(no subject)

[sev]

(yes, I'm writing about nothing but D&D lately. It's what I've been thinking about.)

Am enjoyably lingering my way through DMG2. Really enjoying myself, for the most part.

However. I just finished the "Skill Challenges" chapter & I'm annoyed.

There are a *bunch* of sample skill challenges. (yay!) Most of them have generic male NPCs where NPCs are called for. (boo.)  The two that have non-generic NPCs with names and movtivations are also the only two with female NPCs. The male NPCs in those skill challenges are all burly military men with strong military fighty goals. The female NPC in each of those skill challenges is a fey wizard (one elf, one half-elf). Sheesh, stereotype much?

On the upside, the DMG2 has, in the 'companion characters' section, a rare gnome defender with a limp.  Looky there! A Small defender/soldier PC-race: how often do you see that? (answer from a recent thread in Astrid's Parlor: rarely, unless it's a swordmage) And with a physical disability that doesn't prevent him from being a defender: yay! Contrast with Dragon & Dungeon magazines, in which the only two characters who limp are both elderly females, both described as having a "pronounced limp." Again, stereotype much?

I'm calling you writers out by name: Richard Baker, Mike Mearls, Robert Donoghue, Ari Marmell, Scott Fitzgerald Grey. I challenge you to create more thoughtful NPCs. Instead of rehashing tired tropes. At least some of you I know are capable of wonderful, creative, insightful work -- Ari & Mike in particular, I've loved a lot of your stuff! Now's your opportunity to extend your talent and creativity to another spot, dearly in need of your input.

This is one of the things that editors should be for. I'm calling a few more people out by name: Steven Winter, editor-in-chief of Dragon & Dungeon magazines. Kim Mohan, managing editor for D&D. PLEASE find whatever box these five disparate writers (and all the rest who are doing the same darn thing) are pulling their stereotypes from and BURN IT.