[walshemj]

Apart from the point where Sam muses about that specific point - expecting Heroic fantasy to be the same as a modern day booker prize novel is not helpful.

Just as a lot of the tropes of classical Athenian Theatre are alien to us nowadays doesn't mean its not great art.

[Apocryphon]

I'm not disputing that the works of Tolkien are classics immemorial. I'm just saying that it's always good to take note of the biases of any creator- and they needn't be biases that run counter to "political correctness", either.

Specifically to race in fantasy, I agree that LoTR wasn't really the place for that. However, D&D is actually the perfect place- RPG sourcebooks are expected to worldbuild, and describe fantasy worlds in detail. So it's a useful thing to think of when exploring an RPG.

[walshemj]

Id agree but 4th and 5th very much went down the what role your building the character for (tank dps healer controller etc) and stopped some of the more fun parts coming up with a concept and building character to suit.