Senior Thesis Pitch
During the class where I will be developing and researching the topic for my Senior Thesis, Advanced Professional Speaking, I am going to be analyzing the world famous tabletop role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons. I will be focusing on the idea that the way that each playable race is written (general description, racial abilities, etc.) in the first, second, 3.5 and fifth editions contribute to race theory, specifically the idea that in the "realm" in which D&D is played, i.e. the overall culture of the general world that is used, fits into the idea of systematic racism.
For example, humans, the most "normalized" playable race, are given, at least in the latest edition, access to an ability called a "feat" during character creation (Level 1, most of the time), something that most characters have to wait until at least Level 4 to receive. The most likely reason for giving Humans this "helping hand" is that they are not given any racial traits, which will be expanded upon in the next section.
A race that is given abilities that could cause them to be perceived in a potentially negative way would be Half-Orcs. They are given what is known as "racial traits" with names like Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks. During character creation, it is widely known on the internet that Half-Orcs are better suited, because of these racial traits, for melee classes, like Barbarians and Fighters. It is also known that in most official material, they are portrayed as hulking, unintelligent brutes. Due to this nature, it is almost expected that all players who choose to play a Half-Orc will be one of those classes.
Lastly is the Tiefling race, better known as demon-people. Their appearance alone sets them up to be discriminated against, with horns of all shapes and sizes, monochromatic eye colors with no pupils and skin color that covers the broad spectrum of human coloration, and even includes some reds and purples. Mostly, however, it is the assumptions of the behavior of tieflings that leads to the most prejudice against them. It is because of many religious depictions of devils and demons that have led to the official material of D&D to depict tieflings in such a negative light.
For example, humans, the most "normalized" playable race, are given, at least in the latest edition, access to an ability called a "feat" during character creation (Level 1, most of the time), something that most characters have to wait until at least Level 4 to receive. The most likely reason for giving Humans this "helping hand" is that they are not given any racial traits, which will be expanded upon in the next section.
A race that is given abilities that could cause them to be perceived in a potentially negative way would be Half-Orcs. They are given what is known as "racial traits" with names like Relentless Endurance and Savage Attacks. During character creation, it is widely known on the internet that Half-Orcs are better suited, because of these racial traits, for melee classes, like Barbarians and Fighters. It is also known that in most official material, they are portrayed as hulking, unintelligent brutes. Due to this nature, it is almost expected that all players who choose to play a Half-Orc will be one of those classes.
Lastly is the Tiefling race, better known as demon-people. Their appearance alone sets them up to be discriminated against, with horns of all shapes and sizes, monochromatic eye colors with no pupils and skin color that covers the broad spectrum of human coloration, and even includes some reds and purples. Mostly, however, it is the assumptions of the behavior of tieflings that leads to the most prejudice against them. It is because of many religious depictions of devils and demons that have led to the official material of D&D to depict tieflings in such a negative light.
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