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

[jayoungr]

The constraints on a movie character are rather different than the constraints on a player race in an RPG.

I don't dispute that. Yoda is more of an analogy for how a halfling PC can function in an individual campaign, even if halflings as a group aren't movers and shakers in the game world.

 

[Cadence]

I get it, we're talking about D&D, which at it's core revolves around combat. But it's still kind of sad that the impression is that halflings have terrible lore is because they aren't warlike and aggressive. The fact that they like to live peacefully with others around them and don't feel compelled to rule others is somehow a bad thing. That other species are more important because they craft items designed to kill others, or to make it easier to kill others.

What is the race of every single author of the PhB? Who are the halflings cautious around?

 

[Oofta]

What is the race of every single author of the PhB? Who are the halflings cautious around?

Not following at all. Just stating that the impression I get is that halflings have bad lore because as a group they aren't particularly aggressive unless forced to defend themselves or their allies.

 

[FrozenNorth]

Clearly, because I don't like them or their lore, that means that they're a terrible race that needs to be reinvented or thrown out, right?

You should be able to make your case as to whether D&D is better with if dwarves are replaced with say, goliaths as a core race. Some people will agree. Some will not.

I expect several will point out that dwarves seem to be played more often than halflings.

 

[Cadence]

Not following at all. Just stating that the impression I get is that halflings have bad lore because as a group they aren't particularly aggressive unless forced to defend themselves or their allies.

Halflings have bad lore because TSR and WotC only ever hired humans. So Elves are fine because humans think they're hot, Dwarves are fine because they show off all their craftsmanship during the interviews with the writers, etc... The halflings that are home don't return the calls from the human PhB and campaign writers because it would disrupt their routine and spoil everything (and the ones who would answer are out travelling around).

 

[Vaalingrade]

You should be able to make your case as to whether D&D is better with if dwarves are replaced with say, goliaths as a core race. Some people will agree. Some will not.

I expect several will point out that dwarves seem to be played more often than halflings.

The important thing is to be aggressive and paternalistic about removing dwarves for the dwarf fans' own good.

 

[FrozenNorth]

I've never heard of dwarves having traditional ancestor worship. I can picture it (and it's a pretty good fit), but they have pretty much a D&D standard spiritual life, focused on their own pantheon.

Not ancestor worship in the real-life sociological sense, but if you read their write-up in the PHB, there is a lot about tracing their ancestry to the foundation of the hold, wishing to bring honour to the clan and their ancestors, and how their clan is central to being a dwarf.

 

[FrozenNorth]

I don't dispute that. Yoda is more of an analogy for how a halfling PC can function in an individual campaign, even if halflings as a group aren't movers and shakers in the game world.

Sure, but Yoda’s race is for all intents and purposes irrelevant in Star Wars. I think everyone agrees that it is possible to create a PC whose race doesn’t matter in the campaign.

 

[jayoungr]

I think everyone agrees that it is possible to create a PC whose race doesn’t matter in the campaign.

Unless it's a very specialized campaign, yes. Which is why I don't think it's a problem for most players if halflings as a group don't do much on the global stage.

 

[Mind of tempest]

That they're magical. Halflings aren't particularly magical, and they don't need to make magical items to make them stealthier than they already are.

then what do they make?