Greetings from Switzerland to all fellow fans of D&D,
I write this post, because a recent development has caused frustration for the consumers of the localized products. Last year WotC sold the licence to produce localized products to Galeforce 9 (D&D Spell Cards) and those contracted various local companies with the translations (french, german, italian, japanese, portuguese & spanish so far i think). The german version (the one I use) did so well that the first edition of the Player's Handbook sold out in less than half a year and has to be reprinted.
Last month it was revealed to the french and german communities, that a new policy from Wizards of the Coast was forwarded via Galeforce 9 to them and has to be implemented in future releases and reprints: All proper names in must remain english.
That decision displeased many players for various reasons (source: german and french community boards). Not only had proper names been localized in most previous editions of D&D and players grew used to them in the last 20+ years, but also it means that there will be deviations in the core books due to the fact that those where released before the policy was in place. The biggest issue is the damage the immersion in the game suffers.
Some sole anglophone D&D Beyond users might think now: "What's the fuzz all about? There's nothing wrong with the english names..." Yes, I agree that there is nothing wrong with the english names, in a sole english game. In a game in another language however the immersion suffers.
Let me demonstrate this with the following sentence in english: The "Harpers" marched on the "Triboar Trail" south from "Neverwinter Woods" in direction "Cragmaw Castle"...
Now let's replace every word that would be not localized with a german word: The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieberpfad" south from "Niewinterwaldes" in direction "Felsklippenfeste"...
Sounds weird, right? Well except english and german will be inverted, that's what we'll get now. If the players want english, they just buy the english books. Most of us purchased both anyways and a half half thing is the worst case.
Ulisses Spiele GmbH (german translators) confronted GF9 on the SPIEL '17 with the unsatisfaction of the players directly, but GF9 is also just following the policy WotC set.
The compliants continue, but the reactions are those of a lost cause and the frustration increases and as there is a general feel of not being heard and understand.
At least an explanation, why that choice was made would be appreciated.
I strongly suspect though that the answer will be a matter of trademark & copyright law, so what you're seeking to change isn't an internal policy by Wizards of the Coast, rather you're looking to change international copyright law, which doesn't sound like an easy task.
Let me demonstrate this with the following sentence in english: The "Harpers" marched on the "Triboar Trail" south from "Neverwinter Woods" in direction "Cragmaw Castle"...
Now let's replace every word that would be not localized with a german word: The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieberpfad" south from "Niewinterwaldes" in direction "Felsklippenfeste"...
If you only replace the more-or-less-unique names (Harpers, Triboar, Neverwinter, and so on) and keep generic things like Trail and Castle, you get this. The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieber Trail" south from "Niewinter Woods" in direction "Felsklippen Castle"...
Let me demonstrate this with the following sentence in english: The "Harpers" marched on the "Triboar Trail" south from "Neverwinter Woods" in direction "Cragmaw Castle"...
Now let's replace every word that would be not localized with a german word: The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieberpfad" south from "Niewinterwaldes" in direction "Felsklippenfeste"...
If you only replace the more-or-less-unique names (Harpers, Triboar, Neverwinter, and so on) and keep generic things like Trail and Castle, you get this. The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieber Trail" south from "Niewinter Woods" in direction "Felsklippen Castle"...
I think this one looks rather nice.
I would do it the opposite way... Die Harper marschierte südlich auf dem Triboar Pfad von Neverwinter Waldem nach Cragmaw Schloß. Keeping proper nouns in their original language is still a thing in German and English with the few exceptions that are old enough to have their own name in both languages (Köln/Cologne, Braunschweig/Brunswick, etc).
I do prefer when campaign settings are localized because if a name is in English and that language doesn't exist on that particular planet, then I believe it is meant to be in"common" in that setting and that's why I think it would be worthwhile to localise terms.
I know many Italians disagree because leaving names in English makes them more "fantasy-like" (most people say) but in my opinion this does a disservice. If a name is in common, it means everyone can understand it, but if it remains "exotic" or "fantastic", then something is added which is not there (and English, notwithstanding its spread, is not "common" and besides probably doesn't actually exist in that setting).
I guess this decision has more to do with the globalization of the game than anything else. I'm curious to see what WotC has done with the new/revised translations bound to be published at the beginning of October 2021 (and if those translations will end up here).
For my two cents, the merits of translating names are totally dependent on the setting. For a generic fantasy setting with names like “Deepshadow Wood,” it’s better to translate the names to preserve their original meaning. That goes for much of the Forgotten Realms.
But if it’s a campaign based on a specific legend or culture, it’s better not to translate. As an English speaker, for example, “Quetzalcoatl” communicates a lot about the setting and tone that “Gemfeather Snake” or another translation can’t. That goes for English culture too: if you’re referencing King Arthur or Alice in Wonderland, it’s best not to translate.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Greetings from Switzerland to all fellow fans of D&D,
I write this post, because a recent development has caused frustration for the consumers of the localized products.
Last year WotC sold the licence to produce localized products to Galeforce 9 (D&D Spell Cards) and those contracted various local companies with the translations (french, german, italian, japanese, portuguese & spanish so far i think). The german version (the one I use) did so well that the first edition of the Player's Handbook sold out in less than half a year and has to be reprinted.
Last month it was revealed to the french and german communities, that a new policy from Wizards of the Coast was forwarded via Galeforce 9 to them and has to be implemented in future releases and reprints: All proper names in must remain english.
That decision displeased many players for various reasons (source: german and french community boards).
Not only had proper names been localized in most previous editions of D&D and players grew used to them in the last 20+ years, but also it means that there will be deviations in the core books due to the fact that those where released before the policy was in place. The biggest issue is the damage the immersion in the game suffers.
Some sole anglophone D&D Beyond users might think now: "What's the fuzz all about? There's nothing wrong with the english names..." Yes, I agree that there is nothing wrong with the english names, in a sole english game. In a game in another language however the immersion suffers.
Let me demonstrate this with the following sentence in english:
The "Harpers" marched on the "Triboar Trail" south from "Neverwinter Woods" in direction "Cragmaw Castle"...
Now let's replace every word that would be not localized with a german word:
The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieberpfad" south from "Niewinterwaldes" in direction "Felsklippenfeste"...
Sounds weird, right? Well except english and german will be inverted, that's what we'll get now.
If the players want english, they just buy the english books. Most of us purchased both anyways and a half half thing is the worst case.
Ulisses Spiele GmbH (german translators) confronted GF9 on the SPIEL '17 with the unsatisfaction of the players directly, but GF9 is also just following the policy WotC set.
The compliants continue, but the reactions are those of a lost cause and the frustration increases and as there is a general feel of not being heard and understand.
At least an explanation, why that choice was made would be appreciated.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
D&D Beyond FoundersHi there,
I can certainly see how that might be a change that people wouldn't like.
You need to direct your question to Wizards of the Coast however, rather than D&D Beyond (which is not owned by WotC). Their website is here:
http://dnd.wizards.com
I strongly suspect though that the answer will be a matter of trademark & copyright law, so what you're seeking to change isn't an internal policy by Wizards of the Coast, rather you're looking to change international copyright law, which doesn't sound like an easy task.
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
Unfortunately it's not like WotC has a forum on their site, where you can write an open letter.
If it's a copyright thing, then there is the question why it wasn't an issue in the last dekades.
-
View User Profile
-
View Posts
-
Send Message
D&D Beyond FoundersIt may well have been a problem for them, hence a change. I don't work for Wizards though, so I'm guessing.
From experience where I have worked though, trademark is the only reason I can think of to enforce a change like this.
Pun-loving nerd | Faith Elisabeth Lilley | She/Her/Hers | Profile art by Becca Golins
If you need help with homebrew, please post on the homebrew forums, where multiple staff and moderators can read your post and help you!
"We got this, no problem! I'll take the twenty on the left - you guys handle the one on the right!"🔊
The "Harfner" marched on the "Dreieber Trail" south from "Niewinter Woods" in direction "Felsklippen Castle"...
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" -- allegedly Benjamin Franklin
Tooltips (Help/aid)
Yeah, I see your point.
I do prefer when campaign settings are localized because if a name is in English and that language doesn't exist on that particular planet, then I believe it is meant to be in"common" in that setting and that's why I think it would be worthwhile to localise terms.
I know many Italians disagree because leaving names in English makes them more "fantasy-like" (most people say) but in my opinion this does a disservice. If a name is in common, it means everyone can understand it, but if it remains "exotic" or "fantastic", then something is added which is not there (and English, notwithstanding its spread, is not "common" and besides probably doesn't actually exist in that setting).
I guess this decision has more to do with the globalization of the game than anything else. I'm curious to see what WotC has done with the new/revised translations bound to be published at the beginning of October 2021 (and if those translations will end up here).
For my two cents, the merits of translating names are totally dependent on the setting. For a generic fantasy setting with names like “Deepshadow Wood,” it’s better to translate the names to preserve their original meaning. That goes for much of the Forgotten Realms.
But if it’s a campaign based on a specific legend or culture, it’s better not to translate. As an English speaker, for example, “Quetzalcoatl” communicates a lot about the setting and tone that “Gemfeather Snake” or another translation can’t. That goes for English culture too: if you’re referencing King Arthur or Alice in Wonderland, it’s best not to translate.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club