Do We Still Need "Oriental Adventures"?

Orientalism -- a wide-ranging term originally used to encompass depictions of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and East Asian cultures -- has gradually come to represent a more negative term. Should Dungeons & Dragons, known for two well-received books titled "Oriental Adventures," have another edition dedicated to "Eastern" cultures?

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[h=3]A Brief History of Orientalism[/h]For a time, orientalism was a term used by art historians and literary scholars to group "Eastern" cultures together. That changed in 1978 with Edward Said's Orientalism, which argued that treatment of these cultures conflated peoples, times, and places into a narrative of incident and adventure in an exotic land.

It's easy to see why this approach might appeal to role-playing games. Orientalism is one lens to view a non-European culture within the game's context. We previously discussed how "othering" can create a mishmash of cultures, and it can apply to orientalism as well. The challenge is in how to portray a culture with nuance, and often one large region isn't enough to do the topic justice. The concept even applies to the idea of the "East" and the "Orient," which turns all of the Asian regions into one mono-culture. Wikipedia explains the term in that context:

The imperial conquest of "non–white" countries was intellectually justified with the fetishization of the Eastern world, which was effected with cultural generalizations that divided the peoples of the world into the artificial, binary-relationship of "The Eastern World and The Western World", the dichotomy which identified, designated, and subordinated the peoples of the Orient as the Other—as the non–European Self.

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Game designers -- who were often admitted fans of Asian cultures -- sought to introduce a new kind of fantasy into traditional Western tropes. Viewed through a modern lens, their approach would likely be different today.
[h=3]The "Oriental" Books in D&D[/h]The original Oriental Adventures was published in 1985 by co-creator of D&D Gary Gygax, David "Zeb" Cook and François Marcela-Froideval. It introduced the ninja, kensai, wu-jen, and shukenja as well as new takes on the barbarian and monk. It was also the first supplement to introduce non-weapn proficiencies, the precursor to D&D's skill system. The book was well-received, and was envisioned by Gygax as an opportunity to reinvigorate the line -- ambitions which collapsed when he left the company. The book's hardcover had the following text printed on the back:

…The mysterious and exotic Orient, land of spices and warlords, has at last opened her gates to the West.

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Aaron Trammell provides a detailed analysis of how problematic this one line of text is. The sum of his argument:

Although Gary Gygax envisioned a campaign setting that brought a multicultural dimension to Dungeons & Dragons, the reality is that by lumping together Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Philippine, and “Southeast Asian” lore he and co-authors David “Zeb” Cook and Francois Marcela-Froideval actually developed a campaign setting that reinforced western culture’s already racist understanding of the “Orient.”

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The next edition would shift the setting from Kara-Tur (which was later sent in the Forgotten Realms) to Rokugan from the Legend of the Five Rings role-playing game.
[h=3]Controversy of the Five Rings[/h]James Wyatt wrote the revised Oriental Adventures for Third Edition D&D, published by Wizards of the Coast in 2001. It was updated to 3.5 in Dragon Magazine #318.

Legend of the Five Rings, a franchise that extends to card games, is itself not immune to controversy. Quintin Smith got enough comments on his review of the Legend of the Five Rings card game that he included an appendix that looked critically at chanting phrases "banzai!" at conventions and some of the game's art:

Now, I have no idea if this is right or wrong, but I do know that chanting in Japanese at an event exclusively attended by white men and women made me feel a tiny bit weird. My usual headcheck for this is “How would I feel if I brought a Japanese-English friend to the event?” and my answer is “Even more weird.” Personally, I found the game’s cover art to be a little more questionable. I think it’s fantastic to have a fantasy world that draws on Asian conventions instead of Western ones. But in a game that almost exclusively depicts Asian men and women, don’t then put white people on the cover! It’s such a lovely piece of art. I just wish she looked a little bit less like a cosplayer.

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Perhaps in response to this criticism, Fantasy Flight Games removed the "banzai" chant as a bullet point from its web site. The page also features several pictures of past tournament winners, which provides some context as to who was shouting the chant.
[h=3]Fifth Edition and Diversity[/h]By the time the Fifth Edition of D&D was published, the game's approach to diverse peoples had changed. Indigo Boock on GeekGirlCon explains how:

Diversity is strength. The strongest adventuring party is the most diverse adventuring party. Try thinking about it in terms of classes—you have your healers, fighters, and magic users. Same goes for diversity. Different outlooks on life create more mobility and openness for different situations. Jeremy also explained that it was crucial that the art also reflected diversity, as did Art Director Kate Erwin. With this, they tried to make sure that there was a 50/50 split of people who identify as male and people who identify as female in the illustrations.

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Trammell points out how these changes are reflected in the art of the core rule books:

First, there are illustrations: an East Asian warlock, a female samurai, an Arabian princess, an Arab warrior, and a Moor in battle, to name a few. Then, there are mechanics: the Monk persists as a class replete with a spiritual connection to another world via the “ki” mechanic. Scimitars and blowguns are commonly available as weapons, and elephants are available for purchase as mounts for only 200 gold. Although all of these mechanics are presented with an earnest multiculturalist ethic of appreciation, this ethic often surreptitiously produces a problematic and fictitious exotic, Oriental figure. At this point, given the embrace of multiculturalism by the franchise, it seems that the system is designed to embrace the construction of Orientalist fictional worlds where the Orient and Occident mix, mingle, and wage war.

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A good first step is to understand the nuances of a region by exploring more than one culture there. Sean "S.M." Hill's "The Journey to..." series is a great place to start, particularly "Romance of the Three Kingdoms."

D&D has come a long way, but it still has some work to do if it plans to reflect the diversity of its modern player base and their cultures...which is why it seems unlikely we'll get another Oriental Adventures title.

Mike "Talien" Tresca is a freelance game columnist, author, communicator, and a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to http://amazon.com. You can follow him at Patreon.

 

[jbear]

I don't know what virtue signalling is. I know what type of people I normally hear the term from.

Morrus asked everyone to refrain from using that term. Please follow his guidelines. Also your follow up comment seems coded. Please refrain from making coded messages towards me that are evidently meant to be insulting.

Frankly I know jack about Australian history. I know that Britain(?) used it as a dumping ground for people. I know that their descendants make up the majority in Australia. I know that there are Aborigines.

I had thought I was just coming up with an example of something that would be familiar, but not Asian or Middle-Eastern in stereotype.

Yes, it was clear from your comment that you are ignorant of Australian history. It was that which pretty much contradicted what your first comment suggested should happen. The aboriginal people who lived there before it was used as 'Britain's dumping ground', as you say, were obviously far from being a 'western culture'. They were brutally massacred and mistreated almost to the point of complete genocide. Their lands were appropriated and their culture was for many years surpressed. The mistreatment of aborigines actually continued until fairly recently in historic terms (1960's). Australia really only seems to be coming to terms with its brutal past very recently.

Nevertheless the aboriginal culture is full of rich and interesting points of view. They have some beautiful stories and details of how they sing their journeys to accurately cross thousands of miles of hostile desert is absolutely fascinating.

Your own card board cut out statement with regards to what you know about Australia seems very much in line with what you are criticising at the same time. Hence my comment.

 

[Morrus]

Likely impossible. The article is ideologically and hence politically charged. Which is my biggest issue with it actually. I was of the understanding that politics/ideological view points were not proper topics for the enworld forum which is exclusively dedicated to RPG related topics. Maybe I misuderstand on the ideological front and that is actually permitted. Could totally be wrong on that front, nevertheless I think it is a very fine line that is being walked.

It’s easy. In my house I can put my feet on the furniture, and you can’t. Like in your house, no doubt. This is an article paid for by me, and I decided to relax the rules for it.

 

[Shasarak]

Geography says that the best way to indicate "unimaginably far away", is to use either East or West. (There is a limit on how far South / North you can go: the Poles! Somebody will figure out how to calculate the distance to them, eventually - maybe even travel there (or try to) themselves.)

Thats true, once you get to the Poles you can not go any further.

 

[Mercurius]

White privilege is a real thing, and not an offensive term at all when used correctly. The others you mention, not so much.

I agree in part, but "white privilege" can be and often is weaponized, or used as a kind of logical fallacy akin to circular reasoning, so I would emphasize the when used correctly part. We may also differ on what "correctly" means and to what degree or in what way it is a "real thing." The other terms--Those That Shall Not Be Mentioned--are often used pejoratively, but not always (as you yourself say). They are descriptors of the "woke mentality" that confuses its own perspective for some kind of absolute truth - not unlike other forms of fundamentalism. My biggest concern about this mentality is that it doesn't reflect on itself or question itself, and adherents tend to be hyper-defensive and attacking of anyone who questions any part of it, even people--like myself--who are overall "allies" to the underlying concerns (e.g. diversity, social justice, racial and gender equality, etc).

This is a much larger conversation that probably doesn't need to be part of this thread.

 

[bmfrosty]

Morrus asked everyone to refrain from using that term. Please follow his guidelines. Also your follow up comment seems coded. Please refrain from making coded messages towards me that are evidently meant to be insulting.
Yes, it was clear from your comment that you are ignorant of Australian history. It was that which pretty much contradicted what your first comment suggested should happen. The aboriginal people who lived there before it was used as 'Britain's dumping ground', as you say, were obviously far from being a 'western culture'. They were brutally massacred and mistreated almost to the point of complete genocide. Their lands were appropriated and their culture was for many years surpressed. The mistreatment of aborigines actually continued until fairly recently in historic terms (1960's). Australia really only seems to be coming to terms with its brutal past very recently.

Nevertheless the aboriginal culture is full of rich and interesting points of view. They have some beautiful stories and details of how they sing their journeys to accurately cross thousands of miles of hostile desert is absolutely fascinating.

Your own card board cut out statement with regards to what you know about Australia seems very much in line with what you are criticising at the same time. Hence my comment.

What? You're the one using coded messages, I think.

Please stop attacking me.

 

[Zarithar]

The name could change, but please, not by calling it Asian Adventures. No matter what setting you use the material for, I will guarantee you there is no Asia on that planet. Oriental just means Eastern, so Eastern Adventures would be fine.

Since any official supplement would likely be set in the Forgotten Realms, why not just call it Kara-Tur? I don't see how this is any more problematic than Chult (with its African influences).

Honestly though, threads like this frustrate me because every fantasy RPG I know of borrows cultural, mythological, etc aspects from a variety of cultures around the world. Is a time going to come when we can no longer have a hobby for fear of offending someone from one of those cultures?

 

[Kobold Boots]

What? You're the one using coded messages, I think.

Please stop attacking me.

With respect to you both, please use either the report post button, the ignore feature or both before the mods get involved and close this.

Thank you and be well
KB

 

[Eltab]

RPG players don't flip a coin: they roll a d2.

What on OEarth DO you use a GP for - money?

 

[Eltab]

Is a time going to come when we can no longer have a hobby for fear of offending someone from one of those cultures?

I'm more worried about people who claim to be 'defending' those cultures (from non-existent attacks) chasing / scaring people away from the hobby.

And, as I noted above, there is a strong flavor of "You're not allowed to have any fun!" in the scolds.

 

[Sunseeker]

I'm more worried about people who claim to be 'defending' those cultures (from non-existent attacks) chasing / scaring people away from the hobby.

And, as I noted above, there is a strong flavor of "You're not allowed to have any fun!" in the scolds.

Oh yes I'm suuuure that's your concern. Not that we don't have community members who have been chasing women away from the hobbies for decades, no, it's that people attempting to defend a fair representation of another culture who are gonna scare everyone off!! Oh noes! Because what they must really be doing is telling people they can't have fun! Not that their fun should be respectful, or that their fun should be tasteful, or that their fun should have some historical knowledge to it.

Every once in a while I think it might be "fun" to play a very tropey, stereotypical character...and then I usually think better of myself because tropes and stereotypes tend to get boring quickly and are generally no "fun" to play long-term. If it's a character I'm going to put energy into for a long time, it's a character I'm going to put effort into treating like a real person, not some joke. And ya know what? It tends to turn out being a lot more "fun" to play a character I put a lot of heart into making into a not-joke character than the opposite.

So tell your fear-mongering to take a seat. We're not telling people they can't have fun. We're telling people there are better ways to have fun.

You can apply this to all the arguments of "But D&D is founded in tropey gameplay!" yes, and we've found a better way.
"But D&D is supposed to be fun and silly!" and being respectful doesn't preclude fun and silliness. Unless your definition of "fun" is "being a disrespectful". And frankly, there are people for whom that IS their definition of fun. We all know them. The people who just can't not make sexist, racist, insulting and derogatory jokes about other people. They tend to be the same people who can't take the heat when someone makes a joke about a group they occupy.

And quite frankly, if we're "scaring off" those people, then nothing of value is lost. Sheer numbers is always inferior to quality. I'll take a smaller hobby group over a higher population with a larger number of jerks.