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

[Dannyalcatraz]

Gotcha. I didn't mean vulnerable in the double damage sense. I would prefer it if, like many other creatures, they either had resistance to nonmagical damage that wasn't cold iron, or regeneration that doesn't work if they take damage from cold iron.

The problem with THAT is it makes True Fey PC races really difficult to balance. It would almost have to be their entire shtick.

 

[Gnarlo]

Especially as D&D starts to deemphasize racial ability score adjustments. Everyone is just a human with a built in feat.

Now, now, halflings are just humans with really big built in feet….

 

[Faolyn]

The problem with THAT is it makes True Fey PC races really difficult to balance. It would almost have to be their entire shtick.

True. Of course, that could be a monster thing only, with PC races being different. After all, the fairy in the recent UA doesn't even have Fey Heritage like elves have.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

True. Of course, that could be a monster thing only, with PC races being different. After all, the fairy in the recent UA doesn't even have Fey Heritage like elves have.

Personally, I’d really want PC Fey to at least share in their NPC race cousins‘ nature. Obviously, it doesn’t have to be a binary all-or-nothing thing. PC Fey races might simply be slightly less vulnerable to “cold iron” as the more powerful members of the family tree.

The trick is how to balance that with other PC races without getting too fiddly.

 

[Bardic Dave]

Now, now, halflings are just humans with really big built in feet….

Not in 5e, sadly. Check out their dainty little footsies in the PHB. Actually, this is the big problem with halfling lore! I demand WotC bring back big, hairy halfling feet!

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Not in 5e, sadly. Check out their dainty little footsies in the PHB. Actually, this is the big problem with halfling lore! I demand WotC bring back big, hairy halfling feet!

Rex Ryan, is that you?!?!

 

[Gnarlo]

Morannon?

The Battle of Morannon, the big battle at the Black Gate of Mordor (the "For Frodo!" spot in the movies). Everyone felt it was a good spot to end the campaign, as continuing on to fight armies of Balrogs just seemed like it would make the combat drag.

 

[Yaarel]

Personally, I’d really want PC Fey to at least share in their NPC race cousins‘ nature.

This makes me rethink the Elf "fey ancestry". None of the fey have resistance to charm, so it is unclear why being a descendant would gain it.

By contrast, fey typically have Magic Resistance, as well as Innate Spellcasting. Thus the fey type and the fey ancestry should probably look more like these.

Magic Resistance. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.

Of course, Magic Resistance is powerful, but it only applies to magic that allows a saving throw. No-save magic hits normally. The Magic Resistance trait can divide up into three traits, depending on the save ability: Int-Wis-Cha, Str-Con, and Dex.



Note the Gnome Cunning grants advantage against magic that allows a mental Int-Wis-Cha save. The Gnome is quite fey in this way. Perhaps other traits at a higher levels can expand this fey Magic Resistance to include Con and Strength. Later even Dex.

Likewise, the Forest Gnome has Natural Illusionist, which is something like an innate spellcasting, and again typically a fey trait.



For the Drow, the Magic Resistance fey type trait might start with Magic Resistance versus Dex save magic.

 

[Gnarlo]

Not in 5e, sadly. Check out their dainty little footsies in the PHB. Actually, this is the big problem with halfling lore! I demand WotC bring back big, hairy halfling feet!

See, I've heard there are pictures of halflings in the PHB, but I've also had jokers try to tell me there are Star Wars movies after Return of the Jedi as well...

 

[Don Durito]

English needs more pronouns built in. Can we go back in time a thousand years and fix this?

You could, but you'd find that English already had a lot more pronouns back then.