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

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Right. I think I totally get the story elements. It just feels odd after the past few years to have a race designed to suffer discrimination and micro-aggressions every new place they go. I guess I need to think over why how much of half-orcs being treated badly is bad just because their orc half was labeled as an evil race instead of having free will. It also has me reconsidering if the the interracial strife in Glen Cook's Tun Faire books wouldn't be a deal breaker for a setting (since they treat each other badly like you'd expect in the real world, but none of them are innately worse in a good-evil sense).

I suspect future PHBs will turn those dials down some, but still mention it. I can't imagine we'll be in a world where prejudice and discrimination will be unknown concepts by the time 6E comes out.

And with stat bonuses being free-floating in the future, most likely, one can have a strong character without that baggage if they want to play a character not dealing with such themes.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Bigotry existing in the setting is really just a good reason for towns to be burned to the ground because they're dumb enough to be bigots to people who can ignite you if you hurt them as a reflex.

The tiefling wizard in the 1 For All YouTube series would enthusiastically agree.

 

[Vaalingrade]

The tiefling wizard in the 1 For All YouTube series would enthusiastically agree.

I would say she is my favorite, but they're all my favorite.

Also, it's really weird you mention them when I discovered them just this weekend.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I would say she is my favorite, but they're all my favorite.

Also, it's really weird you mention them when I discovered them just this weekend.

I think they're getting close to critical mass on popularity, possibly due to them apparently getting more money from the Australian film commission people and correspondingly bigger budgets. I hadn't heard anyone mention them until recently.

 

[Gammadoodler]

All this talk about halflings when the real problem race is elves.

We're told that they're lithe and fair and don't need to sleep; that they're great casters and warriors and have had vast kingdoms etc.

Buy try and picture an elf working on something (besides drawing a bow). Try to imagine a sweaty tired elf, coming home from their day job cleaning out the stables of the elven cavalry. Picture an elf actually in a forge, hammering away with those skinny arms.

I contend that it is impossible. They are an absurdity and an offense.

Such a race with a focus on beauty cannot exist in any setting where hard work is required to get things done. Such traits do not fit in D&D. It'd be OK(and appropriate)if they were moved to the monster manual for the players that actually enjoy such a silly race, but us serious D&D players deserve something better.

(Only half kidding)

 

[Oofta]

All this talk about halflings when the real problem race is elves.

We're told that they're lithe and fair and don't need to sleep; that they're great casters and warriors and have had vast kingdoms etc.

Buy try and picture an elf working on something (besides drawing a bow). Try to imagine a sweaty tired elf, coming home from their day job cleaning out the stables of the elven cavalry.

I contend that it is impossible. They are an absurdity and an offense.

Such a race with a focus on beauty cannot exist in any setting where hard work is required to get things done. Such traits do not fit in D&D. It'd be OK(and appropriate)if they were moved to the monster manual for the players that actually enjoy such a silly race, but us serious D&D players deserve something better.

(Only half kidding)

Elves don't sweat, they perspire my dear Gammadoodler. Sweating just wouldn't be proper!

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

If only there was a race (or even a specific subrace) that elves could get along with who could do a lot of the actual work of running a civilization in return for protection, while elves got on with the important business of twirling around in their leaf-themed clothing and such.

 

[Gammadoodler]

Elves don't sweat, they perspire my dear Gammadoodler. Sweating just wouldn't be proper!

I contend that they do not. Consider the character art, how many times have you seen a drop of perspiration on an elven character??

In fact, elven character art seems to come in only two categories:

"Menacingly" pose with bow drawn, and;
Twilight series casting headshot.

How have these abominations been allowed to continue for so long?

 

[Garthanos]

The best thing about genasi, IMO, is you can reskin them as janni and use them in an Arabian Nights setting easily. Otherwise, it's hard to see what their place is in most D&D worlds.

Well if I am reskinning then imagination is the only limit. Could be the stormsoul genasi are Aesir. Or an individual hero who was born in a storm his parent dies and they almost do too but an elemental takes pity and restores life changing them in the process with a part elemental spirit.

 

[Faolyn]

Elves don't sweat, they perspire my dear Gammadoodler. Sweating just wouldn't be proper!

They don't even perspire. They merely glisten enticingly!