Dungeons & Dragons removes harmful racial stereotypes from all new versions.
Dungeons and Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast has apologized for the offensive content in the latest Spelljammer: Adventures in Space campaign. They said it had “failed its fans.”
“Over the 50-year history of Dungeons and Dragons, some characters have been monstrous or evil. They use painfully similar descriptions to how real-world groups have been treated and continue to be denigrated. “We understand the need to change how we work to ensure a more inclusive gaming experience,” read the apology on the Dungeons & Dragons website. It refers to the Hadozee, an ape-like race of humanoids that can fly. In their fictional history, a wizard visits the Hadozee’s homeworld and captures many of them with the help of his apprentices. He gives them an elixir to make them stronger and transform them into “sapient bipedal beings.”
The wizard intended to sell the “army of Hadozee” to the highest bidder. However, his apprentices allow the prisoners to escape and eventually kill him. They return to their planet with the elixir they had in their possession, which they will give the rest. The Hadozee also have a greater tolerance for pain because the “magic” in their veins increases their natural defenses, which could be misinterpreted as a racist interpretation of Black people not feeling pain the same way as other races.
Wizards of the Coast stated that they would immediately remove offensive Hadozee content from our digital editions – and these will not be included in any future reprints of the books. “We are forever grateful for the ongoing dialogue with the D&Dcommunity and look forward to introducing new engaging, inclusive content D&D to generations to come. D&D teaches us that diversity is strength. Only a diverse group can overcome the many challenges presented by a D&D tale. We are determined to make D&D as inclusive and welcoming as possible. This is a part of our work that will never stop.”
