# D & D got woke and that's good because you should have all been playing that way (or not if you didn't prefer)) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** rpg-dnd-wargames\ **Created:** [February 17, 2021, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114 "2021-02-17T10:36:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 61
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1201 "2025-11-29T22:28:11Z")
Is it really necessary that we define what is and isn’t an RPG? Let it be a big tent. ---
**Author:** ![vislor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vislor/32/5933_2.png) [@vislor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vislor)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1202 "2025-11-29T22:45:46Z")
Thanks for the replies! > [@DrDeth](#): > > I do not care for that term- I once played with two true murderhoboes- they killed an old man at a crossroads, leaning on a staff- just for kicks and giggles. I wont play with that mentality. In all my 40 years + of playing, we wont play and never had (other than that exception) any “murder hoboes”. We had adventures, mostly Good aligned, that wouldnt think of killing innocents just for fun. Bandits, Goblin raiders, monsters in dungeons- sure. My apologies. I have not had any players kill randomly for the lolz in my four decades of playing. When younger, a bit more CN and mercenary. Heroes as we all get older because that’s what we want. > [@MrDibble](#): > > Hard disagree. _Very_ hard disagree. Okay. > [@Alessan](#): > > Is it really necessary that we define what is and isn’t an RPG? Let it be a big tent. I agree. I was amused by several things as I said in my post and shared it. I’m not trying to convince anyone it is correct. Thanks for the discussion! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2025, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1203 "2025-11-29T23:45:00Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > By that definition, the Diablo games are roleplaying games. They could be, but there’s little ‘role” there. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1204 "2025-11-30T06:02:51Z")
The “role” in this case is in the form of stat improvements and character build choices. Action Roleplaying Game (ARPG) is the catch-all for video games that use traditional RPG character build structure but then lean more into the combat gameplay than narrative or dialogue. I’m inclined to say that RPGs require a certain degree of character structure but that’s probably the result of too many people thinking they’re clever by saying “Sonic the Hedgehog is an RPG if you just pretend you’re a hedgehog!”. This would mean some indie RPGs would be better defined as, I dunno, “freeform story experiences” but at the end of the day I don’t really care that much. ---
**Author:** ![NotEncinoMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@NotEncinoMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotEncinoMan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1205 "2025-11-30T07:54:00Z")
> **Trolling, hidden** > > Although John Tolken did say ‘looks likes racism is at the restaurant’ in one of his most popular movies (haters deny this) but he succeeded in making Elves sexy but old so you could fuck them not young and in your garden and like fairies who might be problematic in various ways real and imaginary. > > Dwarfs are cool too, don’t be racist peace out ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1206 "2025-11-30T08:55:59Z")
The fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1207 "2025-11-30T12:56:23Z")
And that will be a Warning for trolling, @NotEncinoMan . ---
**Author:** ![NotEncinoMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@NotEncinoMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotEncinoMan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1208 "2025-12-08T19:17:52Z")
Ok, I was just trying to be irreverent in the spirit of the OP but I get you of you chaps don’t play that way. Of course JRRT and Gygax were racist, they were from racist militaristic empires. It’s not a personal attack, it’s just they are a product of their environments. Tropes can be bad yeah but I dont think that’s the main point. If you had magic powers or were really good at swords, what’s the plan? Kill a bunch of intrinsically bad things? Just give a thought for a sec why that’s where you’re waving ya wand/sword ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114/1209 "2025-12-08T23:46:03Z")
This is not the place to dispute moderation. Take it to ATMB or a private message. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/d-d-got-woke-and-thats-good-because-you-should-have-all-been-playing-that-way-or-not-if-you-didnt-prefer/933114.md?page=60)