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

[Yaarel]

Heh.

Halfling = Kids on Bikes!

 

[bedir than]

Heh, I am sure there are millions of stories about humans that are identical or similar to these halfling stories.

IF this is true, it is also true for every other demihuman in the game's history.

 

[Yaarel]

IF this is true, it is also true for every other demihuman in the game's history.

Elves come from an alternate dimension to meld with the natural world, born from powerful magics.

Warforged is artificially engineered to be a weapon of war, who (accidentally?) came to life.

Tiefling transmogrified from trafficking with fiends, and the descendants bear the mark of ancient transgression.

Dragonborn were hatched from magically transformed dragon eggs.

Genasi were mutated by mystical elemental energies.

Halflings hang out with humans at the local pub in the farming hamlet.

 

[bedir than]

Elves come from an alternate dimension to meld with the natural world, born from powerful magics.

Warforged is artificially engineered to be a weapon of war, who (accidentally?) came to life.

Tiefling transmogrified from trafficking with fiends, and the descendants bear the mark of ancient transgression.

Dragonborn were hatched from magically transformed dragon eggs.

Genasi were mutated by mystical elemental energies.

Halflings hang out with humans at the local pub in the farming hamlet.

Only one of those is a demihuman. And the lore you talk about isn't the PHB level lore

 

[Oofta]

I really know that I shouldn't comment on a post made by someone who blocked me, I only saw it because I've been keeping track of the thread while not logged in as well as while logged in. But it touches on something so fundamental to this discussion that I feel like not responding to it and leaving the idea unexplored is an active detriment to the conversation.

The comparison was made to Steven Universe, particularly in regards to Pearl training Connie to be a "knight" in the way that she was. (Side Note: Pearls as perfect servants who are barely allowed their own personalities are nothing like halflings, but beside the point.)

Doctorbadwolf says in his post that between the Immortal shapeshifting alien, the half-immortal shapeshifting alien chosen one, and the human he'd have a hard time playing the human as a human in DnD. That instead, he would make her a halfling because that "fits better". That the line "You've got nothing but the way you feel, your strategy and your sword." speaks to him of exactly what halflings are, BUT NOT HUMANS.

I'm going to assume a lot of people agree with him, so I want to ask... why? What about DnD humans makes them no longer human?


Part of why this strikes me so hard requires me to explain a bit about how I approach characters in different Genres. In Fantasy games, I pretty much never want to be a human. I always want to explore a different more fantastical expression beyond humanity. Beings ruled by emotions, curses, or magicks that are impossible.

In Science Fiction games, I never want to play anything except a human. I have quite literally played a human in every single science fiction game I have ever played. Because in those games, in that style of world, humans are the ones who are overcoming the long odds through grit and determination, through a desire to never give up. No special powers, no or very little special tech, just the drive to succeed.

In DnD, I want to be the one with special powers. I don't really play Dwarves, rarely elves, occassionally humans, but I love changelings, shifters, gnomes, genasi, tieflings, these beings who have this extra layer to them. And that occasionally humans is for exactly those characters who are exactly embodied by that line "You've got nothing but the way you feel, your strategy and your sword."

To me, humans in DnD aren't special. They don't have any particular advantage in any way. What they have they earned through tireless hardwork and drive. But, it seems that to a lot of you, humans are somehow more. They are the special ones, the ones who don't need their innate drive to succeed because they were born with something that pushes them beyond human limits... and I don't get that. I don't see how you can look at humans in DnD and see something inhuman.

So, what am I missing here?

What you are missing is that different people play for different reasons. No race is going to work for everyone.

The races you like don't do much for me. Which is fine. There are plenty of options for everyone.

 

[Yaarel]

Only one of those is a demihuman. And the lore you talk about isn't the PHB level lore

5e doesnt have "demihuman". All are "humanoid".

Let me go thru the PH.

Dragonborn: indeed born of transformed dragon eggs.

Elf indeed come from an alternate dimension (Feywild), from magic, and identify with the natural world. (Is a demihuman.)

Tiefling indeed come from an "ancient sin" inflicting an "infernal heritage" from trafficking with fiends.

I also find the 5e Dwarf problematic, but at least their subterranean culture is distinctive.

And so on.

The Halfling alone is completely human with a completely human culture. (Is an old school demihuman.)

 

[bedir than]

5e doesnt have "demihuman". All are "humanoid".

Let me go thru the PH.

Dragonborn: indeed born of transformed dragon eggs.

Elf indeed come from an alternate dimension (Feywild), from pure magic, and identify with the natural world. (Is a demihuman.)

Tiefling indeed come from an "ancient sin" inflicting an "infernal heritage" from trafficking with fiends.

And so on.

The Halfling alone is completely human with a completely human culture. (Is an old school demihuman.)

NOTHING about this description of elves is inhuman

"Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Elves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world."

And NOTHING about the halfling intro is merely human.

"The comforts of home are the goals of most halflings’ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver."

No possible reading of the actual lore as presented in 5th edition would say that only one of those is significantly different than humans in a way that only one of those tales couldn't be told by playing a human.

 

[Hussar]

Orrrrr.. They're really cheap to acquire as excess inventory.

Edit: might have misunderstood. Are these Japanese translated versions or foreign language? If foreign language I stand by the point above.

No, Japanese translations. Remember, Salvatore hits the NYT best seller list pretty regularly.

 

[Yaarel]

NOTHING about this description of elves is inhuman

"Elves are a magical people of otherworldly grace, living in the world but not entirely part of it. They live in places of ethereal beauty, in the midst of ancient forests or in silvery spires glittering with faerie light, where soft music drifts through the air and gentle fragrances waft on the breeze. Elves love nature and magic, art and artistry, music and poetry, and the good things of the world."

Humans are worldly. Elves are "otherworldy".

Humans live in the world. Elves do "not entirely".

Humans can live in beautiful places. Elves live in magical places of "ethereal" beauty and "faerie light".

Elsewhere, Human can be Bard. Human Bards learn from Elven Bards.

Even as little as this is at least an attempt to distinguish the Elf from the Human, with regard to a nonhuman Fey and innately magical nature.

 

[Yaarel]

And NOTHING about the halfling intro is merely human.

"The comforts of home are the goals of most halflings’ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver."

No possible reading of the actual lore as presented in 5th edition would say that only one of those is significantly different than humans in a way that only one of those tales couldn't be told by playing a human.

By contrast.

Humans like the comforts of home. Most humans do.

Many humans want a place to settle in peace and quiet, in safety.

Humans loving hearths and ovens and fireplaces, is a thing.

Humans love fine drink, obviously.

Humans love fine conversation, obviously. Humans are social creatures.

Most humans live in "agricultural communities", especially in a medievalesque setting.

Many humans live in nomadic cultures.

Many humans are curious and have wanderlust. This is a thing! Especially for stories about humans who set off on an adventure.

Human adventurers too love new foods, new sights, new clothes, new cultures.



The description of the Halfling 100% purely utterly completely identically totally HUMAN!