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In fantasy worlds, '''race''' means something similar to species. There are many common examples, such as [[humans]], [[elves]], [[dwarves]], and [[orcs]]. | In [[Standard_Fantasy_Setting|fantasy worlds]] (and often, [[Science_Fantasy|sci-fi]] too), '''race''' means something similar to species. There are many common examples, such as [[humans]], [[elves]], [[dwarves]], and [[orcs]]. | ||
Hilariously, or perhaps cynically, it has another definition as a competition in which participants attempt to be first to reach a goal. | Hilariously, or perhaps cynically, it has another definition as a competition in which participants attempt to be first to reach a goal. | ||
As of 2022, [[Wizards_of_the_Coast|Wizards of the Coast]] has decided to drop the word from "all future content", citing a wish to be more [[SJW|inclusive]]. While this was always bound to generate some [[skub|robust discussion]], it's worth pointing out in advance that neither 'race' nor 'species' is the correct word to use in fantasy at least from a biological point of view: while different species cannot breed and produce fertile offspring, fantasy races/species [[Book_of_Erotic_Fantasy|for the most part actually can]]. The definition of race is a little more iffy, and can vary according to usage from being a different sub-species, to simply different phenotypes, i.e. | As of 2022, [[Wizards_of_the_Coast|Wizards of the Coast]] has decided to drop the word from "all future content" in favour of species, citing a wish to be more [[SJW|inclusive]]. While this was always bound to generate some [[skub|robust discussion]], it's worth pointing out in advance that neither 'race' nor 'species' (which, funnily, is the one Wizards began using for [[One D&D|their newest D&D]]) is the correct word to use in fantasy at least from a biological point of view: while different species cannot breed and produce fertile offspring, fantasy races/species [[Book_of_Erotic_Fantasy|for the most part actually can]]. The definition of race is a little more iffy, and can vary according to usage from being [[Neanderthal|a different sub-species]], to simply different phenotypes, i.e. mostly just looking different (an example being European and South Indian [[humans]]), to having different features adapted for their environment (Inuit and West Africans). It's this ambiguity that's found it being a common word in fantasy, with no racism intended (usually). Other games would also introduce new terms to replace the term without the baggage, with somewhat obvious decisions like "Ancestries" and "Kins" to more...unusual words like "Stock". | ||
You can probably blame [[Tolkien]] for original use of it in fantasy, though he probably lifted it as a translation from older poetic eddas. | You can probably blame [[Tolkien]] for original use of it in fantasy, though he probably lifted it as a translation from older [[The_Poetic_Edda|poetic eddas]], back when it wasn't quite as [[Butthurt|controversial]]. | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
[[:Category:Races]] | [[:Category:Races]] | ||
Latest revision as of 10:20, 22 June 2023
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In fantasy worlds (and often, sci-fi too), race means something similar to species. There are many common examples, such as humans, elves, dwarves, and orcs.
Hilariously, or perhaps cynically, it has another definition as a competition in which participants attempt to be first to reach a goal.
As of 2022, Wizards of the Coast has decided to drop the word from "all future content" in favour of species, citing a wish to be more inclusive. While this was always bound to generate some robust discussion, it's worth pointing out in advance that neither 'race' nor 'species' (which, funnily, is the one Wizards began using for their newest D&D) is the correct word to use in fantasy at least from a biological point of view: while different species cannot breed and produce fertile offspring, fantasy races/species for the most part actually can. The definition of race is a little more iffy, and can vary according to usage from being a different sub-species, to simply different phenotypes, i.e. mostly just looking different (an example being European and South Indian humans), to having different features adapted for their environment (Inuit and West Africans). It's this ambiguity that's found it being a common word in fantasy, with no racism intended (usually). Other games would also introduce new terms to replace the term without the baggage, with somewhat obvious decisions like "Ancestries" and "Kins" to more...unusual words like "Stock".
You can probably blame Tolkien for original use of it in fantasy, though he probably lifted it as a translation from older poetic eddas, back when it wasn't quite as controversial.