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Role-playing games, RPGs, are perhaps one of the newer venues for the fan of fantasy. These games allow an ordinary fanatic to take on the personage of any character that they wish to create. Human, elf, half-elf, drow, dwarf, orc, felar, arial, storm giant, cloud giant, frost giant, fire giant...the list goes on and on depending upon the system that is being used. However, this web site is dedicated to the racism that is found in fantasy, not the who, what, when, where, and hows of the RPG itself. To help to narrow the growing field down a little, a specific RPG, titled Carrion Fields, has been chosen as the object of study. This RPG is mentioned in the essay on racism (page 2), but it is now going to be examined in much greater detail.

The best place for one to start is, of course, the beginning. In order to make the racism of the RPG better to understand, the steps to creating a character should be looked at. Now, since racism is the main point that is being emphasized, the steps that do not deal with the race itself are going to be skipped. First, comes the choosing of the character's race. There is a listing of the races available, their main statistics (intelligence, wisdom, strength), and how much extra it will cost the character to gain per level. Though this chart is in the essay, here it is again for the sake of expediency:

The alignment (good vs. evil) of the various races has been denoted so that comparison is easier. When looking at the list of races, it becomes immediately apparent that those races that are good are smarter as well as faster, while those that are evil tend to be of much lesser intelligence but are stronger. For example, one would think that "Light-Elves" and "Dark-Elves" would have the same characteristics, except one would be good and the other evil. However, this is not the case. "True" elves are actually a little smarter and slightly weaker than their evil cousins. Or in the case of the giants, where the Storm giants are the smartest and the Fire giants are "very dumb." So in order for a race to be smart, it has to be good...but if if the role-player wants to be strong, it would be better to choose an evil character because all dark-skinned, evil characters are strong. This is only the beginning though.

Before actually choosing a race, it is recommended that the new player check the "help files" on the various races. These files will give a description of the average member of the race, as well as provide more information on the statistics of that race. Here are a few elaborate race descriptions. Three races have been chosen: the Elf because it represents the purest of the good races, the Orc because it epitomizes the ugly evil races, and the Human for comparison sake:::

Elves are slightly taller than humans but have a much lighter build. They lack the strength and stamina of the other races but are far more agile, both in body and mind. The average elf is approximately 6'3" and of fair complexion. Elves resist charm spells most effectively, due to their magical nature. However, they are burned by the touch of iron and so are barred from the use of iron in their adventuring careers. Elves are notoriously hard to spot and walk unnoticed automatically. They may see in the dark with infravision. Elves must stay good to cast any spells they know. Elves who have turned to evil are frowned upon. Max stats: Str: Strong Int: God-like Wis: Sagacious Dex: Quick Con: Average

Orcs are taller than humans and often deformed or mis-shapen. Their race was originally crafted by the Dark Gods from fallen Elves as a poor imitation of the Elven race. After generations of inbreeding and corruption, very little of their original Elven heritage remains. Their skin color varies from a pale gray or yellow to dark mottled colors and is often pock-marked or scabrous. Their ears are somewhat pointed like that of Elves but may be blunted or distorted. They are thick-browed and remarkably strong despite having wiry limbs. As with other races, there are variations in appearance among Clans, some being hairless, some with tusks, etc. Orcs are cunning but woefully stupid, strong but cowardly, and use pure brute strength in plowing through their opponents. Greed, fear, and rage drive the writhing brain of the Orc. Living together in Clans, only a single Chief can lead the Clan village. A village shaman oversees the selection of the Chief as well as other rituals integral to the culture. See HELP CLANCHIEF for more information regarding the Chief selection process. Living in squalor since the time of their creation, Orcs have a strong immune system and can eat things that would poison a Human, with no ill affects. They are able to hide within caves, swamplands, and within their own Clan villages. However, as creatures of darkness, Orcs are easily damaged by light-based attacks. All Orcs are evil and are too quarrelsome and bestial to ever be orderly in nature. Although they aren't skilled enough to become true pickpockets, Orcs can learn how to steal from one another. Because of their bitter hatred of Elves (and Wood-Elves) they will attack either on sight when berserking and strong enough to do so. Max stats: Str: Herculean Int: Average Wis: Average Dex: Dextrous Con: Vigorous

Humans are the most common race in the world, and make up the majority of adventurers. Although they have no special talents like the other races, they are more versatile, being skilled in all classes. Humans are able to gain more benefit from magical devices. Humans average six feet in height and are known to have colorings of all types. Max stats: Str : Strong Int: Genius Wis: Wise Dex: Dextrous Con: Healthy.
--Carrion Fields

Obviously, the description for the Orc is a lot more involved than that for either the Elf or the Human, but that is not to say that the descriptions for the other races is lacking. On the contrary, in a few short lines, the writers of this RPG are able to sum up not only the appearance of the races, but also give a general idea of how the race might be played and how common that race is. The description for the Orc includes more of the history for that race, but a similar help file could be found on the Elves. Due to the length of that history, it is kept separate. If the lines of racism hadn't been drawn before, this more in-depth look at the actual descriptions of the races is one more step in that direction. The elves are lithe and agile, while the orc is "deformed or mis-shapen" and "is often pock-marked or scabrous."

However, there is still even one greater leap to be made until the full realization of the racism of the RPG can truly be uncovered. Once a new player has created a character, he or she must then travel through the Academy, a general area where important skills are learned (opening doors, walking in various directions, using objects, buying and selling, etc). There is one room in particular where the racist nature of the game becomes all too apparent. Soon a large chamber is entered wherein lies a large table. At this table sits a member of each race, whether in actual chairs at the table for the giants or small chairs on top of the table for races such as the gnome. This large meeting has been frozen "by the Gods" so that the young player might observe each race. Here are the directions given to the "newbie:"

"Before you sits the great council. The gods have frozen the proceedings for you to look upon. Do not interfere. LOOK at each of the Elders and hear their thoughts. When you have learned all that you can, you may leave to the north."

Once again, three races will be examined. This time those races shall be the Drow (Dark-elf) as the only intelligent representative of evil, the Elf as the representative of good, and the Human once again for comparison. While somewhat lengthy at times, these glimpses into the minds of the races seated at the great table are in fact the true origin of the racism in the game. Or rather, this is the only tangible sign that racism is key to the role-playing experience. It should be kept in mind that these looks into the mind are to help the new role-player know how to think and act while in the game. These are the attitudes that they are directed to have while playing.

So the drow are evil and manipulating, the elves see themselves as beyond superior to the other races, and the humans care only for profits. This is not the only theme that is seen though. Even in this "brief glimpse" into the thoughts of these representatives, the great hatred and racism is dreadfully apparent. The game itself is based on this hatred and racism. The RPG forum is literally founded on the warring and hatred of different fantasy races. It uses past stereotypes and lends to the creation of even newer ones. Racism and ethnocentricity are the tools used by the role-player to make their c The Dreamer character believable. Do these ideas that one's own race is superior to all others have any carry-over into the real world? While that is hard to determine, psychological studies, especially those of Bandura, have shown that people--especially young people--do mock that which they see and hear. When role-playing, the person does not just watch the action, they live it. Would it not be likely then that the cross-over would be even greater?