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

[Krachek]

Just put a warning a the start of the phb.
“You buy a useless book, your DM may have completely rewrite this book, check out with your DM for more information.”

 

[Yaarel]

As I mentioned earlier, the D&D human doesn't feel very much like what I am.

Even then, your inherent ability to compare your reallife self to the D&D Human, still gives you a sense of what the D&D Human is, making it the measure to compare other D&D lineages.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Even then, your inherent ability to compare your reallife self to the D&D Human, still gives you a sense of what the D&D Human is, making it the measure to compare other D&D lineages.

So, you are saying that by comparing myself to something I don't relate to it gives me a measure to compare myself to something I relate too better?

 

[Oofta]

From your repeated assertions that all lore should be moved to setting books and removed from the PHB. That is your opinion on the matter, correct? To make everything a blank slate that can be filled in by campaign settings and homebrewing DMs?

And yet, despite your opinion (which I didn't think I needed to remind you of your own opinion) the fact is that there is lore in the PHB. And it is probably going to stay that way, because new players will always need a basis to get hooked before the first setting book comes out. And therefore, curating that lore in the PHB, is a valid concern, and shouldn't just be brushed off because "lore is for campaign settings"



I already apologized for misunderstanding your position on Tolkien.

And I'm responding because I think it is rude to ignore people. And I do not like being rude to people.

Finally, I've laid out my position on halfling lore repeatedly. I haven't just put forth an opinion, I have supported that opinion on multiple levels. Your insistence that I have done nothing of the sort, that I am complaining about a "supposed" lack of lore when other posters have agreed with me on a lack of lore being an issue, is frankly baffling.

If I am arrogant for supporting my position and holding a position that others agree with, then what is even the point of a discussion board?

Ah yes, lead with the the blatantly false "all lore should be moved" canard that I have never once stated. Then add on the falsehood that I accused you of not saying what you want. I did not say that. I stand by the fact that 99% of what you post is playing the victim and complaining about all of your "opponents", instead of talking about how to make halflings more interesting.

But sure. You said some things you would add about being diplomats and lore keepers. I disagree with and explained why. You just went back on the attack. If you apologized about Tolkien I didn't see it, AFAIK it wasn't in a response to me.

In any case, once again proving it's pointless because all I'm saying is that yes you are entitled to your opinion. The fact that you state or imply that other people's opinions are baseless and without value, that only your exalted opinion matters is what bothers me.

 

[Yaarel]

So, you are saying that by comparing myself to something I don't relate to it gives me a measure to compare myself to something I relate too better?

Yeah. You have a feel of the distance between you and the D&D Human, thus understanding the measure of the D&D Human.

 

[Hussar]

Another avenue to examine would be the Adventurers League modules. How much material for races and focus on different races are in there?

The reason this came to mind was the Trance module I was just referring to is an Adventurers League Module that was featured in Dragon+ called Riddle of the Raven Queen - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild - Riddle of the Raven Queen. An entire, pretty lengthy module, focused on elves and elven culture.

I'll admit though, I'm not terribly familiar with AL stuff, so, I'm not sure what's actually there. Have never really dived into it.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Ah yes, lead with the the blatantly false "all lore should be moved" canard that I have never once stated.

I think that is closer to my position, although I wouldn't move all lore, just a good chunk of it. If you look at the lineages in VGR they have three or four paragraphs and a couple of tables for each. This is plenty. Four pages of waffle in the PHB is nothing more or less than padding.

 

[Hussar]

I thought I was saying the opposite.

There are actually lots of named non-humans populating the Ten Towns in Rime of the Frostmaiden - some of whose races matter - a half orc experiences racial prejudice (implied), a dragonborn hides in a snowdrift because he is cold-resistant. And others where it doesn't - the place is crawling with dwarves.

Nimsy's house is certainly up to your ankles in halflings - she has at least four children, and therefore the population of Loneywood is at least 5% halfling.

I'll be the first to admit, I've never even looked at the module. I was just going by the fact that you said there were two named halflings in a module for 1st to 12th level. That doesn't seem like there's a whole lot.

So, which is it? You've got a 320 page module. Do halflings have a significant presence in the module or is it just two?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Another avenue to examine would be the Adventurers League modules. How much material for races and focus on different races are in there?

The reason this came to mind was the Trance module I was just referring to is an Adventurers League Module that was featured in Dragon+ called Riddle of the Raven Queen - Dungeon Masters Guild | Dungeon Masters Guild - Riddle of the Raven Queen. An entire, pretty lengthy module, focused on elves and elven culture.

I'll admit though, I'm not terribly familiar with AL stuff, so, I'm not sure what's actually there. Have never really dived into it.

I'm currently running an Adventures League module called Forgotten Traditions that is based all around Giant lore. That doesn't mean giants make good PCs.

 

[Oofta]

I think that is closer to my position, although I would move all lore, just a good chunk of it. If you look at the lineages in VGR they have three or four paragraphs and a couple of tables for each. This is plenty. Four pages of waffle in the PHB is nothing more or less than padding.

I think the PHB should give a common grounding and starting point, people can always change it if they want. How much you need to give that starting point is always going to be open to debate. Personally I think what the PHB provides is close enough.

For most people I've actually played with, a paragraph or two would be adequate because most people don't care. Which is fine. No matter how much we try we can't really understand how a fictional race would think any more than I can really understand how my cat processes the world. Best I can get is an approximation.