I have played D&D for more than 25+ years, I have read the novels, and have played other systems as well. I started off in 2E AD&D, but explored 1E D&D and the campaign worlds. I continued playing into 3E D&D, stopped like many in 4E D&D, and came back to see 5E D&D. One things to keep in mind about this RPG is that there are two side to it; the rules that help you flesh out a gaming session and the fictional world created by a number of authors.
In the early years most of these worlds were loosely based, but many authors contributed to them and added a rich tapestry to the games. Soon fully developed world like Mystaram Oerth, Abeir-Toril, and Krynn graced us with there existence. A strong support of novels and sourcebook added greater depth, as both players and DMs gained access to amazing sourcebooks over the years. for many years this was the way, you can add and clarify....but not rudely change things just because. We had gatekeeper's who were are guardians that made sure these world had a cohesive storyline.... one that made sense..... until the dark times of the SJWs which have corrupted the games of D&D and made their ways into the fold of so called "creative authors".
Within the past two years, 5E D&D has begun to head in the wrong direction with the inclusion of gender, accessibility, and diversity politics. At first they began to fiddle with the rules, which is fine as those are game mechanics.... and game mechanics can be optimized for a game. However, when you start mutating established story lines....that is going to far. You are no longer adding to a tapestry of storyteller, you are now unraveling it.... cannibalizing sections and censoring. The state of Wizards of the Coast 5E D&D is doing just that. They created a problem and issue that never existed.... an issue with diversity, inclusiveness, and and social justice politics. The first of these was the issue of race and alignment.
As this is a fantasy game, the option to play known human characters were always there. You could play elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings that were based upon European lore. With the D&D game many of these races had various cultures based upon the worlds they were on which already altered some of the original European characteristics. If one had the fortunate circumstance and access to the various sourcebooks and supplemental material from Dragon, Dungeon, and Polyhedron magazines you would see that there were racial and cultural diverse options to choose from. As with the second issue of alignment, there were various interpretations as to this..... as it was a guideline to help determine you characters ethos and give some color to the various civilizations in general. As far as a game you have various opposing ideas of thought, which we simplify into faction of good and evil or chaos and law. However these basic concepts seem to difficult for the average person to grasp nowadays.
The worst thing as mentioned is storytelling meddling....were canon is thrown out the window for more social conscious ideas. First and foremost these new individuals need to realize that the established history of most of these games are written specifically in certain time periods which reflect our own real world histories. Many of the fantasy race have their own cultural bias, as well as the humans who live around them. What is worse is that these new authors seem no to understand historical context or writing principals of fiction..... in which the protagonist needs an antagonist. Conflict and misunderstanding are parts of most stories, besides the obvious of exploration.
The new 5E D&D tears down what was already built, and forcing in our modern day perspective of things. Gender equality, racial equality, whatever equality......... that doesn't belong in the game or in the story as a driving force. Neither does representation..... I am sorry.... but if you are role playing... the whole point is about playing someone else..... and if there is no established world to your liking your create one. You shouldn't force characters or places to change to accommodate the blacks or gays at the table. You shouldn't have to be sensitive to the females or cripples if the story doesn't compel it. You can't just walk into a kingdom and say revolt and start a democracy without consequences? Its nice to be included.... I get it.... but you also got to realize that some things just don't change overnight or shouldn't be done. Sometime you have to live within your own means, and yes.... no your limits.
For example.... most places in general do not like "strangers".... small villages will be suspicious of outsiders. Many places will also have many cultural bias, as their education and exposure to the outside world is limited. Most NPCs care only about surviving to the next day, tending their crop and hunting, and maintaining their homestead. Even cityfolk are not much different as education and exposure are not at the forefront, its about surviving day to day.... making sure you have a roof over your head and coin for food. They may be a bit more enlightened.... but remember most are taught by their religions and the nobility who shape the political and social climate. You have individuals who do not want the status quo to change....and those would be your kings and queens, city councils, and members of the religious organizations.
Now if D&D wanted to promote a setting with "progressive" ideas.... then by all means do so in creating such a place. However do not pollute the worlds by all of a sudden having characters were logical they shouldn't be. Know you history of your products..... don't condemn your own series of books.... without actually reading them. Heck most of the products as I said were inclusive already.... providing other options that were stereotyped..... you had the Kofu drow and followers of Elistree who were already good aligned drow and a few orcs that were more civilized. Things were never truly locked down, and there was already flexibility in the game and the story.
In short.... I am no longer supporting Dungeons and Dragons as it is now a mockery or its former self. With Tasha's Guide....I felt the authors had no idea who that iconic character was.... it wasn't some cute girl power character..... and Van Richten's Guide was the most offensive as it tainted every darklord and domain with some perverted new history.... and gender and race swapping characters. The domain of dread went from a place of gothic horror to a place were women and blacks run amok, whatever they were trying became the most ignorant and offensive book published. A wasted opportunity.... instead of adding or creating something new.... they defecated all over Ravenloft.
