D&D General My Problem(s) With Halflings, and How To Create Engaging/Interesting Fantasy Races

[Yaarel]

No. Mixed-race characters have merit on their own.

If the book offers premades, for a common mix, using the multilineage mechanic, that is fine.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

"What you see is what you get."

When you see a Huge creature, the creature is going to hit harder, whether with a fist or a sword.

When you see a Medium creature trying to wield a Huge weapon, the Medium creature barely lifts it, let alone wields it effectively.

Adding a flat size damage bonus is WYSISWYG.

Except under your model the weapon damage dice are just completely arbitrary, not connected to the actual weapon as it exists in the fiction. If ogre picks up a human great sword, what damage does it do?

 

[Iry]

can you put halfling in a totally different concept without removing the halflingness? I do not think you can but I would like to be wrong.

I read a very cool halfling concept - a culture of born adventurers.

Because of their innate luck, the halfling people have developed a much smaller fear of death precisely because they escape it so often. While there are certainly home bodies and halflings working the farm, everyone has a relative in the adventuring business. At least one shop selling adventuring supplies can be found in even the smallest halfling villages, both for those that set out for adventure of their own, or just for the kids who someday dream and play with their grappling hooks up and down the side of grandma's house.

 

[Yaarel]

Except under your model the weapon damage dice are just completely arbitrary, not connected to the actual weapon as it exists in the fiction. If ogre picks up a human great sword, what damage does it do?

A Large Ogre adds 1d6 to the Medium greatsword damage, but the attack is at a disadvantage because the size of the hilt and the heft is off.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

A Large Ogre adds 1d6 to the Human greatsword damage, but the attack is at a disadvantage because the size of the hilt and the heft is off.

So ogre deals the same amount of damage with a human greatsword than with a ogre greatsword twice its size? Yeah, this doesn't work for me.

My answer is that the sword deals 2d6 damage (ogre greatsword would deal 4d6) and the ogre can wield the weapon with one hand, as it is about the same size than an ogre short sword would be (which would incidentally also do 2d6 damage.) In theory the ogre could have a disadvantage if the hilt was really unsuitable, but that seems a tad harsh as greatswords have really long and rather hefty hilts, so it is probably pretty suitable for one handed ogre grip. In fact, as in many settings ogres tend to be rather primitive, many of their weapons might be repurposed human weapons. And when the PCs kill the ogre, the party's human fighter can pick up the sword and start using it, the damage dice constantly remaining the same.

Anyway, about them halflings! I like them!

 

[Yaarel]

And when the PCs kill the ogre, the party's human fighter can pick up the sword and start using it, the damage dice constantly remaining the same.

Thats a feature, not a bug.

If a player absolutely wants an oversized buster sword, it is doable. But it is for flavor, there is no mechanical incentive.

 

[PsyzhranV2]

Just make the damage die tied to class, with specific weapon types providing different bonus effects, and then let the player flavour the rest however they want.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Thats a feature, not a bug.

Yes, under my model the fighter can pick up the ogre's one handed short sword which was repurposed human greatsword to begin with. The can't wield an actual ogre sized greatsword, because that would be absurd.

If a player absolutely wants an oversized buster sword, it is doable. But it is for flavor, there is no mechanical incentive.

We simply have drastically differnt preferences. I wouldn't want to play that way. I don't want those empty calories. Flavour comes with rules giving things reality.

 

[Yaarel]

A flat 1d6 size damage bonus, is something that Large player lineage can balance easily as a lineage trait.

Large player characters become possible.

No more deluge of only Small lineages.

 

[FrozenNorth]

I guess I just don't get it.

I don't know when things like Innocence, Authenticity, Tranquility, friendship, just plain being comfortable and in harmony with one's self and surroundings became such UNheroic concepts.

You know, Innocence, Authenticity, Tranquility, Friendship, Comfort and Harmony are all traits I associate with Rogues, the class most associated with Halflings.

Maybe that is part of the problem?