Critics have slammed the newest installment of the Dungeons and Dragons rulebook for ‘going woke.’
In the game’s 2024 Player’s Handbook, ‘races’ are now ‘species’ and some character traits have been separated from biological identity, according to The New York Times.
‘A mountain dwarf is no longer inherently brawny and durable, a high elf no longer intelligent and dexterous by definition,’ the newspaper explained.
Wizards of the Coast, the Dungeons and Dragons publisher owned by Hasbro, implemented a trend that allows players to stop the game when they feel uncomfortable.
Players are encouraged to use a gesture such as crossing their arms in an X or raising their palm to pause the game, according to a section of the handbook shared on social media.
‘The signal shouldn’t trigger a debate or a discussion: thank the player for being honest about their needs, set the scene right, and move on,’ the book said.
The foreword of the book shared online said the original game excluded and disrespected women as well as and portrayed slavery ‘not as a human tragedy but as a commercial transaction.’
Robert J. Kuntz, a game designer who frequently collaborated with co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons Gary Gygax told the Times he disliked the changes.
‘It’s an unnecessary thing,’ he said. ‘It attempts to play into something that I’m not sure is even worthy of addressing, as if the word ‘race’ is bad.’
Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts and social media users have slammed the company for changing the rules claiming it is an insult to the creators.
‘Wokeism personified. The player signals what they “want adjusted”, but “doesn’t have to explain why the content is objectionable.” All feelings of any kind must be validated at all times, without question or debate,’ one person said.
‘Imagine needing a safe word in order to play a game with your “friends” The infantilization continues,’ said another.
Even Elon Musk weighed in saying: ‘Nobody, and I mean nobody, gets to trash E. Gary Gygax and the geniuses who created Dungeons & Dragons. What the **k is wrong with Hasbro and WoTC?? May they burn in h**l.’
Others have embraced the changes claiming they make the game more inclusive for players.
‘What they’re trying to do here is put up a signal flare, to not only current players but potential future players, that this game is a safe, inclusive, thoughtful and sensitive approach to fantasy storytelling,’ Ryan Lessard, a writer and frequent Dungeons & Dragons dungeon master told the Times.
‘Wanting all your players to be comfortable and have fun is good actually,’ one social media user said.