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

[Yaarel]

Nah.

LOTR goes up to level 13 or so.
Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas, Faramir, and Boromir are all level 11+.
Best warriors on the plane.

The DM counts HP loss as parries.
Again there were a lot of orcs. That's a a lot of hits. Lots of parries.

I view Gandolf as a legend-tier Dexterity Paladin, with Flamestrike at Level 17.

The others at master-tier Levels 9 to 12 sounds about right.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Because the people who like halflings don't need more.

Frankly, I don't care about any of the other species' lore aside Dwarves having to be ISO Standard Dwarves because that's fantasy, that's the rule.

If nothing else, several interesting takes on them have been posited in this thread…

 

[Vaalingrade]

Been asked this a couple of times. Because the thread is about halflings? I mean, focusing on halflings IS the point of the thread. We could make the same points about the lack of lore for gnomes as well, really. It's not like gnomes are swimming in information either. And tieflings and dragonborn are both largely absent. But, we're talking about halflings.

And, again, I'd have zero problem with dropping any race from the PHB that is rarely played. Whether it's 5.9% or 4.something percent from a later poll (funny how that averages out to about 5%, but, there are those who INSIST on keeping that .9 percent but refuse to acknowledge the other, more recent numbers, almost like some folks might just possibly be arguing in bad faith.), halflings are not a very commonly played race and never have been. If dwarves are in the same boat, then boot them out too.

The PHB should reflect what is actually being played, not what people wish were played. Now, I don't have access to the numbers, so, I cannot, obviously, state categorically which races should make the cut. But, if the options in the PHB were similar to the class options in popularity, then no race would be head and shoulders more popular. We should at least make the attempt to make the PHB relevant to most tables.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it really isn't.

Then why aren't you and others railing against the even lower rated gnomes?!

 

[Cadence]

Then why aren't you and others railing against the even lower rated gnomes?!

Let me, let me. Because this thread is about halflings, and/or because halflings should be a sub-races of gnomes.

(Not my opinion, bit pretty sure what they've said).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Let me, let me. Because this thread is about halflings, and/or because halflings should be a sub-races of gnomes.

(Not my opinion, bit pretty sure what they've said).

It has indeed been said.

 

[Neonchameleon]

The PHB should reflect what is actually being played, not what people wish were played. Now, I don't have access to the numbers, so, I cannot, obviously, state categorically which races should make the cut. But, if the options in the PHB were similar to the class options in popularity, then no race would be head and shoulders more popular. We should at least make the attempt to make the PHB relevant to most tables.

I have a sneaking suspicion that it really isn't.

The thing is that the PHB does reflect what's actually played - or to be more accurate what's being played reflects the PHB. There are nine races in the PHB which means that 5% is in round terms at the low end of the expected range but still within the expected range - especially when humans are visibly the most popular race. And there's this feedback property. That which is in the PHB is played. There were lots of complaints when the gnomes were removed, and they're even less popular than halflings. There's another big issue - that if each race covers a niche then you don't expect all niches to be the same size. Indeed if the races were equally popular then it would be pretty much proof positive that D&D race was meaningless rather than said something about the character.

Also D&D Beyond provides a pretty decent test from what's out there of what people are actually playing. There's nothing nipping at the heels of halflings saying "we can do that better" except possibly forest gnomes (but they're a PHB race too and less popular overall).

In your attempt to torch the PHB races en-masse you are attempting to remove what players are actually playing and replace them with what people might play. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. You are doing literally the opposite of what you claim to want.

I've made my suggestions as to races that might be on the cusp of promotion (Genasi, Tabaxi, Orcs or Goliaths) and why they have a niche. With two of those three fitting into already existing races (Genasi are more magical than elves so eat a lot of high elf territory, and orcs and goliaths are both rivals for half-orcs). I suspect that Tieflings may already be entrenched in the niche tabaxi would take.

Given that halflings clearly have a niche, that there's a non-trivial number of people clearly happy with halflings in their niche, and that the only rival I'm aware of for their role is even less popular, and you've offered precisely nothing in the way of improvement why does the idea of tearing away what people already play and not even offering any sort of alternative in order to court an audience you don't even know exists so matter to you?

 

[Vaalingrade]

Let me, let me. Because this thread is about halflings, and/or because halflings should be a sub-races of gnomes.

(Not my opinion, bit pretty sure what they've said).

How is the solution to fold them into a - by their standards (and, I mean let's be honest, objectively) - worse race?

 

[Cadence]

How is the solution to fold them into a - by their standards (and, I mean let's be honest, objectively) - worse race?

@Hussar @Chaosmancer Do you remember who suggested making Halflings a sub-races of gnomes to help them seatch? (If you, do you have a favorite post?)

 

[Neonchameleon]

@Hussar @Chaosmancer Do you remember who suggested making Halflings a sub-races of gnomes to help them seatch? (If you, do you have a favorite post?)

I know that I proposed that gnomes became a subrace of halflings - which might help.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I suspect that Tieflings may already be entrenched in the niche tabaxi would take.

Meld tabaxi and tieflings into one. Give them Mage Hand as a power.

Result: Part-fiendish cat people who love pushing things off of tables…and can do it from a distance.