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

[Mind of tempest]

They aren't because they continue to ignore the fact that they are attempting to use PC rules for things that don't use PC rules.

and why should they not it would make sense if they were the same?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Just popping in here to say that I will be leaving $1 million in my will to whomever here posts the last post when my lawyer checks it, unless the thread has gotten locked.

So keep on, keeping on! Only a few decades to go!

 

[Hussar]

A few folks have popped in to ask why this thread has gone on for so long. For me, it's because halflings have become this sort of quantum concept that is everything it needs to be, when it needs to be.

Halflings are bucolic farmers that live peacefully, hidden from view, in small communities that are suddenly expert soldiers, effectively armed and trained and ready to battle invaders at a moments notice, using expert tactics while at the same time, completely normal commoners who just want a good meal and a quiet life who rise up to defend home and hearth but, despite loving home and hearth, refuse to return to home and hearth because they might leave their friends, even though the iconic halflings do EXACTLY that - go home after the threat is gone and abandon their new friends.

They are both heavily present in published material for 5e and strangely absent at the same time. They appeal to those who want simple, every man concept characters while being equally appealing to a broader range of concepts. On and on and on.

I mean, here's how the conversation has gone:

Me: I think that the PHB should reflect what people are actually playing. Any race that isn't getting much traction and isn't getting played very much should get punted into the DMG to make room for fresh concepts.

Response: Why won't you talk about gnomes. Gnomes are less popular than halflings.

Me: Are they? Ok, punt them too. No problems. Again, anything that isn't getting much traction should make room for fresh concepts.

Response: You only think that because you hate halflings. Why don't you just ban halflings?

Me: Umm, I just said that I'd punt anything that isn't making the grade. We can argue over where that grade should be, but, I strongly feel that anything that isn't making that grade (whatever that grade is) should get the punt.

Response: Why are you focusing on Halflings? Gnomes are less popular. You are only talking about halflings because you hate halflings.

Me: Umm... Heck, other people have said it's okay to punt gnomes and I agreed with them. No one seems to have any problems with punting gnomes particularly or folding gnomes into halflings. Both options would likely achieve the goal of making halflings more played, so I'm happy either way.

Response: You are so focused on halflings. You must just hate halflings. Why won't you talk about gnomes?

....

Now, repeat that conversation about sixteen times and that's generally how this thread has gone.

 

[HomegrownHydra]

and why should they not it would make sense if they were the same?

When you try to apply the game rules to anything beyond the PCs you get completely ridiculous results that don't at all match the fiction. The rules are to play a game, not simulate a world.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

On behalf of the gnomes, we're OK if everyone keeps forgetting about us. We're still a little jumpy after 4E.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Me: I think that the PHB should reflect what people are actually playing. Any race that isn't getting much traction and isn't getting played very much should get punted into the DMG to make room for fresh concepts.

You are contradicting yourself. If you wanted the PHB to reflect what people were actually playing then the data says they are. They are the eighth most played race and therefore are getting traction in line with being in the PHB.

This is Hussar arguing against Hussar. You think in some hypothetical other universe that there might be a more popular race - but that isn't this one.

Your premise, which by the way I do not accept, is one under which halflings should be kept.

And the grade by the way should be set no higher than the current ninth most played race given that there are nine races in the PHB. I'd advocate for expansion out to ten.

Now repeat that conversation about sixteen times and that's generally how this thread has gone.

Yes, your summary where you ignore that your case is incoherent and if taken seriously is an argument against excluding halflings and pretend that nothing has been said other than about gnomes is a good summary of how you have been handling this thread.

 

[Neonchameleon]

On behalf of the gnomes, we're OK if everyone keeps forgetting about us. We're still a little jumpy after 4E.

4e, of course being the only edition where I found gnomes interesting enough to want to play, magical enough to be something other than either a halfling playing dress-up or a dwarf on a diet, and exotic enough to be worthy of the name gnome.

 

[Mind of tempest]

When you try to apply the game rules to anything beyond the PCs you get completely ridiculous results that don't at all match the fiction. The rules are to play a game, not simulate a world.

would it not be easier if they made so basic NPS templates and book races just slot together for ease of just generating an NPC? it is not like they make it easy to replicate the feel of an npc being of a class which would be nice for upping the danger of monsters fast.

 

[Neonchameleon]

would it not be easier if they made so basic NPS templates and book races just slot together for ease of just generating an NPC? it is not like they make it easy to replicate the feel of an npc being of a class which would be nice for upping the danger of monsters fast.

Easier for what? And how?

As a DM I want to at the table just be able to look at the statblock and be done.

That said the 5e monster design is one of the things most in need of work.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Easier for what? And how?

As a DM I want to at the table just be able to look at the statblock and be done.

That said the 5e monster design is one of the things most in need of work.

well if a high elf is said to do X it would be nice if you could just slot the relevant properties onto a guard captain stat block to make a high elf guard captain, sort of like lego bricks.
look I have no idea about monster design but they are rather slow to kill and could be more fun to fight or interact with.