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TranceformerFX on 25 May 2018
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the-pi-guy said:
TranceformerFX said:
I think the most egregious example of forced diversity in a video game is black people in "Middle Earth: Shadow of War". J.R.R. Tolkein is probably rolling in his grave, and I'm surprised Christopher Tolkein didn't comment on it, considering he adores the LOTR lore just as much as his father.

Black people in the LOTR universe come from the continent of Haradrim.  

There were black characters in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy.  

So no, it's not pushing to have a black character in the game.  

The Haradrim are not classified nor mentioned to have dark skin. The only people in Middle Earth that are described to have characteristics akin to an Afro-American are the Black Numenoreans. Here's a wiki excerpt:

 

"This warrior is described[8] as having brown skin (although so are some hobbits), with black plaits of hair braided with gold."

 

Brown skin, not black. And the brown skin is likely due to the culture of their people being over exposed to the sun, resulting in a "tan" skin tone.

 

There is mention of the "Black Numenorean Lord's". But that description isn't explicitly implied on their skin color nor mentioned. It could be their armor, or symbolic of the tyrannical Numenorean rule since 'Black' or Dark' were often the shorthand titles of evil in Middle Earth Lore.

 

There were no Black people in J.R.R. Tolkeins vision of Middle Earth, so naturally there couldn't be any in Lord of the Rings.

Last edited by TranceformerFX - on 25 May 2018