D&D 5E Halflings are the 7th most popular 5e race

[Frozen_Heart]

Yeah Genasi are cool. I hope someday they make it into the PHB, TBH

Now we've got genasi styled feats (well kind of they're still UA), I'd like to see them push that further into elemental themed epic boons. Same with other planetouched.

 

[Hussar]

A further point about half-elves. If removing the writeup from the PHB makes something very unpopular, why are genasi and other non-PHB races so commonly used? Yes, there won't be a specific half-elf in the PHB, but, it's not like people won't ever think of half-elves anymore. And, Eberron won't change since Eberron doesn't actually use the PHB write-up for its races anyway.

Anyway, sorry for the half-elf threadjack. I don't want to relitagate that thread. But, I'm still rather of the opinion that the PHB should include the most popular races and make room for new races that might gain more traction than gnomes and halflings. Fifty years in the basement of the game is long enough to say that maybe we should try something new in the PHB. Particularly since the two new additions - tieflings and dragonborn - have proven that new races can be more (and potentially much more) popular than traditional offerings.

 

[James Gasik]

A further point about half-elves. If removing the writeup from the PHB makes something very unpopular, why are genasi and other non-PHB races so commonly used? Yes, there won't be a specific half-elf in the PHB, but, it's not like people won't ever think of half-elves anymore. And, Eberron won't change since Eberron doesn't actually use the PHB write-up for its races anyway.

Anyway, sorry for the half-elf threadjack. I don't want to relitagate that thread. But, I'm still rather of the opinion that the PHB should include the most popular races and make room for new races that might gain more traction than gnomes and halflings. Fifty years in the basement of the game is long enough to say that maybe we should try something new in the PHB. Particularly since the two new additions - tieflings and dragonborn - have proven that new races can be more (and potentially much more) popular than traditional offerings.

It is nice to show that D&D is more than just the common fantasy tropes. Honestly, what I would rather do is remove most of the subraces; give each race in the PHB one subrace and save the others for future books, to make more room for other races to show that D&D is more than just Tolkien rehashed.

Of course, I'm pretty sure the real reason we have subraces in the PHB is for the darned Drow.

 

[MGibster]

In fact, other smallfolk have devoted fanbases as well, such as Goblins and Kobolds. As for why Gnomes get the, forgive the pun, short shrift here, I think it has to do with the same issues that have plagued the race since AD&D- their niche is ill-defined.

What niche do any of the species in 5th edition have now? Since WotC decided to make Tasha's the universal rule, what niche does a halfling have that isn't filled out just as well by a gnome, human, or dragonborn? I'm not anti-halfling (I'm anti-gnome!), I like the little guys, but if they're just us but smaller, what do they bring to the table?

 

[MGibster]

A further point about half-elves. If removing the writeup from the PHB makes something very unpopular, why are genasi and other non-PHB races so commonly used? Yes, there won't be a specific half-elf in the PHB, but, it's not like people won't ever think of half-elves anymore. And, Eberron won't change since Eberron doesn't actually use the PHB write-up for its races anyway.

I have a theory that after a while people get so used to the core species that they start becoming a bit humdrum. After seven years of being married to that elf, a player's eye starts wandering and they decide to take a walk on the wild side with a goliath or an genasi. This isn't just a D&D phenomenon, but something I've seen in other games as well. But you're right, not being in the PHB doesn't mean the species is going to be unpopular.

 

[James Gasik]

What niche do any of the species in 5th edition have now? Since WotC decided to make Tasha's the universal rule, what niche does a halfling have that isn't filled out just as well by a gnome, human, or dragonborn? I'm not anti-halfling (I'm anti-gnome!), I like the little guys, but if they're just us but smaller, what do they bring to the table?

That's a fair point, and all we have to go on is...uh..."Elves are magical and live in the forests....Dwarves mine and live underground...and uh...Lizardmen eat people."

Basically cultural elements are being shunted to Background, and now race is what you look like and primarily mechanical benefits. I have mixed feelings about this.

On the one hand, it's great that not all Dwarves hate Orcs, are Greedy, or are naturally adept at navigating underground. Maybe your Dwarves live on the coasts and are sailors?

On the other hand, excising cultural elements from races...er...species...makes them seem "like humans, but different looking" in many cases. Especially since most fantasy species are just remixed and flanderized versions of Earth cultures.

Maybe the PHB shouldn't have anything but humans, and each setting should have it's own unique species with appropriate cultural mechanics?

Honestly, I can't stand how humans are so generic in D&D, to make the other species stand out more, but given that, in 23 years, WotC hasn't figured out how to come up with any unique human benefits beyond "stuff everyone else gets, but more of it", I doubt that's ever going to change.

 

[Vaalingrade]

What niche do any of the species in 5th edition have now? Since WotC decided to make Tasha's the universal rule, what niche does a halfling have that isn't filled out just as well by a gnome, human, or dragonborn? I'm not anti-halfling (I'm anti-gnome!), I like the little guys, but if they're just us but smaller, what do they bring to the table?

Being punished for 'verisimilitude'? People seem to really like doing that.

 

[billd91]

What niche do any of the species in 5th edition have now? Since WotC decided to make Tasha's the universal rule, what niche does a halfling have that isn't filled out just as well by a gnome, human, or dragonborn? I'm not anti-halfling (I'm anti-gnome!), I like the little guys, but if they're just us but smaller, what do they bring to the table?

They're surprisingly stalwart and resilient for their size without being as implied magic-oriented as gnomes. There's something to be said for being "relatively normal" as an adventurer compared to gnomes, dragonborn, elves, and dwarves.

Or to put it blunter whenever the question comes up: They bring freakin' halflings! For those of us who aren't anti-halfling, that's pretty much enough.

 

[James Gasik]

Being punished for 'verisimilitude'? People seem to really like doing that.

I guess it's better than being banned for having the nerve to do something other races simply can't?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

What niche do any of the species in 5th edition have now? Since WotC decided to make Tasha's the universal rule, what niche does a halfling have that isn't filled out just as well by a gnome, human, or dragonborn? I'm not anti-halfling (I'm anti-gnome!), I like the little guys, but if they're just us but smaller, what do they bring to the table?

They aren’t, so the question can’t really be answered.

The species are separated by more than ability score bonuses.