offered the option to play an orc has allowed the PC to pick any alignment they want. The DM has always had the ability to make unique NPCs that differed from evil as well. There is no rule that says "all orcs are always evil 100% of the time" so if everyone can stop that argument, we can move on. The argument is around how often are they evil and how often they are not. The debate as I see it is that since orcs are coded with certain racial stereotypes and are usually evil antagonists, the game implies that orcs are a stand-in for the racial group being stereotyped and thus the game is also saying that group is evil. The solution being discussed has two parts to it. A.) Remove or severely limit the racial stereotypes or racist language used to describe orcs. (Good) B.) Make orcs no longer primarily evil and antagonists. (Bad) Why bad? Well again too reasons. First, the game already has a wide list of strong warrior races and the orc doesn't bring much to the table that dragonborn, goliaths, and the half-orc does. Second, orcs are defined by being "bad". Orcs and drow and other races like it are played to play against the type; you're a race normally seen as a monster who is trying to be a hero and defy their origin. People didn't play Drizzt clones because drow ranger was the most mechanically powerful combo in 2e or 3e, but because they wanted to be an antihero. So if the game already allows non-evil PC humanoids to exist, why do we need to remove the alignment from the stat blocks? Because some people don't want evil orcs at all. They want orcs to be like elves; another racial choice with no penalty for playing them. They want to come from non-evil homelands with non evil family. They want to walk into town without being harassed by the guards and order a drink in the tavern without everyone starring at them. Because to them, it brings up images of scared white people who lock thier car doors when a black man walks by. So it's no longer that "all orcs are evil", but "orcs shouldn't be treated as if they are evil". And it starts with orcs and drow because they are popular and have some baggage that needs to be addressed. But it's going to end with both of those races (and I wager a fair amount of others when it's all said and done) being reduced to just another PC choice next in the PHB or some supplement having all the menace removed from them. They will be green-skinned humans with darkvision and powerful build. [/QUOTE]
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