Quote from: jhkim;1060565Are there any good matriarchies within official D&D settings, though? There are good amazons in some variants of legend and some fantasy fiction, but they aren't in D&D except as third-party works. For that matter, patriarchy doesn't seem to be featured much in D&D. There is I'm sure writing somewhere that describes orcs as being extremely patriarchal - but there's no mention of it in the current Monster Manual or in Volo's Guide to Monsters. (Nor in the original Monster Manual, for that matter.) Whereas the drow are described as matriarchal everywhere.

Similarly, are there examples of good creatures or races that are inherently black-skinned like the drow? I know that in art, they have shown halflings or other races sometimes have figures that have African-like black skin - but those races are usually portrayed with white skin.

1: Various queens and empresses have popped up in Greyhawk and especially Forgotten Realms. Others left fairly open ended. Sometimes the elven kingdoms are presented as matriarchal too. Other times its never stated as usually its a non-issue. Wasnt there a matriarchal kingdom in Birthright? Theres certainly some in modules too.

2: Definitly are. The Flan in Greyhawk are specifically noted as dark skinned. Not positive but aren't the people of Chult in FR dark skinned? Theres been others over the years. And more in the Mystara setting.

The Greyhawk Flan have golden/bronze skin tones; if dark grey deep gnomes don't count then I guess they don't count either. Greyhawk is also notable for the wicked Suel being very fair skinned.

Re Matriarchies, Greyhawk has Gynocratic city-state of Hardby which is Good-aligned, though Gygax seemed to see Neutral as 'better' than Good anyway.

Quote from: S'mon;1061238The Greyhawk Flan have golden/bronze skin tones; if dark grey deep gnomes don't count then I guess they don't count either. Greyhawk is also notable for the wicked Suel being very fair skinned.

Re Matriarchies, Greyhawk has Gynocratic city-state of Hardby which is Good-aligned, though Gygax seemed to see Neutral as 'better' than Good anyway.

Ive seen the Flan describe previously as dark skinned so at least at some point they have. I do not have access to my Greyhawk books to check though.

I do not think the Drow are "problematic." I think people who use the word "problematic" are likely to be unpleasant people to have around.

Quote from: Omega;1061239Ive seen the Flan describe previously as dark skinned so at least at some point they have. I do not have access to my Greyhawk books to check though.

This site says 'light copper to dark brown' - http://greyhawk.wikia.com/wiki/Flan_(ethnicity)

Drow are retarded; is that problematic?

Quote from: RPGPundit;1061500Drow are retarded; is that problematic?

Only since use of the word "problematic" is retarded.

(Holds up X-Card.)Don't ask me why I'm bothered right now because I don't need to tell anyone why.

Quote from: sureshot;1061548(Holds up X-Card.)Don't ask me why I'm bothered right now because I don't need to tell anyone why.

(Holds up X-Card.) His lack of transparency is triggering my X-Card!

Quote from: Alderaan Crumbs;1061539Only since use of the word "problematic" is retarded.

Good answer!

Greetings!

I'm kind of wondering though, why did they pick on the Drow Elves to have a meltdown over? As has been mentioned, they have absolutely nothing to do with African people, aside from also being *Black*

But Orcs can be *Black*. Trolls can also be Black. Fire Giants are also typically Black. Matter of fact, mythologies from around the world have many creatures and spirits of various kinds that are *Black*. European culture has for centuries--long before the stupid trans-Atlantic slave trade with Africans--associated many mythological concepts as being *Black* Hell, in many Asian countries, various colours are considered evil and taboo. I think Black might be one of them.

Who the hell said THEY are somehow the "Authority" to censor and decide what colours and races are appropriate or not? If you tried to do this kind of stupid shit in India or China--or *gasp*--even AFRICA for god's sake, they would laugh at you, and think you were a total moron.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Quote from: SHARK;1061878Greetings!

I'm kind of wondering though, why did they pick on the Drow Elves to have a meltdown over? As has been mentioned, they have absolutely nothing to do with African people, aside from also being *Black*

But Orcs can be *Black*. Trolls can also be Black. Fire Giants are also typically Black. Matter of fact, mythologies from around the world have many creatures and spirits of various kinds that are *Black*. European culture has for centuries--long before the stupid trans-Atlantic slave trade with Africans--associated many mythological concepts as being *Black* Hell, in many Asian countries, various colours are considered evil and taboo. I think Black might be one of them.

Who the hell said THEY are somehow the "Authority" to censor and decide what colours and races are appropriate or not? If you tried to do this kind of stupid shit in India or China--or *gasp*--even AFRICA for god's sake, they would laugh at you, and think you were a total moron.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

Because they're black. Because there are sexy women. Because a guy's not doing what the sexy women say. Because it's Tuesday. Because there's a panther, which makes them think of Black Panther, which makes them think of black slaves, which makes them think of white supremacy, which makes them think of President Trump, which makes them think of migrants, which makes them think of how the guy not doing what the sexy women say migrated to the surface, which makes them think of his panther, which...

Basically, because it's any given day and they don't realize how great their lives must be if bitching about Drow can be such a huge concern.

Quote from: SHARK;1061878But Orcs can be *Black*.

I've seen plenty of people arguing that orcs (or at least always-evil orcs) are stand-ins for black people (and thus inherently racist), even if they're not "black orcs".

Nonsense, orcs are stand ins for Native Americans and 19th century genocides.

Never mind that orcs were originally violent invaders with endless numbers and superior immune systems and thus a better stand-in for Europeans.

I think I'm triggered!