I agree but this conversation keeps happening - sincerely (as we see here) and insincerely elsewhere. People are no longer using "race" as word for a fantasy species that has its own culture, alignment . . .
And, yes, if alignment goes I'm leaving DnD for Pathfinder; the elimination of alignment was one of the reasons I ignored 4e. Without alignment these fantasy worlds just seem analogues for our world and that's boring. I prefer the mystical, magical, metaphysical world given to us by authors like Moorcock.
Blood and souls for lord Arioch!
It's hard to say whether a lot of people aren't using the word race or not, certainly in my groups there's no question about its usage and BG3 uses it. WotC has taken a huge hit to their moral standing, so their stance either way is highly suspect. The cynic in me thinks they'd use any cheap divide-and-conquer trick to mask their real move.
Thing is, race in a broad concept with fuzzy edges whereas species removes aspects like language, culture, morality and technological development. Just writing this, it feels like a move to sci-fi.
Anyway, rambling and musing when we should be talking goblins! But which ones; bugbears, small goblins or hobgoblins? I presume the OP was talking about small ones, but at mention of the 'Chill', hobgoblins should definitely be treated differently!
