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

[embee]

For the record, I enjoy discussions regarding the scale of common objects and spaces in D&D settings. I think it's something I've seen a lot of DMs fail to address, and it's something that absolutely would be reflected in a place with various sizes of sentient folk running around.

That said, this particular adjudication reads like trolling. Like are you forcing athletics checks for halflings to ascend barstools? (Or dex checks for humans to avoid tripping over halfling-appropriate barstools)

It depends.

If it's a goliath bar, absolutely. Goliaths are large and halflings are small. It's no different than having the halfling wield a standard two-handed greatsword with disadvantage. (PHB 147).

So yes, for something like that, give me a DC 12 to get onto a stool as a small creature when it was designed for a large creature. If you have Athletics or acrobatics, you can add that.

 

[Gammadoodler]

It's not much. Just assume large size, not fey, and can't walk up walls and ropes. I personally wouldn't make a centaur roll for normal stairs, though it would be slow going.

That's all fine for you. But discussing what a centaur should be able to do based on what you've already decided they can do is begging the question for you and does nothing for me.

 

[Remathilis]

Let's assume that a centaur is as intelligent as a person on average. Can a wheelchair-bound person descend a staircase with ease? No. There is a physical difference.

So what you're saying is that a centaur needs a combat wheelchair?

Redirect Notice

 

[Gammadoodler]

It depends.

If it's a goliath bar, absolutely. Goliaths are large and halflings are small. It's no different than having the halfling wield a standard two-handed greatsword with disadvantage. (PHB 147).

So yes, for something like that, give me a DC 12 to get onto a stool as a small creature when it was designed for a large creature. If you have Athletics or acrobatics, you can add that.

A centaurs gait is whatever the brain running it determines it should be.

If they have to dressage their way up or down the stairs they can do that, and it doesn't even have to be that unusual for them to accomplish it. Dressage is only a sport because riders have to train the horse to do things they wouldn't otherwise think to do. There's no such disconnect for a centaur.

As it relates to the calls for rolls, I like your consistency, but it sounds intensely irritating to deal with. Different strokes I guess.

 

[Umbran]

Because they want to be special.
Because in real life they're anything but.

Mod Note:
Yeah, join with a name like that, and start laying about insulting folks is not gonna work. Bye bye.

 

[Minigiant]

A lot of this centaur discussion reminds me of the older methods of handling monster races: don't ban them, but make it REALLY inconvenient to play them. D&D has used all manner of methods to keep them unplayable: lizardfolk needing to constantly be damp,

This is what confused me about the "people just want the mechanics and power" lines you hear.

Monster races have a history of just sucking so hard and being literally one trick ponies.

 

[embee]

A centaurs gait is whatever the brain running it determines it should be.

If they have to dressage their way up or down the stairs they can do that, and it doesn't even have to be that unusual for them to accomplish it. Dressage is only a sport because riders have to train the horse to do things they wouldn't otherwise think to do. There's no such disconnect for a centaur.

As it relates to the calls for rolls, I like your consistency, but it sounds intensely irritating to deal with. Different strokes I guess.

It goes to RP.

Think back to Fellowship of the Ring. The Inn of the Prancing Pony. The bartender had to bend over the bar to see the hobbits. Or your other example - DEX checks for humans to avoid tripping over halfling-appropriate barstools.

Again, think back to the beginning of the movie. Gandalf bumps his head on a ceiling beam. This wasn't even scripted; it was McKellan accidentally bumping his head on the hobbit-sized set. Why keep it? Why have that flub? Because it established the size difference.

Would I have a halfling roll for every interaction in a goliath bar? Probably not. But there may very likely be one to add flavor - to establish that the character is physically out of place. Why would I make a centaur roll dice to traverse stairs? It's difficult terrain for him. He's not simply any other character who has a some bonus abilities. He's a character who is going to likely have difficulty interacting with some parts of the environment. It's one of the aspects of his Equine Build.

 

[Umbran]

Why would I make a centaur roll dice to traverse stairs? It's difficult terrain for him.

In 5e, "difficult terrain" means something specific, and it isn't a Dex check. It is just reduced movement.

 

[Remathilis]

It goes to RP.

Think back to Fellowship of the Ring. The Inn of the Prancing Pony. The bartender had to bend over the bar to see the hobbits. Or your other example - DEX checks for humans to avoid tripping over halfling-appropriate barstools.

Again, think back to the beginning of the movie. Gandalf bumps his head on a ceiling beam. This wasn't even scripted; it was McKellan accidentally bumping his head on the hobbit-sized set. Why keep it? Why have that flub? Because it established the size difference.

Would I have a halfling roll for every interaction in a goliath bar? Probably not. But there may very likely be one to add flavor - to establish that the character is physically out of place. Why would I make a centaur roll dice to traverse stairs? It's difficult terrain for him. He's not simply any other character who has a some bonus abilities. He's a character who is going to likely have difficulty interacting with some parts of the environment. It's one of the aspects of his Equine Build.

You realize difficult terrain just requires 2 ft of move per 1 ft moved in 5e, right? By that standard, a centaur slowly up a flight of stairs seems fair. Making them will to fall/stumble/injure or break things is designed to embarrass and humiliate the player for picking that race, and it's punitive and mean-spirited.

 

[Oofta]

You realize difficult terrain just requires 2 ft of move per 1 ft moved in 5e, right? By that standard, a centaur slowly up a flight of stairs seems fair. Making them will to fall/stumble/injure or break things is designed to embarrass and humiliate the player for picking that race, and it's punitive and mean-spirited.

Is it okay for a halfling to not be able to reach the top shelf? If you make it known ahead of time that the campaign is going to be pirate themed and that centaurs can't climb the rigging and that will potentially be an issue is it mean spirited? If the ruling is clearly laid out ahead of time does it matter? Does the DM have to change the environment or planned encounters to allow every PC to contribute?

If a PC doesn't have ranged attacks in my game, there are going to be times when they sit on the sidelines. It's one of the reasons I made bows finesse so strength based PCs have a decent option. However if they don't buy that bow it's not my responsibility to make sure they have good options every encounter.

If the DM is springing this on the player, it's on the DM. If they've made the ruling clear I don't see it that way. Again, this goes back to personal preference and how you want to handle such things. I lean more towards the "more-or-less reality with magic".