Orcs are people too?

In case you didn't see it.
Earlier this week, WoTC announced that they would be changing their depiction of two classic races in the D&D lineup. According to WoTC's official announcement., Orcs and Drow need a rework because of ' descriptions that are painfully reminiscent of how real-world ethnic groups have been and continue to be denigrated'.

Essentially, they wish to portray Orcs and Drow as people too, because they have been 'unfairly' portrayed in the past.

As someone who strives to have inclusion in their game and at the table, I have always been drawn to settings that are more Swords & Sorcery related. I prefer a globe spanning setting, capable of acknowledging any number of cultures and people.

Is there any basis?
So in looking to our roots, I am greatly disappointed that I find the work of Robert E Howard to be tinged with his own style of racism. A man with such an imagination, the father of Swords and Sorcery, had difficulty seeing people as they are.  If you disagree, I suggest you read 'Shadows in Zamboula', 'The Vale of Lost Women', or 'The Horror From the Mound', and decide for yourself.

Given all that, many of us strive to advance the Swords and Sorcery genre to be the inclusive genre it should be. 

D&D however, has its own roots in classic modern fantasy. Tolkien himself, coined the word 'orc'. In his Silmarillion, he explains how the dark god Morgoth stole away some of the first elves and tortured and corrupted them. He broke their bodies, will, and souls to create the orcs. The orcs being a purely evil race and the embodiment of corruption.

So it is that the inventor of the orc, states plainly that this fictitious race was essentially born out of hell, implying that there was no redemption in them.

This tends to follow suit in early editions of D&D which places their alignment squarely as lawful evil. They were for most campaigns, a fictitious monster for which PCs would have no guilt in slaying and looting.

Ironically, Tolkien himself is sometimes accused of racism through his depiction of orcs and his heavily euro centric setting. First, Tolkien was fascinated by his Germanic heritage and there really should be no conflict between appreciation of one's own culture and the respect and appreciation for another. 

Tolkien was in fact deeply offended by the racist ideologies which took hold in Germany during the early 20th century. This is well documented and anyone researching should find ample evidence of his disapproval of using his work for racist agendas.

The drow, were more an invention of Gygax' own. Although wikipedia implies that they were inspired by a much earlier book on fairy lore. 


So definitely evil and entirely fictitious.
That both races have been depicted as evil is fairly cannon for most D&D settings. There are some notable exceptions (Drizzt Duorden). This also is common in gaming, players and characters aren't bound to be the 'same'. Each character can have a convincing reason for going against the grain and these things are often encouraged in home and public games alike.

To change the overall depiction of Orcs and Drow into a 'friendly' race, goes against nearly 50 years of D&D cannon.

Despite all this, I'm fine if WoTC wishes to change this to create something new or more interesting.  That is up to them, afterall, they legally own the IP now. It is also still a free country and we can be creative and express ourselves as we wish.


This bloggers opinion.
Up to this point, I have never been openly critical of Wizards. That ends today.

What I'm not ok with, is their statement of justification. To suggest that Orcs and Drow have been fictionally mistreated and that this somehow relates to 'real world ethnic groups', simply looks like a branding ploy.  It comes across as disingenuous to me. Frankly, I find it offensive as it makes a mockery of real people who have endured real trials and challenges.

In all honesty, it leaves me wondering what is next. Once they have attacked all substance of content, what will be left of art, games and storytelling?  All while extolling that this is for some sense of justice which to me, they seem not to actually believe in at all.