We’d like to thank everyone for all their feedback on our post about race! Much of it was very thoughtful and considered, and raised some reasonable concerns and questions. And we’ve learned that some people came away a little unclear on what we’re intending to do about race in the Renewal campaign, which is on us. So we thought we’d follow up the last post with a bit of a FAQ on the topic.

FAQ Video

We’ve also recorded a video of us talking through the questions we’ve received, you can find that here: https://youtu.be/B34vZnC-emQ or embedded below

What’s Actually Changing?

The main changes can be summarised in 3 points:

  1. The removal of racial vet picks, going forward there will be no mechanical difference based on how you identify your character.
  2. We are removing the definition of stereotypical traits attached to historic races.
  3. We are going to move away from the use of broad definitions like elf, orc, goblin etc.

What Does This Mean For My Character? 

Genuinely very little, there are currently (for instance) people in Estragales called “Ael,” and people in Norsca called “Alvar,” and people in Siberia called “Mithrim,” who by and large have pointy ears and little or no facepaint – and after this year, they will still exist. But we as a game will no longer lump all three groups under the term “elves,” and they won’t all reliably have the same features. And we’re not taking it as a given that these groups are descended from common ancestors, or that they all have certain aptitudes and qualities in common.

So Everyone Is Human Now?

Everyone is “mortal.” The word “human” goes along with the others.

What If I Want To Keep Using These Words?

This change applies to our communications, and to our briefings for NPCs. If as a player you want to keep calling yourself a “goblin,” then fill your boots. But really we’re hoping we can bring as many of you along on the journey as possible.

But What’s The Deal With Race?

This was spoken about at length in the previous blog post and if you wish to know more we ask you to explore the resources made available there. The important point is the term “Race” and the historic descriptors surrounding them can be considered deeply problematic and offensive, something that has been echoed in other adjacent hobbies in our space (see the Wizard of the Coast change of Races to Species in D&D as an alternative method for tackling it). Curious Pastimes has taken the opportunity to confront this as part of the rules review.