D&D 5E How would you homebrew Nelwyn?

[Tonguez]

Huh. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie, but I seem to remember the majority of the content involving Nelwyn revolving around magic.

Magic is rare in the world and very few are born with it. Willow himself mainly uses slight of hand and a lot of bluster and it is not until he is an adult that he shows the ability to use real magic ie Scorcery triggered by his self belief. (the old High Aldin insisted Scorcery and Magic were different things, but generally they used the same process and spells)

 

[Charlaquin]

Magic is rare in the world and very few are born with it. Willow himself mainly uses slight of hand and a lot of bluster and it is not until he is an adult that he shows the ability to use real magic ie Scorcery triggered by his self belief. (the old High Aldin insisted Scorcery and Magic were different things, but generally they used the same process and spells)

Ok, but then most of them not being able to do sorcery isn’t particular to Nelwyn. It’s part of the setting that most people of any kind aren’t sorcerers. Yet, the main character is a Nelwyn who does some sorcery. I think that’s good reason not to rule gnomes out as a way to represent Nelwyn in D&D.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

They might not fit the lore of Lightfoot Halflings (which I only just bothered to actually read), but being good at hiding (the only thing lightfoots get other than a charisma boost) seems up their alley. They hid their whole population in the show (not amazingly well, but then Lightfoots only get a minor boon on this point). And Halfling luck seems a good general purpose ability for characters who don't have any particular special talent or ability but have a touch of plot armor, which seems to also be their vibe.

 

[Ancalagon]

I think halfling is a better fit - @Benjamin Olson lays out a convincing argument. The "vibe" is also a lot more halfling like than gnome like, IMO.

One thing I would point out is life span. Halfling life span is roughly human like, and I never got the impression that Willow's people were particularly long lived, vs the what, 400 years a gnome can live?

Perhaps a light tweaking of a subrace would be enough? I must admit I'm not 100% sure what change I would do?

BTW, the current Willow show on disney is pretty good, and it really really feels like D&D - each episode reads like a 2-3 session adventure

 

[bedir than]

Perhaps a light tweaking of a subrace would be enough? I must admit I'm not 100% sure what change I would do?

I'm currently leaning towards a variant on hiding.

Maybe the Wood Elf Mask of the Wild (lightly obscured) fits better than Lightfoot Halfling Naturally Stealthy (between legs)

 

[Ancalagon]

I'm currently leaning towards a variant on hiding.

Maybe the Wood Elf Mask of the Wild (lightly obscured) fits better than Lightfoot Halfling Naturally Stealthy (between legs)

that could work...

One thing I do note is that they can have remarkable courage - very hobbit like in that regards.

 

[bedir than]

that could work...

One thing I do note is that they can have remarkable courage - very hobbit like in that regards.

For sure. They're another great variation on the halfling themes.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I mean they're total Halflings:

Brave
Lucky
Good at hiding

The 1D&D Halfling is a good match - they get Stealth for free (so much for no skills from race lol).

For 5E, if I just wanted to make them a new subrace of Halfings I'd give them the Wood Elf hiding ability (i.e. hide when lightly obscured by plants or weather) and say DONE. Reminds me I need to watch the new episodes, it's been pretty alright so far, the characters are very D&D-character-ish!

 

[billd91]

I'm adding my vote for Halfling as well. When we first watched the movie, we thought that Willow's village would make a good example of a halfling village in non-Tolkien media. And it still is from the reluctant but ultimately plucky adventurer, the town busybodies and stuffed shirts, to the general niceness of most of them.
The TV show has done little to undermine that impression. The example of Mims and the other guards expertly hiding while Ballantine and his men look about the ruins of the village further emphasizes a halfling's stealthiness.

 

[Charlaquin]

BTW, the current Willow show on disney is pretty good, and it really really feels like D&D - each episode reads like a 2-3 session adventure

Good to know! I was interested but pessimistic, so this is very encouraging to hear.