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

[Charlaquin]

That's the point.

Halfling adventurers would be the smallest percentage of the race compared to almost every other intelligent race.

The fact that people accept them as adventurers more than orcs or cat people is illogical. It's a preference out of familiarity or nostalgia and not reason. As described Halfling don't belong in the Player's Handbook because they are so rare. They belong in the DMG, MM, MTOF, or something.

All adventurers (read: PCs) are exceptional among their people. I don’t see this as an argument against any race being in the PHB, least of all halflings.

 

[MGibster]

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 someone's already brought this up I apologize. But aren't halflings third because the list is in alphabetical order?

1. Dwarf
2. Elf
3. Halfling
4. Human
5. Dragonborn
6. Gnome
7. Half-Elf
8. Half-Orc
9. Tiefling

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's the point.

Halfling adventurers would be the smallest percentage of the race compared to almost every other intelligent race.

The fact that people accept them as adventurers more than orcs or cat people is illogical. It's a preference out of familiarity or nostalgia and not reason. As described Halfling don't belong in the Player's Handbook because they are so rare. They belong in the DMG, MM, MTOF, or something.

It's a false point.

Halflings adventurers wouldn't be any rarer than human adventurers.

The fact that people are reluctant to accept cat people as adventurers is...well, not actually a thing, really. People are reluctant to build their worlds in a way where townsfolk are comfortable about a cat person or orc adventurer, or prefer not to allow orcs to be Good aligned, etc. I've seen absolutely no argument ever, in my entire life, that such races aren't realistic in the context of some of their members going on adventures.

As described, halflings belong in the PHB more than most races. They're one of the few races that have a noteworthy degree of wanderlust and curiosity, to the point where some percentage of them leave their homes and risk their lives for no other reason than to satisfy their curiosity and wanderlust.

 

[Minigiant]

If someone's already brought this up I apologize. But aren't halflings third because the list is in alphabetical order?

1. Dwarf
2. Elf
3. Halfling
4. Human
5. Dragonborn
6. Gnome
7. Half-Elf
8. Half-Orc
9. Tiefling

Number 5 and 6

 

[Oofta]

The texture of their skin is hardly what makes dragonborn incredible. And 3ft tall people wouldn't be at nearly as much a day to day disadvantage as you think. Halflings would have less of a hard time than real life Little People, in day to day activities. They aren't toddlers, they're adults with adult skeletal and muscular structures, reflexes, and awareness of their surroundings and their body.

Your commentary about dodging has nothing to do with halflings, its just a blanket argument against dodging attacks. Not a compelling one, either. It's an action game. Characters dodge. Big shrug. A 9 year old can dodge a lot better than an adult, IME, because of their size and how easy it is for them to move that weight quickly in a short burst. Play nerf tag with some kids.

Now, if they remained about that hieght and wieght into adulthood, with better natural reflexes than a human, halflings are close enough for a game that doesn't get more nitty gritty than "dex means agile regardless of strength score".

Now, if you thinhk that the Hobbits were non-combatants who just needed protecting...are you sure you read the books? Because you're objectively wrong about that.

I always just assumed their muscles work a bit different. Much like how a chimpanzee could probably rip your arm off. Size doesn't have to equate to strength in a world with magic.

 

[MGibster]

Number 5 and 6

Let's pretend I didn't type out a list that clearly showed I was wrong at a glance. Please?

 

[Oofta]

I'll try to remember that small, lightweight creatures can't be dangerous while I go over and pet the wild honey badger.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Let's pretend I didn't type out a list that clearly showed I was wrong at a glance. Please?

They are in alphabetical order - it's just that those are effecitvely two lists - the "common races" (Dwarves, elfs, halflings, humans) and the "uncommon races" (everyone else)

 

[Charlaquin]

Number 5 and 6

That’s because in the PHB they are broken up between common (dwarf, elf, halfling, human) and uncommon (dragonborn, gnome, half-elf, half-orc, tiefling). Each subset of races is listed alphabetically .

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Saying halflings are built like chimps would be more effective an argument if they were in fact built like chimps. Their proportions seem pretty human like, making them child-like (or like real life people with dwarfism).

Is Peter Dinklage a great actor? Sure. Is he able to outbox 6'4" behemoths? Not sure.