As the D&D player base continues to scrutinize the released information on the upcoming expansion, Rime of the Frostmaiden, for hidden hints and easter eggs, we may have already seen the first of many.
The peeps over at Venture Beat asked Wizards if their upcoming plans for racial change would feature in the upcoming expansion - specifically for the Orcs and Drow. Their response may come as somewhat of a surprise.
The changes proposed by Wizards would remove the automatic and blanket labeling of the various races and human species alignment. This is to be used on a per individual basis, giving NPC and player characters the same rights across all species. Once the changes are made officially, Orcs, Goblins, and other previously ‘evil’ races can be used as neutral and even good characters. This has come about since the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis Police. The subject of racial equality following this tragedy has changed us forever and shows us that our differences should be celebrated and that as humans, we are all equal regardless of them.
In an email conversation between Wizards designer Jeremy Crawford and Jason Wilson at Venture Beat, the question about racial change was raised. Wizards replied by saying that Orcs would not (or would rarely) feature in the expansion. There are, however, other characters and species where this change would apply. Enter, the lowly Kobold; a selfish sniveling, conniving and revolting creature. Come Rime of the Frostmaiden, Kobolds will have a new stat block that identifies them as humanoids of any alignment!
“There’s a new kobold stat block in Rime of the Frostmaiden that identifies the creature as a humanoid of any alignment, which is a departure from the kobolds in the Monster Manual” Wizards of the Coast designer, Jeremy Crawford
Does this mean that for the time being, Orcs and Goblins should still be seen as evil? What other changes are being made behind the scenes? Are we going to see these on a per expansion basis, or are the new rules going to apply to all with a new monster manual and errata for existing owners?
We for one, can’t wait to see these changes come into play
Source: Venture Beat