I was really looking forward to Radiant Citadel. It definitely sounded like my jam, and I have been reading it since it came out. I'm glad I bought it, but I'm scared of running it.
I've DMed a few d&d settings, in homebrew and pre-made campaigns and the lore is usually just detailed enough to give me something to work with and silly enough to have fun with. Radiant citadel has 15 different settings. The fact that they are based on real cultures makes me want to be careful and avoid stereotypes or harmful tropes.
I know the normal answer is "Just don't worry about it! Improv as you go!" which is advice I would be the first to give someone running something in Barovia or Eberron... You won't offend any vampires or warforged if you stereotype them, after all... but less-so if I'm running a setting someone put their culture into.
Radiant citadel has general advice on how to "be thoughtful about how you roleplay and describe groups of people", but it kind of assumes the reader isn't an idiot, so it doesn't help me. Does anyone know any other sources I can look at to help with this kind of thing? I've avoided using real-world cultures or many NPCs of color (NOCs?) in the past, and it would be great if there was an "idiot's guide to not being offensive while portraying NPCs" out there.
As long as you are not trying to be mean-spirited, derogatory, or stereotypical in an abusive way, then you should be fine. Some of the adventures definitely lean into stereotypes a little, so its hard to avoid.
I'm more worried about being obviously ignorant than mean-spirited. For instance, I didn't even realize where the adventures lean into stereotypes, haha...
I've read reviews, but not the book. I think the writers want their adventures to get played. I'd avoid doing accents.
If you want an overbaked idea off the top of my head: read some novels written by authors from some of the portrayed cultures and pay attention to the language they use to describe their characters. If nothing else, you might read some cool books.
Keep in mind that people can sound VASTLY different despite looking very similar. So don't be afraid of inclusivity in your NPC portrayals. You can always just say what the person's accent is rather than attempt to mimic it yourself.
One of WotC's goals with adventures is that they want to increase diversity in the NPCs and adventures not decrease it.
As long as you are not streaming it you will be fine. If you have players from those cultures, talk to them about how to represent them. If you don't then there is no one to be hurt or offended so just do your best.
Sounds like a conversation for a session 0 with your players. Say to them exactly what you wrote here and get their input on boundaries. If you're all on the same page about how you want to handle and respectfully roleplay these different cultures together, then you're fine. The fact that you're worried about it, tells me you're probably going to be fine.
I'm more worried about being obviously ignorant than mean-spirited. For instance, I didn't even realize where the adventures lean into stereotypes, haha...
I wouldn't say the adventures lean into stereotypes. The adventures were actually designed by people from the communities they represent, and are based around the history and culture of those peoples, written by again, by people familiar with the history and cultures.
What might appear from the outside as a stereotype isn't necessarily, because most stereotypes are just 2 dimensional outside perspectives, while the few adventures I've read through so far have few 2 dimensional characters, and for the most part do have depth to their stories.
Appreciate the “don’t do accents” advice. I wish the book had more simple dos and don’ts like that.
There is actually a section for that on page 5 titled "Thoughtful Introductions", provides a decent, comprehensive list of how not to inadvertently be offensive or insensitive.
Appreciate the “don’t do accents” advice. I wish the book had more simple dos and don’ts like that.
There is actually a section for that on page 5 titled "Thoughtful Introductions", provides a decent, comprehensive list of how not to inadvertently be offensive or insensitive.
Oh yeah, I read through that section multiple times. It was fairly wishy washy, though. For example, one piece of advice was:
“Avoid mocking real-world accents in your roleplay.”
At what point is a fake accent mocking? A much more helpful piece of advice would be just telling a reader not to bother with accents. That section is full of advice like this.
Another piece of advice I saw was:
“take care to portray characters as three-dimensional people with relatable desires and fears.”
This is a tall order for a DM when players might only interact with an NPC through just one or two conversations.
Appreciate the “don’t do accents” advice. I wish the book had more simple dos and don’ts like that.
There is actually a section for that on page 5 titled "Thoughtful Introductions", provides a decent, comprehensive list of how not to inadvertently be offensive or insensitive.
Oh yeah, I read through that section multiple times. It was fairly wishy washy, though. For example, one piece of advice was:
“Avoid mocking real-world accents in your roleplay.”
At what point is a fake accent mocking? A much more helpful piece of advice would be just telling a reader not to bother with accents. That section is full of advice like this.
Another piece of advice I saw was:
“take care to portray characters as three-dimensional people with relatable desires and fears.”
This is a tall order for a DM when players might only interact with an NPC through just one or two conversations.
I would just say that if you're in doubt as to whether doing the accent is punching up or punching down, just don't do the accent to be safe.
In my experience, regional accents are usually fine too impersonate, while accents largely specific to ethnic groups that you're not a member of (even if well-intentioned) can be taken as offensive. So I might do a funny NPC with a Canadian accent and not be accused of anti-canadian racism since Canadian is not race, but not so if I were a white comedian voicing an Indian cartoon character for like 9 seasons.
But also, if I had a Canadian player in my group who felt like I was making fun of them specifically with that accent, I probably wouldn't do it. Or run it by them first.
But general rule of thumb; if you're not sure if something is offensive or not, it's best to err on the side of caution.
I mean if you want to avoid being ignorant ultimately you have to learn there's no real way around that. Though generally speaking if you are courteous and show a willingness to learn that's enough for most people. Asking for the opinion of people of colour goes a long way, as does just saying you care.
In my opinion pointing out these issues when they arise is less about the idea that this tropes should never happen ever and the people who use them should be condemned but is instead about criticizing them so people can be more deliberate in its use, be aware of the underlying messages and sometimes provide alternatives.
So just try to avoid making any group all one thing, if some one is uncomfortable with something stop and occasionally take the time to think about what your doing says about a character to make sure you're doing something with a bit more substance than " ha ha funny asian man."
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I was really looking forward to Radiant Citadel. It definitely sounded like my jam, and I have been reading it since it came out. I'm glad I bought it, but I'm scared of running it.
I've DMed a few d&d settings, in homebrew and pre-made campaigns and the lore is usually just detailed enough to give me something to work with and silly enough to have fun with. Radiant citadel has 15 different settings. The fact that they are based on real cultures makes me want to be careful and avoid stereotypes or harmful tropes.
I know the normal answer is "Just don't worry about it! Improv as you go!" which is advice I would be the first to give someone running something in Barovia or Eberron... You won't offend any vampires or warforged if you stereotype them, after all... but less-so if I'm running a setting someone put their culture into.
Radiant citadel has general advice on how to "be thoughtful about how you roleplay and describe groups of people", but it kind of assumes the reader isn't an idiot, so it doesn't help me. Does anyone know any other sources I can look at to help with this kind of thing? I've avoided using real-world cultures or many NPCs of color (NOCs?) in the past, and it would be great if there was an "idiot's guide to not being offensive while portraying NPCs" out there.
As long as you are not trying to be mean-spirited, derogatory, or stereotypical in an abusive way, then you should be fine. Some of the adventures definitely lean into stereotypes a little, so its hard to avoid.
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I'm more worried about being obviously ignorant than mean-spirited. For instance, I didn't even realize where the adventures lean into stereotypes, haha...
I've read reviews, but not the book. I think the writers want their adventures to get played. I'd avoid doing accents.
If you want an overbaked idea off the top of my head: read some novels written by authors from some of the portrayed cultures and pay attention to the language they use to describe their characters. If nothing else, you might read some cool books.
Keep in mind that people can sound VASTLY different despite looking very similar. So don't be afraid of inclusivity in your NPC portrayals. You can always just say what the person's accent is rather than attempt to mimic it yourself.
One of WotC's goals with adventures is that they want to increase diversity in the NPCs and adventures not decrease it.
Site Info: Wizard's ToS | Fan Content Policy | Forum Rules | Physical Books | Content Not Working | Contact Support
How To: Homebrew Rules | Create Homebrew | Snippet Codes | Tool Tips (Custom) | Rollables (Generator)
My Homebrew: Races | Subclasses | Backgrounds | Feats | Spells | Magic Items
Other: Beyond20 | Page References | Other Guides | Entitlements | Dice Randomization | Images Fix | FAQ
As long as you are not streaming it you will be fine. If you have players from those cultures, talk to them about how to represent them. If you don't then there is no one to be hurt or offended so just do your best.
Oh and yeah don't do accents.
Appreciate the “don’t do accents” advice. I wish the book had more simple dos and don’ts like that.
Sounds like a conversation for a session 0 with your players. Say to them exactly what you wrote here and get their input on boundaries. If you're all on the same page about how you want to handle and respectfully roleplay these different cultures together, then you're fine. The fact that you're worried about it, tells me you're probably going to be fine.
I wouldn't say the adventures lean into stereotypes. The adventures were actually designed by people from the communities they represent, and are based around the history and culture of those peoples, written by again, by people familiar with the history and cultures.
What might appear from the outside as a stereotype isn't necessarily, because most stereotypes are just 2 dimensional outside perspectives, while the few adventures I've read through so far have few 2 dimensional characters, and for the most part do have depth to their stories.
There is actually a section for that on page 5 titled "Thoughtful Introductions", provides a decent, comprehensive list of how not to inadvertently be offensive or insensitive.
Oh yeah, I read through that section multiple times. It was fairly wishy washy, though. For example, one piece of advice was:
“Avoid mocking real-world accents in your roleplay.”
At what point is a fake accent mocking? A much more helpful piece of advice would be just telling a reader not to bother with accents. That section is full of advice like this.
Another piece of advice I saw was:
“take care to portray characters as three-dimensional people with relatable desires and fears.”
This is a tall order for a DM when players might only interact with an NPC through just one or two conversations.
I would just say that if you're in doubt as to whether doing the accent is punching up or punching down, just don't do the accent to be safe.
In my experience, regional accents are usually fine too impersonate, while accents largely specific to ethnic groups that you're not a member of (even if well-intentioned) can be taken as offensive. So I might do a funny NPC with a Canadian accent and not be accused of anti-canadian racism since Canadian is not race, but not so if I were a white comedian voicing an Indian cartoon character for like 9 seasons.
But also, if I had a Canadian player in my group who felt like I was making fun of them specifically with that accent, I probably wouldn't do it. Or run it by them first.
But general rule of thumb; if you're not sure if something is offensive or not, it's best to err on the side of caution.
I mean if you want to avoid being ignorant ultimately you have to learn there's no real way around that. Though generally speaking if you are courteous and show a willingness to learn that's enough for most people. Asking for the opinion of people of colour goes a long way, as does just saying you care.
In my opinion pointing out these issues when they arise is less about the idea that this tropes should never happen ever and the people who use them should be condemned but is instead about criticizing them so people can be more deliberate in its use, be aware of the underlying messages and sometimes provide alternatives.
So just try to avoid making any group all one thing, if some one is uncomfortable with something stop and occasionally take the time to think about what your doing says about a character to make sure you're doing something with a bit more substance than " ha ha funny asian man."