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

[Crimson Longinus]

that is Eberron which we all agree would be a cool default but sadly it is not.

There really isn't a default. It's a supported official setting, one among several.

 

[Gammadoodler]

I have literally never heard of this, are you certain it is not some homebrew that just became normal and assumed to you?

It's extrapolation, but not unreasonable extrapolation. Near as I can tell they're the only race that has any real interest in interacting socially with the others, has no enemies, and has an interest in having a good time.

It's a mischaracterization to say that halflings have no ambitions. Their ambitions are just more related to getting the most enjoyment out of each moment, rather than accumulation of wealth or power. It's not crazy to assume that if this is their focus, that they'd be better at it than the other races.

 

[Micah Sweet]

There really isn't a default. It's a supported official setting, one among several.

Well, I would forgive someone who believed that what was in the PH was the default.

 

[Chaosmancer]

I see where you're coming from. But it's important to note that the PHB doesn't say halflings are one of the most important races--quite the opposite, in fact. Instead, it says halflings are one of the races most commonly found among adventuring parties. (I'll be interested to see if they walk that back in a future edition, but the fact that it's in the book doesn't bother me.)

See, but DnD is a game about adventuring parties. From the perspective of the game they are one of the most important races... and yet we keep getting told that they aren't important at all. And that not being important is their whole deal...

It's all twisted up somehow to make sure that they stay hobbits, when hobbits don't fit into the DnD mythos.

 

[Faolyn]

See, but DnD is a game about adventuring parties. From the perspective of the game they are one of the most important races... and yet we keep getting told that they aren't important at all. And that not being important is their whole deal...

It's all twisted up somehow to make sure that they stay hobbits, when hobbits don't fit into the DnD mythos.

Common =/= important.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Well, I would forgive someone who believed that what was in the PH was the default.

Well, perhaps, but that's not a setting, it's some tiny pieces of disconnected fluff. You either have to get one of the published settings or make your own to actually play the game.

 

[Don Durito]

Well, rearrange your perceptions. They're opening, they're welcoming, they cook and brew well, they like comfort.. they're perfect for this sort of thing.

Maybe they don't make pubs, but invented cafes and tea houses.

And I made a mistake, it's House Ghallanda.

I think it's Warhammer where halflings tend to run inns and the like and you can buy a pie which always tastes suspiciously just a little to good.

Or maybe it's just the games I played in.

 

[Chaosmancer]

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.

You know, you are right. Halflings should be more agressive. Just like those peace loving Firbolgs that aren't particularly aggressive and go out of their way to avoid violent conflict however possible who I keep commending for their lore and place in the world. Obviously the only thing I care about is killing and murder and war and conquest.

Or... maybe people could actually read what I write, and then they wouldn't make such blatantly false statements about my position.

 

[Don Durito]

Well, perhaps, but that's not a setting, it's some tiny pieces of disconnected fluff. You either have to get one of the published settings or make your own to actually play the game.

I think that's part of the disconnect in this thread.

There's those who take all of that stuff very seriously and think it's not good enough and needs to be changed.

And then there's those of us who are puzzled why anyone takes any of that stuff as more then a vague suggestion of what you could do if you can't think of something better.

 

[Gammadoodler]

See, but DnD is a game about adventuring parties. From the perspective of the game they are one of the most important races... and yet we keep getting told that they aren't important at all. And that not being important is their whole deal...

It's all twisted up somehow to make sure that they stay hobbits, when hobbits don't fit into the DnD mythos.

I don't know. It seems to me like this might function in the same way as say how certain towns in the Dominican Republic produce a disproportionate number of major league baseball players.

Separately, Hobbits fit into the D&D mythos just fine. These are fantasy worlds, it's silly to somehow determine "appropriate" fit for any fantasy race.