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

[Yaarel]

And, as I pointed out earlier, a very non-human Clark Kent trait.

Superman is a nonhuman from Krypton. I didnt mention him. But even he was raised in a Human culture, and like other Humans was a farmkid.

I mentioned Human farmkids-on-an-adventure, like Luke Skywalker, Parsifal, and King David.

 

[Gammadoodler]

Honestly, if you want to officially declare that the Halfling is Half-Human and Half-Dwarf, that actually makes sense.

If you want to declare that the Halfling is Half-Human and Half-Gnome, that makes even more sense!

Then, the Gnome-Human Halfling is clearly nonhuman because the Gnome is transmitting the nonhuman flavor.

If WotC says the Gnome is Fey, and the Halfling is a Half-Gnome, problem solved.

How is the PHB gnome transmitting that non-human flavor?? It's really just, "what if halflings were hyperactive instead of chill".

 

[Yaarel]

How is the PHB gnome transmitting that non-human flavor?? It's really just, "what if halflings were hyperactive instead of chill".

A nonhuman lineage must be unambiguously nonhuman.

A personality isnt the same thing as a separate species.

 

[Gammadoodler]

Being lucky is also a human trope.

A Human can take the Lucky feat at level 1 as part of the character concept and be noticeably lucky, moreso than a Halfling.

And they can take fey-touched and be magically fey.

 

[Mistwell]

3514 posts and this is my first contribution.

And yes, halflings are my favorite race in D&D.

 

[Yaarel]

3514 posts and this is my first contribution.

And yes, halflings are my favorite race in D&D.

What are the nonhuman traits of the Halfling that you like most?

 

[Gammadoodler]

A nonhuman lineage must be unambiguously nonhuman.

A personality isnt the same thing as a separate species.

It is as unambiguously non-human as you are willing to read it.

It seems like you are keyed to physiological differences. Like adding horns and purple skin makes tieflings meaningfully different than humans.

But a human would have a much easier time negotiating with a Tiefling, because they are likely to share common values than they would with a halfling who isn't motivated by wealth or power.

It's like this. You want to hire someone to work for you. What does a "pay" discussion look like, if the person you are hiring doesn't care at all about money. Do you pledge trade of services, guarantee exciting or interesting times, promise introductions to entertaining or unusual people?

 

[Yaarel]

It is as unambiguously non-human as you are willing to read it.

It seems like you are keyed to physiological differences. Like adding horns and purple skin makes tieflings meaningfully different than humans.

But a human would have a much easier time negotiating with a Tiefling, because they are likely to share common values than they would with a halfling who isn't motivated by wealth or power.

Being childlike and curious about new things, isnt a separate species.

Also. The Halfling values "hardwork", "loyal outlook", "abundant rewards", and they can defend themselves "ferociously". There is some kind of ambition here. Family and home, ... legacy and estate, ... is a form of ambition.

But again.

Personality ≠ Lineage



The Elf differs physiologically because of planar origin and magical nature, but the appearance of it is subtle.

The Halfling as a Half-Gnome, would be physiologically nonhuman in origin. Even better if the Gnome is Fey.

 

[Mistwell]

What are the nonhuman traits of the Halfling that you like most?

hairy shoeless feet, natural stealthiness, and round jovial faces, in terms of physical traits.

 

[Gammadoodler]

Being childlike and curious about new things, isnt a separate species.

Also. The Halfling values "hardwork", "loyal outlook", "abundant rewards", and they can defend themselves "ferociously". There is some kind of ambition here. Family and home, ... legacy and estate, ... is a form of ambition.

But again.

Personality ≠ Lineage



The Elf differs physiologically because of planar origin and magical nature, but the appearance of it is subtle.

The Halfling as a Half-Gnome, would be physiologically nonhuman in origin. Even better if the Gnome is Fey.

I guess we just disagree.