By Garrett Welch

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jeff McClurken

Abstract

The topic I studied for the capstone experience is the issue of racial essentialism implicit in many modern high fantasy worlds and systems, with a particular focus on Dungeons and Dragons as a case study. In Dungeons and Dragons, players create a unique character and act as that character through a fantasy world. To make a character, players select a few key attributes that determine how their character will be able to engage in the fantasy world. These attributes are background (where the character is from), class (where abilities the character has access to), and–most problematically–species. Unlike the real world, Dungeons and Dragons have a variety of sentient humanoid species that players can choose to play as; however, how the game has presented the history and lore of these species is quite problematic. For one, instead of using the term species to distinguish between different humanoid types, the game has codified the use of the term “race.” Secondly, “races” in the original design of the most recent iteration of Dungeons and Dragons were naturally better at some things than other “races.” The most telling example of this can be seen with Orcs. ALL Orcs in 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons gain a bonus to their strength score, and ALL Orcs are understood to be naturally athletic; however, ALL Orcs also receive a negative modifier to their intelligence score because–as the lore surrounding the orcs would like you to think–are naturally dumb.
Additionally, within Dungeons and Dragons, communities of humanoids are typically depicted as living in cloister communities of similar “races.” All Elves live in woodland forests. All Dwarves mine for stone underneath a mountain. All Orcs live in shabby, poorly constructed villages.
Racial essentialism has been commonplace within the fantasy genre for years; however, players have been rebelling against the game makers and have sought to change the narrative that has been put forward. This is what I want to study. I have investigated how perceptions of fantasy have changed over time as people look to step away from racial essentialism and attempt to make a more dynamic and diverse playing space that welcomes all without holding prejudice against communities of people.