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

[Gammadoodler]

Y'know, with this clarification, I see your point and I will edit my previous point. You aren't arguing what I thought you were. You are instead engaging in whataboutism that is completely removed from reality. Still arguing in poor faith, but, for different reasons.

It's more what-if-ism than whataboutism.

The logic is, if the text is equally authoritative, then changing the subject matter shouldn't change what you are willing to argue based on it.

Is that the case?

Edit: didn't realize who I was responding to.

 

[Gammadoodler]

No, their post wasn't a non sequiter. They responded very logically to the post. Are they identical to humans? No. No one has ever said they are, because that would be so demonstrably false as to be a waste of time. Are they incredibly similar? Yes. Does the PHB specifically comment on how similar halfings and humans are? Yes. Does the PHB say "we are similar" in many other places? No. In fact, the word "similar" doesn't appear once in the PHB race section and "a lot a like" only appears once.

So, uniquely in the entire book section, human and halflings are pointed out to have similarities. You can hate it, you can say that "everything is really human" but you can't make words appear in the book that aren't there.

The course of conversation up to that point was that halflings should be a Human subrace, including a challenge issued to name three ways that halflings are not humans. You can read into that what you will. I did, and I wasn't alone in it.

As to the response..

If I say, "a glider is not a plane", how does "this aurlthoritative book says a glider is like a plane" address that statement? On it's own, it is neither agreement nor disagreement and broadly unresponsive.

Orrr..it is intended as evidence for a counterclaim. And the available counterclaims are...

 

[Shadowdweller00]

Every childlike character concept is less motivated by wealth.

Perhaps. But how many others "races" have a significant incidence of childlike characters? One has to presume that in a large enough population you will find Dwarves who take up Wizardry or who don't like beer, Elves who become miners or can't nance, Humans with timeless patience, Dragonborn who are honorless bastards, or Tieflings who aren't emo. Or elves who prefer beer and dwarves who like nancing (in public).

But those aren't prevailing trends. The word "generally" tends to imply trending.

 

[Hussar]

It's more what-if-ism than whataboutism.

The logic is, if the text is equally authoritative, then changing the subject matter shouldn't change what you are willing to argue based on it.

Is that the case?

Edit: didn't realize who I was responding to.

Well, points for honesty here. At least you're up front about it being about the poster and not the post. Can't really argue with that, now can I?

 

[Hussar]

Ok, so, as I understand the argument, people are saying that the primary problem with halflings is they are too close to humans. Is that fair?

So, with that in mind, I devised a little test. Below are 11 character pictures taken from various sources. 9 of them are halflings and two are not. If halflings are as distinguishable from humans as is claimed, then it should be a snap to tell which is which, right? Now, full disclaimer, I have altered the pictures to cut off everyone's feet. After all, 5e halflings aren't hairy footed, so, a hobbit picture is kinda cheating. Basically, I went down and picked a selection from r/ImaginaryHalflings . I skipped the ones that were deliberately from Tolkien and picked 11 pictures that I figured would make a fairly decent test.

So, without looking at the Reddit thread, can you find the 2 non-halflings in this picture?

 

[Zardnaar]

I like halflings more than most. No one cares to much and that's fine.

 

[Yaarel]

Perhaps. But how many others "races" have a significant incidence of childlike characters? One has to presume that in a large enough population you will find Dwarves who take up Wizardry or who don't like beer, Elves who become miners or can't nance, Humans with timeless patience, Dragonborn who are honorless bastards, or Tieflings who aren't emo. Or elves who prefer beer and dwarves who like nancing (in public).

But those aren't prevailing trends. The word "generally" tends to imply trending.

All I am saying is.

I am unsatisfied with Small and innocent counting as a separate species.

If such would count as a species, the dog would be hundreds of separate species, each breed with separate sizes and temperaments.

No.

 

[lingual]

Ok, so, as I understand the argument, people are saying that the primary problem with halflings is they are too close to humans. Is that fair?

So, with that in mind, I devised a little test. Below are 11 character pictures taken from various sources. 9 of them are halflings and two are not. If halflings are as distinguishable from humans as is claimed, then it should be a snap to tell which is which, right? Now, full disclaimer, I have altered the pictures to cut off everyone's feet. After all, 5e halflings aren't hairy footed, so, a hobbit picture is kinda cheating. Basically, I went down and picked a selection from r/ImaginaryHalflings . I skipped the ones that were deliberately from Tolkien and picked 11 pictures that I figured would make a fairly decent test.

So, without looking at the Reddit thread, can you find the 2 non-halflings in this picture?View attachment 141059

Not sure what this test proves. I thought the problem was lore or culture. Honestly, the physical difference between elves and humans are even less. Cherry picking some images of 2 humans that are drawn with disproportionately larger heads or something doesn't prove anything. Not that anything can be "proven" here anyways. I think at this point, this thread has just become a part of our lives that we are not willing to let go

 

[lingual]

All I am saying is.

I am unsatisfied with Small and innocent counting as a separate species.

If such would count as a species, the dog would be hundreds of separate species, each breed with separate sizes and temperaments.

No.

And that is fine. That is your opinion. Some disagree with it. Some don't. Some might consider it more of a wolf vs. dog thing. Honestly, elves and the rest could be hyenas or something. All the races are a type of human.

Personally, a husky would be offended if it found out that my puny little dogs were classified as the same species.

 

[Yaarel]

And that is fine. That is your opinion. Some disagree with it. Some don't. Some might consider it more of a wolf vs. dog thing. Honestly, elves and the rest could be hyenas or something. All the races are a type of human.

Personally, a husky would be offended if it found out that my puny little dogs were classified as the same species.

Heh. I assume the sense of smell of the dog instantly recognizes each other.

I know that some players love the character concept that the Halfling can readily do, and they dont want to lose the Halfling.

I respect that.

At the same time, I care about good gaming design.

Size and temperament by itself is insufficient to justify a separate species.