D&D 5E What is the appeal of the weird fantasy races?

[Maxperson]

Halfling 5e D&D description


The FIRST thing they talk about when describing Halflings is that they are homebodies who like being home so much they carry home with them..

And it ends with them basically saying halflings only adventure because an outside force pushes them or gives them a opportunity to leave.

One does not equal the other. The race as a whole generally lives peacefully, but adventuring PCs can leave for any reason they want, even if no outside force is pushing them.

 

[Maxperson]

@doctorbadwolf - I think the point that is being made is that halflings are no less "freaky" than tabaxi or lizard folk. Arguments that non-Tolkien races are somehow "harder" to accept than the Tolkien ones tend to fall fairly flat on examination.

That argument isn't true, though. You're falsely equating realism(Halflings) or lack thereof with freaky(humanoid cat people).

 

[Hussar]

That argument isn't true, though. You're falsely equating realism(Halflings) or lack thereof with freaky(humanoid cat people).

In what way is a cat person more "freaky" than halflings? Halflings are not "realistic" and even halfling fans admit that - the whole "it's a magic game where characters have magic" kinda admits to a complete lack of realism. Plus, as was mentioned, halflings as designed aren't meant to adventure. They embody the whole "reluctant hero" trope to a T.

And, again, this ignores the extra dimensional invaders that are elves.

A tabaxi, or rakasta, is just pretty much a very hairy human with some feline predilections. It's perfectly plausible and frankly, probably a whole lot less uncanny valley territory than elves or bobble headed halflings.

 

[Minigiant]

One does not equal the other. The race as a whole generally lives peacefully, but adventuring PCs can leave for any reason they want, even if no outside force is pushing them.

That's the point.

The space between PC Halfing and NPC halfling is greater than PC Tabaxi and NPC Tabaxi or PC Orc and NPC Orc or PC Dragonborn or PC Dragonborn.

By defintion, a PC halfling who acts very "halflingly" would need a push or threats to keep adventuring as they would constantly feel like or want to be going home and retiring. A dwarfy dwarf, elfy elf, orcy orc, gnolly gnoll, or tieflingy tiefling lacks that issue.

 

[Maxperson]

In what way is a cat person more "freaky" than halflings? Halflings are not "realistic" and even halfling fans admit that - the whole "it's a magic game where characters have magic" kinda admits to a complete lack of realism. Plus, as was mentioned, halflings as designed aren't meant to adventure. They embody the whole "reluctant hero" trope to a T.

You're making it realism vs appearance. You know I'm an advocate for more realism than the base game gives, but even I'm okay with Halflings being unrealistically strong. That's different, though, than something that looks very much non-human and acts(or should act) much more non-human than halflings do. That appearance and behavior makes them more freaky than halflings.

Now, this is of course subjective, but my personal experience is that the races with the crazier appearances are less accepted by players and DMs than the base races that are more human in appearance, so it appears that many/most share my opinion on this. That doesn't mean that the "freaky" races don't get played, but rather that they get played less overall than the base races do. The big three being dwarves, humans and elves.

And, again, this ignores the extra dimensional invaders that are elves.

If you accept the new 5e fluff. Even then, the elves don't look much different than humans. I prefer the older edition fluff for my elves.

A tabaxi, or rakasta, is just pretty much a very hairy human with some feline predilections. It's perfectly plausible and frankly, probably a whole lot less uncanny valley territory than elves or bobble headed halflings.

I've seen hairy humans. They don't have cat eyes, tails, claws and a thick coat of fur. Methinks you're understating that juuuuust a bit

 

[Charlaquin]

Halfling kinda push the ewhole point in favor of exotic races.

Thing about it.

Halflings are a race of small humaniods who look like humans but (1) prefer to stay home. Only a few even like leaving home and it's only via curiosity. But even THEN halflings don't act, they watch in amusement (2), And even then, halflings don mess with stuff, they don't conquer or hunt or build or destroy (3). Oh and they suck at fighting fair (4) and have no magical history in their culture, arcane, clerical, or otherwise (5).

So why are a bunch of small passive homebody pranskters with little natural combat talent the third race list in a game about adventuring? If anything, they embody an NPC race more than orcs, tabaxi, tortles, and half-giants combined. The 5 weirdos that build the foundation of their inclusion in the game don'tdo enough to promote them to even inclusion in the PHB.

If D&D were influenced first by Journey to the West before The Lord of the Rings, there'd be little people pushing for hobbits or halflings in the Player Handbook as a common race for player character adventurers.

Umm... This is not at all how halflings are described in 5e. Is it possible that your grievances with them are holdovers from previous editions?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Not really. Average halfling in 5e is 3 feet and 40 pounds. There's a very strong limitation on how strong that being can be. And, lacking the physical strength means that you lack the ability to dodge quickly - you just don't have the muscles necessary to move your body that quickly. Particularly on a humanoid frame. It's a question of physics.

I know people point to chimpanzees, but a full grown chimpanzee is three or four times the mass of the average halfling and isn't built to human proportions. And a chimp isn't fond of sedentary lifestyles that don't exactly lend themselves to being nimble acrobats.

I mean, the fact they gave them a stupid range of weight isn't especially compelling.

edit: also 40 lbs mammals can be pretty damn fast, so, I don't even buy your argument to begin with.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

@doctorbadwolf - I think the point that is being made is that halflings are no less "freaky" than tabaxi or lizard folk. Arguments that non-Tolkien races are somehow "harder" to accept than the Tolkien ones tend to fall fairly flat on examination.

I don't care even the tiniest little smidge about that. I replied to a specific statement. If you're trying to force that exchange, which didn't involve you, to a topic you want it to be about, even if that is closer to the thread topic, I'm not interested in further interaction here.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's the point.

The space between PC Halfing and NPC halfling is greater than PC Tabaxi and NPC Tabaxi or PC Orc and NPC Orc or PC Dragonborn or PC Dragonborn.

By defintion, a PC halfling who acts very "halflingly" would need a push or threats to keep adventuring as they would constantly feel like or want to be going home and retiring. A dwarfy dwarf, elfy elf, orcy orc, gnolly gnoll, or tieflingy tiefling lacks that issue.

Nope. A halfling adventurer is, nearly always and by definition, one of the small percentage of halflings who experience a wanderlust and feel a call to leave home and find adventure.

 

[Charlaquin]

Not really. Average halfling in 5e is 3 feet and 40 pounds. There's a very strong limitation on how strong that being can be. And, lacking the physical strength means that you lack the ability to dodge quickly - you just don't have the muscles necessary to move your body that quickly. Particularly on a humanoid frame. It's a question of physics.

I know people point to chimpanzees, but a full grown chimpanzee is three or four times the mass of the average halfling and isn't built to human proportions. And a chimp isn't fond of sedentary lifestyles that don't exactly lend themselves to being nimble acrobats.

I think the reason people point to chimpanzees is not to suggest that halflings are built like chimpanzees, but to point out that they don’t have to be built like humans. The idea of a species that is physically smaller than humans but with comparable strength is really not that outlandish. Though, even if it was, I don’t think that would matter much. It’s fantasy. Suspension of disbelief is a necessary part of the buy-in.