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In defense of Rob Kuntz and Original D&D

Started by Cloaker, July 05, 2024, 12:45:48 PM

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Cloaker

July 05, 2024, 12:45:48 PM
(inspired by and reinterpreting the last few passages in the 2024 making of preface.)


Some language in "The Making of Original Dungeons and Dragons" presents a moral quandary. The two page preface by Jason Tondro includes several opinions on the many pages of charts and tables alongside lists of monsters, spells, and magic items. But that preface also includes a virtual catalog of insensitive and derogatory language, words that are casually judgmental of anyone without a physical or mental disability, or who happens to not be old, fat, conventionally attractive, black or a woman.

Some people have charitably ascribed this language to Jason Tondro working from good assumptions. In the 2020's, modern tabletop gamers in America are predominately white, middle-class men; it isn't surprising that they would dub a horde of orcs "savage." But when, in the pages of the 2024 Player's Handbook, the art of a group of orcs includes thematic elements of them as "Latinos," the hypocrisy of creature representation is revealed as a conscious choice. It's an unfortunate fact that Latinos seldom appear in modern D&D, and when they do, they're portrayed disrespectfully. A group of Latino inspired creatures appear in the 2024 Player's Handbook not as human, but as a caricature of Latino culture designed to gain simple socio-liberal approval. The cultural appropriation of Latinos ranges from the bewildering (like an orc wearing a sombrero) to the staggering; (a significantly obese Latino themed orc in an outdoor setting.) Were players expected to imagine the bare-chested orc and the potential of his possibly magical Mexican hat?

Despite these modern edition shortcomings, Original D&D and the OSR has always been a game about people choosing to be someone unlike themselves and collaborating with strangers who become friends. D&D 5e has quickly become more divisive, and as the legacy player base has become more vocal, the pool of creators who make 5e has expanded to diminish people with a wide range of conservative identities and backgrounds. As these new creators make the game more unwelcoming, WotC 5e has lost loyal fans who, in turn, continue to seek other editions or games more accommodating to non-liberal ideologies. The future of Dungeons & Dragons, here at its fiftieth anniversary, is cloudy.

And it all was affirmed with Jason Tondro's preface of the 2024 Player's Handbook.
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