If the Orc Isn’t Evil… What Is a Monster?

Why did orcs and drow disappear from the 2024 D&D Monster Manual? Wizards of the Coast has been rethinking what makes a “monster” but the real story is bigger than just a rules update. From medieval bestiaries to modern fantasy, the idea of “evil species” has deep roots in history, culture, and game design. In this video, we explore: The removal of orcs and drow from D&D’s new Monster Manual The origins of these “monsters” in myth and literature Why the stories we tell about monsters still matter today 📚 Further Reading / Notes: I referenced Tolkien's letters a few times, most of them are available online but me know if you need help. I also used Letters to JRR Tolkien, 2023 by Tolkien and Humphrey Carpenter and also referenced the writing by Tolkien titled Orcs that I found in Morgoth's Ring The History of Middle Earth volume 10. 🧙‍♂️ Connect with Wiz & Pippy! 📷 Instagram:@wizandpippyadventures 🦋 Bluesky: wizandpippy.bsky.social 📺 Twitch: twitch.tv/wizandpippy 💖 Patreon: patreon.com/Wiz_and_Pippy 🌐 All links: linktr.ee/WizAndPippy ⏱️ Chapters @00:00 Waning Days of the 5th Age @02:05 What is a Monster? @02:53 The Old Words: Orcs and Drow Before D&D @11:57 Why D&D Needed Monsters to Be Evil? @13:50 Shifting Perspectives