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

[Yaarel]

It's not conflictive.

Elves aren't Charismatic.

They are just long lived and have time to grind musical skill without any talent.

Be famous for bardic skills like songs and so on is Charisma.

Art and esthetics and Performance are Charisma.

Being "hauntingly" beautiful, in the sense of superhumanly beautiful, is Charisma magic.

And so on.

Dexterity is dead wrong.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Pathfinder tried to have everything totally specified to make sure it was clear...

View attachment 140088

This was the case across 3.X with below coming from the 3.0 SRD

No I don't understand why you could dispel supernatural abilities like breath weapons in 3.0 but not 3.5 (the 3.5 table is functionally identical to the Pathfinder one). I do think it was an improvement to not be able to dispel them.

On a tangent it completely side-nerfed the stone golem; the 3.0 one was immune to almost all spells and supernatural abilities. The 3.5 one was much easier to deal with as it was just immune to spells that spell resistance worked against and not spells like glitterdust.

 

[Cadence]

I dunno.

It feels more like level 1 characters sniping from behind level 13 characters.

Was Eowyn 13th level on the Pelennor fields? Who besides Sam and Frodo were at Shelob's lair? Were any non-hobbits fighting to get the Shire out from under Saruman?

That is the problem. The Elf flavor is bardic, artistic, charming, and innately magical, meaning Charisma. But their mechanics are conflictive.

The only reason they have Dex is because Tolkien gave them bows. But even the bows really refer to "elfshot" which is a magical effect, more like a specific cantrip. Their sneakiness is properly because of their magical nature.

Anyways I am delighted that Tashas has officially jettisoned the Elf Dexterity. Charisma and Charisma magic can finally match Elf flavor.

If we went by Tolkien, would elves have all of Int, Dex, Con, and Chr bonuses?

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Was Eowyn 13th level on the Pelennor fields? Who besides Sam and Frodo were at Shelob's lair? Were any non-hobbits fighting to get the Shire out from under Saruman?

Yeah, the argument is utterly bizarre. Of course LotR doesn't follow D&D mechanics and has far more subtle magic and general power level, but the hobbits definitely have pretty explicit 'zero to hero' journey.

If we went by Tolkien, would elves have all of Int, Dex, Con, and Chr bonuses?

And definitely wisdom. And at least for Noldor, probably strength too.

 

[Yaarel]

Was Eowyn 13th level on the Pelennor fields?

Something like that.

Who besides Sam and Frodo were at Shelob's lair? Were any non-hobbits fighting to get the Shire out from under Saruman?

A giant spider isnt necessarily a high level opponent.

In D&D, a "Giant Spider" is CR 1 (200 xp). That sounds appropriate for zero level Hobbits. To them, this is a serious threat.

If we went by Tolkien, would elves have all of Int, Dex, Con, and Chr bonuses?

That is probably true.

It is also why the previous 5e Half Elf has the most accurate stats: primarily Charisma, but choice of two more.

But now with Tashas, the player can choose which kind Elf character concept the player wants to focus on. Constitution for health and longevity is appropriate. Dexterity for a Tolkien Elf is ok too. Intelligence for many reasons including Wizard and understanding the world.

But especially Charisma for charm and superhuman beauty, and so on.

Even consider the main elves of Tolkien − Legolas and Galadriel − both are primarily magical Charisma.

 

[Faolyn]

Except that drow are underdark dwellers and usually the antagonists of the story.

And, up until fairly recently, weren't common PC choices--you had to hope your DM let you use whatever book they were in.

 

[carkl3000]

Cutting most of this, because you have the answer right here. It is either non-magical... or a type of magic that is inherent to the creature.

So, is a Pit Fiend's fear aura a type of magic? I'd say... yes. Fear auras seem like they are absolutely a type of magic. Even if it isn't dispellable does not mean it is not a type of magic.

I think maybe you are confused because you somehow think I'm trying to put magic resistance in here? But that was never my point and doesn't really apply to any point I'm trying to make. It is a type of magic. That's the point I'm trying to make.

Ok. My argument was with your contention that one can't use the Brave racial feature to represent halflings as being brave, because (almost) all frightened conditions are magical so they are really just resistant to magical fear which is not being brave and what's more, gnomes should be considered at least as brave because they are just as resistant to magical fear. Or something along those lines.

I disagree on two points. 1) I don't agree that all frightened conditions are magical. And 2) There are a considerable number of frightened conditions that are not resisted by gnome cunning.

I think halfling bravery is a good, fun, thematic, interesting, flavorful, and valuable feature for them to have as a race. I also think that it's entirely acceptable as a DM, to contrive a situation that plays up this bravery (or if the halfling's roll fails despite advantage, to mock their supposed bravery) at the expense of one of the big beef boys. It's fun. But whatever. You don't have to agree.

 

[Faolyn]

Guys, guys, clearly LotR used a point-based system rather than a level-based system. That explains why nobody got sudden jumps in powers and abilities, but instead just had a slow and steady increase.

 

[Yaarel]

And definitely wisdom. And at least for Noldor, probably strength too.

I am less a fan of Wisdom mechanically.

Intuition seems Intelligence to me, part of Investigation.

Perception as the five senses is more an animal thing.

I dont especially view the Elf as a fortress of Willpower.

The Druid magic overlaps Elf, but not the Wisdom part.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Merry, Pippen, and Sam went from pretty useless to fighting Nazgul, a mythic spider, and a demigod who took over their town? That feels like advancement?

Yep. They pretty inarguably advanced.