It's a problem that Orcs are described in the Monster Manual in the same way that racists have described black people and indigenous people for centuries.
Unless you can definitively demonstrate how Orcs were originally interpreted by their initial creative source to be a racist stereotype, there's no leg to stand on here.
Well let's see... Tolkien described Orcs as "the (to Europeans) least lovely Mongol types" and many of them as using Middle Eastern style weaponry and are described as universally evil.
With respect to Humans, the dark skinned 'Easterlings' and even darker skinned 'Southrons' are described as being corrupted by Morgoth and universally evil. The skin colour of the tribal Woses is not mentioned, but they are hunted by the Rohirrim as animals, with no questions asked. Even evil regular humans such as Bill Ferney are described as having Dunderling blood as an explanation for his evil-ness.
And before you say 'But there was an evil god involved,' one of the most common accusations in the world is 'They do not follow our god so they must be evil.' This line is often spouted even by Atheists on the theory that because 'their' philosophy is different, 'they' must all be hostile.
can i get a source, and page of where he actually wrote this, i'd like to see it firsthand.
Had to also look that one up. Seems to be from this source:
I'm not sure if he meant to be racist, after all they were different times, what i am going to say is, he definitely should not have said those things, but im not gonna stop liking his work over some comments i don't agree with.
This is what institutionalized racism is and what I meant be quoting Shakespeare when he (via Marc Antony) said 'They are all honorable men.' It is not enough to merely not intend to be racist. Racism, like most actual evil in the world, is not a 'because Evil' thing. Racists typically believe what they believe as simple fact, unquestioningly. It starts with the philosophy that 'we' are good, honorable people and therefore the way we do things is good and honorable. When someone does something differently, they are therefore not doing things our 'good and honorable' way, not doing things our 'sacred' way. They are invading 'our land' (even when 'they' were actually there first). They are 'savages,' who are at best misguided and must be taught our 'civilized' ways.
That they were different times is a valid point when looking at history, but we are no longer in different times. We are in our time, knowing what we know now. That defence no longer holds for newly written material.
No but obviously the intent is the biggest part here, Good people can say and do bad things and still be good people. If they didn't intend to offend, or harm anybody you can't really blame him.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
No but obviously the intent is the biggest part here, Good people can say and do bad things and still be good people. If they didn't intend to offend, or harm anybody you can't really blame him.
What exactly does 'blame' mean in this context? "You should stop doing X because Y" is not blaming people for doing X, it's just saying they should stop.
obvoiusly you should tell them to stop, but you shouldn't hate/ make a big scene over them.
I think I agree with what you are saying. The person could still be saying things that are racist, and and ignorance isn't an excuse, but people can learn and change.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
It's a problem that Orcs are described in the Monster Manual in the same way that racists have described black people and indigenous people for centuries.
Unless you can definitively demonstrate how Orcs were originally interpreted by their initial creative source to be a racist stereotype, there's no leg to stand on here.
You apparently didn't read my post. It said "Orcs are described in the Monster Manual in the same way that racists have described black people and indigenous people for centuries".
I have no evidence that Orcs are meant to represent black people, but even if they are not meant to do so, the language describing them is similar to what the *** and other white supremacists have labeled people of other races for centuries.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
In the end, You need villains, Dragons, Goblins, Orcs, Evil Wizards, etc.because they make good villains, because thats what they were designed for, to be villains, It wouldn't feel right for them being the good guys cuz they just aren't. If it was an evil player's adventure, then the veiws of morality would be heavily twisted and the orcs may or may not come out as the good guys, but based on their morals (not just because theyre orcs) i cannot see them as good guys.
But, here's the thing. You do need villains in D&D, but you don't need whole races to be villains. Eberron proves this. Exandria proves this. In Eberron, dragons of all types can be good, neutral, or evil. They're not relegated to any alignments in any way. Orcs are like people in Eberron, and kind of in Exandria. Goblins are the same in Exandria and Eberron as orcs in those settings.
Evil wizards are villains, because they're evil. Their name literally deems them as a villain, or at least an antagonist. You don't need whole races as evil creatures, with a few exceptions. I am of the opinion that most fiends should be evil, and most aberrations that are evil should be evil (Flumphs are the exception to the exception, but I would like evil flumphs). Angels can fall, devils can be good, and modrons can break free of their lawful nature.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
If they're not trying to hurt anybody/be racist, then it's not a big deal, just tell them, "That's not cool" versus getting angry and stuff over it.
Ignorance is white privilege. I'm white, and I know. The fact that they can be racist/racially offensive without meaning to is a sign that they need sensitivity readers and when they're basing a fantasy race/culture off of a real life race/culture, they need to be very careful and check first.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
If they're not trying to hurt anybody/be racist, then it's not a big deal, just tell them, "That's not cool" versus getting angry and stuff over it.
Ignorance is white privilege. I'm white, and I know. The fact that they can be racist/racially offensive without meaning to is a sign that they need sensitivity readers and when they're basing a fantasy race/culture off of a real life race/culture, they need to be very careful and check first.
K, but you wrong tho, Anyone can be ignorant/ racist, whether they're white, half-white (like me), black, latino, asian, arab etc. anybody can be a racist and ignorant.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
If they're not trying to hurt anybody/be racist, then it's not a big deal, just tell them, "That's not cool" versus getting angry and stuff over it.
Ignorance is white privilege. I'm white, and I know. The fact that they can be racist/racially offensive without meaning to is a sign that they need sensitivity readers and when they're basing a fantasy race/culture off of a real life race/culture, they need to be very careful and check first.
K, but you wrong tho, Anyone can be ignorant/ racist, whether they're white, half-white (like me), black, latino, asian, arab etc. anybody can be a racist and ignorant.
I was mainly referring to J. R. R. Tolkein being white, so even if he was not trying to be racist, that's due to him not understanding what may or may not be offensive to other people. I'm white too, so I don't naturally know that either. Look up what sensitivity readers are, and hopefully then you'll see why they need them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
If they're not trying to hurt anybody/be racist, then it's not a big deal, just tell them, "That's not cool" versus getting angry and stuff over it.
Ignorance is white privilege. I'm white, and I know. The fact that they can be racist/racially offensive without meaning to is a sign that they need sensitivity readers and when they're basing a fantasy race/culture off of a real life race/culture, they need to be very careful and check first.
K, but you wrong tho, Anyone can be ignorant/ racist, whether they're white, half-white (like me), black, latino, asian, arab etc. anybody can be a racist and ignorant.
I was mainly referring to J. R. R. Tolkein being white, so even if he was not trying to be racist, that's due to him not understanding what may or may not be offensive to other people. I'm white too, so I don't naturally know that either. Look up what sensitivity readers are, and hopefully then you'll see why they need them.
Yeah, but nobody really knows what may or may not be offensive to others, it's more than just race, it's religion, culture, etc. and if we spend all of our time focusing on not being offensive, then you lose all the things that we enjoy. Am i offended by people's ignorance from time to time, absolutely, and are they offended by mine, im sure they are... ignorance is a human thing, everybody is, white or otherwise, so just try to grow, but don't live in fear of being offensive.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
Yeah, but nobody really knows what may or may not be offensive to others, it's more than just race, it's religion, culture, etc. and if we spend all of our time focusing on not being offensive, then you lose all the things that we enjoy. Am i offended by people's ignorance from time to time, absolutely, and are they offended by mine, im sure they are... ignorance is a human thing, everybody is, white or otherwise, so just try to grow, but don't live in fear of being offensive.
And that's where you're incorrect. Sure, you can't know what may or may not be offensive to individuals, but there are literally people whose jobs are to find offensive/possibly offensive content in things companies publish. WotC is hiring one of them right now.
It's not up to the game designers to worry about what may or may not be offensive to individual people, but they can do (and seem to be willing to do) all that they can to make sure they don't end up offending anyone in their books.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
When I started playing AD&D nearly 40 years ago, I never once thought that any particular race or culture represented anything in real life. I still don’t. During the “satanic panic” I remember my parents questioning me about all those devils and demons, witchcraft and spells, and worshiping other gods and I always thought it was odd since it was all make believe and had nothing to do with the real world. Later I even remember people who would refuse to read any Harry Potter books because they were about witchcraft. Again, I thought it was a pretty silly approach because it is fantasy fiction and not real.
I’m not trying to put down anyone’s perspective on this issue or offend anyone. Personally, I like my orcs and drow as evil. I enjoyed Salvatore’s Dark Elf trilogy and reading about the evil matriarchy in Menzoberranzan, and of one particular Drow who overcame that culture and took a different path. I also, like how you can change any of these things to suit your particular campaign. NPC’s and PC’s don’t have to follow a particular “races” general behavior, nor do I think all orcs or drow, or whoever, has to be that way either. One of the things I liked about Dark Sun was the 7 foot tall elves who were less then reputable and cannibalistic Halflings. Did I think it was representative of something in real life? No I didn’t.
If you look hard enough I’m sure you can try and find a corollary between any creature, race, culture, country in D&D to something in real life. Is it the game doing it or is it a person looking at it through a particular lens to see it the way they want. I’m sure it’s probably a bit of both, though I doubt intentioned. And I think intention is an important part of the equation.
Human history is fraught with evil acts. There is not one culture or people on this planet that hasn’t done something evil at one point. Does that mean they are all evil? No it doesn’t. Does it mean that culture overall is evil? Maybe, but I doubt it. All people are capable of committing evil.
In the end, it’s a game and you can change it however you like. WotC can change it however they like. And I’m fine with that.
When I started playing AD&D nearly 40 years ago, I never once thought that any particular race or culture represented anything in real life. I still don’t. During the “satanic panic” I remember my parents questioning me about all those devils and demons, witchcraft and spells, and worshiping other gods and I always thought it was odd since it was all make believe and had nothing to do with the real world. Later I even remember people who would refuse to read any Harry Potter books because they were about witchcraft. Again, I thought it was a pretty silly approach because it is fantasy fiction and not real.
I’m not trying to put down anyone’s perspective on this issue or offend anyone. Personally, I like my orcs and drow as evil. I enjoyed Salvatore’s Dark Elf trilogy and reading about the evil matriarchy in Menzoberranzan, and of one particular Drow who overcame that culture and took a different path. I also, like how you can change any of these things to suit your particular campaign. NPC’s and PC’s don’t have to follow a particular “races” general behavior, nor do I think all orcs or drow, or whoever, has to be that way either. One of the things I liked about Dark Sun was the 7 foot tall elves who were less then reputable and cannibalistic Halflings. Did I think it was representative of something in real life? No I didn’t.
If you look hard enough I’m sure you can try and find a corollary between any creature, race, culture, country in D&D to something in real life. Is it the game doing it or is it a person looking at it through a particular lens to see it the way they want. I’m sure it’s probably a bit of both, though I doubt intentioned. And I think intention is an important part of the equation.
Human history is fraught with evil acts. There is not one culture or people on this planet that hasn’t done something evil at one point. Does that mean they are all evil? No it doesn’t. Does it mean that culture overall is evil? Maybe, but I doubt it. All people are capable of committing evil.
In the end, it’s a game and you can change it however you like. WotC can change it however they like. And I’m fine with that.
Thanks for having your open minded view of this, while still disagreeing with our side. I also understand your side of the argument, and that it doesn't effect you. I want the game to be able to stay the same for you, while still being more open for those that want it to be more open.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
If you look hard enough I’m sure you can try and find a corollary between any creature, race, culture, country in D&D to something in real life. Is it the game doing it or is it a person looking at it through a particular lens to see it the way they want. I’m sure it’s probably a bit of both, though I doubt intentioned. And I think intention is an important part of the equation.
While some comparisons aren't super obvious, the Vistani are obviously based on negative stereotypes of the Romani people.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
I agree with you 100%. People should try to be generally respectful, and they should strive to learn more about other cultures, not because they are "better, or less ignorant" but because people tend to hate things they don't know or understand. If you know actual people from a group you will have respect for them, but if you don't you will generally believe in stereotypes. Try now t to be ignorant, try to be respectful, and most of all be excellent to eachother.
In the end though I like DND as it is, I don't think it should change. If it does I'll still play (depending on how much I'll play either 5e or the new one). In the end it doesn't really matter what I think, it's a game and real life takes precedence so imma enjoy it as it is whether orcs are generally evil or there's a more subtle nuance. Thanks for being nice and respectful and keeping politics out of it, I think we have had a nice conversation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
The argument always ends up coming down to one of these points from different participants:
It's a game, suck it up/don't change the rules because of a minority.
It's based off of real life, and real people are offended by it.
I have issues with evil (or good) races entirely separately from concerns about racism: I like my NPCs to have coherent motivations, and that means I have to understand why they're the way they are. You can come up with coherent models for why certain races would be predisposed to being malignant (though you can't have coherent chaotic evil societies, they self-destruct) but no-one ever bothered for D&D races; they're just funny looking people who are evil for... reasons.
To give an example of something a bit more nuanced, let's look at variant Kobolds. In this model, they're a r-strategy race, producing clutches of eggs where out of a half dozen in a clutch maybe one will survive to breed, and they don't recognize humans as enough like them to even qualify as people. They don't value their own people, so they hardly have reason to value other people. Sure, in principle you can raise one like a human, and other than problems with empathy (can't easily read human expressions, and vice versa) they wouldn't be inherently worse than a human, but there's a reason their default society is the way it is, and even other kobolds agree that keeping their population culled is important. Which they normally accomplish by sending the surplus out to raid and either return wealthy or not return. The normal kobolds you run into are adolescents sent out for culling.
That's not super sophisticated logic, and an evolutionary biologist could poke all sorts of holes in it, but at least it passes my test of a veneer of plausibility.
Human history is fraught with evil acts. There is not one culture or people on this planet that hasn’t done something evil at one point. Does that mean they are all evil? No it doesn’t. Does it mean that culture overall is evil? Maybe, but I doubt it. All people are capable of committing evil.
In the end, it’s a game and you can change it however you like. WotC can change it however they like. And I’m fine with that.
But that is what I was talking about a couple posts ago. Any given culture can do evil things. It can even go through a period where it actually can be described as evil. However not everyone living in that region will follow said culture equally. Nor is any culture static, 'defined' and unchanging.
The problem is not having such cultures in game, but rather treating races as static and unchanging, as rigidly defined, as uniform and 'typed.'
True but how often does a game developer have to update said culture to show its varying growth and changes. It can’t really. How many hard copies of the monster manual are we expected to buy as they show the development of a race. That’s where the lore comes in. It can vary in the lore or stay relatively unchanged over time but the stat block is just the current “stage” they are in. And maybe they have been in that stage for millennia or it could be recent change.
like warforged. We know what they were designed for in lore and they may follow a certain stat block that is static but PC’s and NPC warforged can be different. I’m not current on Ebberon so I may be way off with this example. And I’m not a big lore guy, I don’t have all the books.
I just want people to have fun and as long as it doesn’t change to “Hey! The village is being invaded by Orcs with lollipops and hugs! Let’s get them!!! The hugs and lollipops, I mean. CHARGE!!!!” I’m fine. :)
No but obviously the intent is the biggest part here, Good people can say and do bad things and still be good people. If they didn't intend to offend, or harm anybody you can't really blame him.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
What exactly does 'blame' mean in this context? "You should stop doing X because Y" is not blaming people for doing X, it's just saying they should stop.
If they're not trying to hurt anybody/be racist, then it's not a big deal, just tell them, "That's not cool" versus getting angry and stuff over it.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
obvoiusly you should tell them to stop, but you shouldn't hate/ make a big scene over them.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
I think I agree with what you are saying. The person could still be saying things that are racist, and and ignorance isn't an excuse, but people can learn and change.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
You apparently didn't read my post. It said "Orcs are described in the Monster Manual in the same way that racists have described black people and indigenous people for centuries".
I have no evidence that Orcs are meant to represent black people, but even if they are not meant to do so, the language describing them is similar to what the *** and other white supremacists have labeled people of other races for centuries.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
But, here's the thing. You do need villains in D&D, but you don't need whole races to be villains. Eberron proves this. Exandria proves this. In Eberron, dragons of all types can be good, neutral, or evil. They're not relegated to any alignments in any way. Orcs are like people in Eberron, and kind of in Exandria. Goblins are the same in Exandria and Eberron as orcs in those settings.
Evil wizards are villains, because they're evil. Their name literally deems them as a villain, or at least an antagonist. You don't need whole races as evil creatures, with a few exceptions. I am of the opinion that most fiends should be evil, and most aberrations that are evil should be evil (Flumphs are the exception to the exception, but I would like evil flumphs). Angels can fall, devils can be good, and modrons can break free of their lawful nature.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Ignorance is white privilege. I'm white, and I know. The fact that they can be racist/racially offensive without meaning to is a sign that they need sensitivity readers and when they're basing a fantasy race/culture off of a real life race/culture, they need to be very careful and check first.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
K, but you wrong tho, Anyone can be ignorant/ racist, whether they're white, half-white (like me), black, latino, asian, arab etc. anybody can be a racist and ignorant.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
I was mainly referring to J. R. R. Tolkein being white, so even if he was not trying to be racist, that's due to him not understanding what may or may not be offensive to other people. I'm white too, so I don't naturally know that either. Look up what sensitivity readers are, and hopefully then you'll see why they need them.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Yeah, but nobody really knows what may or may not be offensive to others, it's more than just race, it's religion, culture, etc. and if we spend all of our time focusing on not being offensive, then you lose all the things that we enjoy. Am i offended by people's ignorance from time to time, absolutely, and are they offended by mine, im sure they are... ignorance is a human thing, everybody is, white or otherwise, so just try to grow, but don't live in fear of being offensive.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
And that's where you're incorrect. Sure, you can't know what may or may not be offensive to individuals, but there are literally people whose jobs are to find offensive/possibly offensive content in things companies publish. WotC is hiring one of them right now.
It's not up to the game designers to worry about what may or may not be offensive to individual people, but they can do (and seem to be willing to do) all that they can to make sure they don't end up offending anyone in their books.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
When I started playing AD&D nearly 40 years ago, I never once thought that any particular race or culture represented anything in real life. I still don’t. During the “satanic panic” I remember my parents questioning me about all those devils and demons, witchcraft and spells, and worshiping other gods and I always thought it was odd since it was all make believe and had nothing to do with the real world. Later I even remember people who would refuse to read any Harry Potter books because they were about witchcraft. Again, I thought it was a pretty silly approach because it is fantasy fiction and not real.
I’m not trying to put down anyone’s perspective on this issue or offend anyone. Personally, I like my orcs and drow as evil. I enjoyed Salvatore’s Dark Elf trilogy and reading about the evil matriarchy in Menzoberranzan, and of one particular Drow who overcame that culture and took a different path. I also, like how you can change any of these things to suit your particular campaign. NPC’s and PC’s don’t have to follow a particular “races” general behavior, nor do I think all orcs or drow, or whoever, has to be that way either. One of the things I liked about Dark Sun was the 7 foot tall elves who were less then reputable and cannibalistic Halflings. Did I think it was representative of something in real life? No I didn’t.
If you look hard enough I’m sure you can try and find a corollary between any creature, race, culture, country in D&D to something in real life. Is it the game doing it or is it a person looking at it through a particular lens to see it the way they want. I’m sure it’s probably a bit of both, though I doubt intentioned. And I think intention is an important part of the equation.
Human history is fraught with evil acts. There is not one culture or people on this planet that hasn’t done something evil at one point. Does that mean they are all evil? No it doesn’t. Does it mean that culture overall is evil? Maybe, but I doubt it. All people are capable of committing evil.
In the end, it’s a game and you can change it however you like. WotC can change it however they like. And I’m fine with that.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Thanks for having your open minded view of this, while still disagreeing with our side. I also understand your side of the argument, and that it doesn't effect you. I want the game to be able to stay the same for you, while still being more open for those that want it to be more open.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
While some comparisons aren't super obvious, the Vistani are obviously based on negative stereotypes of the Romani people.
A fool pulls the leaves. A brute chops the trunk. A sage digs the roots.
My Improved Lineage System
The argument always ends up coming down to one of these points from different participants:
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
I agree with you 100%. People should try to be generally respectful, and they should strive to learn more about other cultures, not because they are "better, or less ignorant" but because people tend to hate things they don't know or understand. If you know actual people from a group you will have respect for them, but if you don't you will generally believe in stereotypes. Try now t to be ignorant, try to be respectful, and most of all be excellent to eachother.
In the end though I like DND as it is, I don't think it should change. If it does I'll still play (depending on how much I'll play either 5e or the new one). In the end it doesn't really matter what I think, it's a game and real life takes precedence so imma enjoy it as it is whether orcs are generally evil or there's a more subtle nuance. Thanks for being nice and respectful and keeping politics out of it, I think we have had a nice conversation.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
I have issues with evil (or good) races entirely separately from concerns about racism: I like my NPCs to have coherent motivations, and that means I have to understand why they're the way they are. You can come up with coherent models for why certain races would be predisposed to being malignant (though you can't have coherent chaotic evil societies, they self-destruct) but no-one ever bothered for D&D races; they're just funny looking people who are evil for... reasons.
To give an example of something a bit more nuanced, let's look at variant Kobolds. In this model, they're a r-strategy race, producing clutches of eggs where out of a half dozen in a clutch maybe one will survive to breed, and they don't recognize humans as enough like them to even qualify as people. They don't value their own people, so they hardly have reason to value other people. Sure, in principle you can raise one like a human, and other than problems with empathy (can't easily read human expressions, and vice versa) they wouldn't be inherently worse than a human, but there's a reason their default society is the way it is, and even other kobolds agree that keeping their population culled is important. Which they normally accomplish by sending the surplus out to raid and either return wealthy or not return. The normal kobolds you run into are adolescents sent out for culling.
That's not super sophisticated logic, and an evolutionary biologist could poke all sorts of holes in it, but at least it passes my test of a veneer of plausibility.
Im more of a True Neutral, CN or Unalligned person myself NGL.
Cult of Sedge
Rangers are the best, and have always been the best
I love Homebrew
I hate paladins
Warrior Bovine
True but how often does a game developer have to update said culture to show its varying growth and changes. It can’t really. How many hard copies of the monster manual are we expected to buy as they show the development of a race. That’s where the lore comes in. It can vary in the lore or stay relatively unchanged over time but the stat block is just the current “stage” they are in. And maybe they have been in that stage for millennia or it could be recent change.
like warforged. We know what they were designed for in lore and they may follow a certain stat block that is static but PC’s and NPC warforged can be different. I’m not current on Ebberon so I may be way off with this example. And I’m not a big lore guy, I don’t have all the books.
I just want people to have fun and as long as it doesn’t change to “Hey! The village is being invaded by Orcs with lollipops and hugs! Let’s get them!!! The hugs and lollipops, I mean. CHARGE!!!!” I’m fine. :)
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?