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

[doctorbadwolf]

Of course, if you expand the page count but still say "the four core races of DnD are human, dwarf, elf and halfling" then you are still setting up the expectation that halflings should be a major force in the world. Which they aren't.

Nope. This is simply not true.

 

[Gammadoodler]

you do know what the scones to metal exchange rate is even today?

no one ever talks of them mining just farming and eating.

I hate golf courses waste of fertile land.

now that is just depressing and likely racist.

So to be clear, you hate pubs and you hate golf courses...and it seems this personal sentiment of yours is intended to serve as some kind of counterargument?

Uhhh..Stuff doesn't really work that way..

You've asked for "more permanent" halfling contributions. Examples have been provided. Your personal dislike for them does not factor into a discussion of the value of these contributions (else we'd be dumping all the races with explicit martial characteristics as you've made your opinions related to soldiering quite clear as well.)

 

[FrozenNorth]

Both elves and dwarves almost certainly have to do a lot of trading, unless we rewrite their use of metals, love of beer and wine, etc.

I feel like there might be a race that might fit in halfway between their communities and have an agrarian society and also be traders with other societies, but I can't put my finger on it.

Well, the obvious choice would actually be gnomes, whose high Intelligence makes them shrewd merchants, with rock gnomes having links to dwarves and forest gnomes having links to elves.

 

[Mind of tempest]

So to be clear, you hate pubs and you hate golf courses...and it seems this personal sentiment of yours is intended to serve as some kind of counterargument?

Uhhh..Stuff doesn't really work that way..

You've asked for "more permanent" halfling contributions. Examples have been provided. Your personal dislike for them does not factor into a discussion of the value of these contributions (else we'd be dumping all the races with explicit martial characteristics as you've made your opinions related to soldiering quite clear as well.)

nah those are just my hate of how a function of society is being handled badly they have nothing to do with halflings.

look places to drink which are permanent are found in every dnd culture even the high elves have pubs I want something that halflings are proud of that is less generic as otherwise they really struggle to not just be humans.

 

[Gammadoodler]

nah those are just my hate of how a function of society is being handled badly they have nothing to do with halflings.

look places to drink which are permanent are found in every dnd culture even the high elves have pubs I want something that halflings are proud of that is less generic as otherwise they really struggle to just be humans.

Halflings as the builders and caretakers of social institutions isn't a generic take on them. It's equivalent to Dwarven crafting or Elven magic. Humans do these things too, but they don't do them like elves and dwarves do. Just apply the same level of intensity to halflings and these social institutions or the events held there.

Humans might operate a pub, but halflings operate The Pub. Humans might throw a party, but halflings throw The Party.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Halflings as the builders and caretakers of social institutions isn't a generic take on them. It's equivalent to Dwarven crafting or Elven magic. Humans do these things too, but they don't do them like elves and dwarves do. Just apply the same level of intensity to halflings and these social institutions or the events held there.

Humans might operate a pub, but halflings operate The Pub. Humans might throw a party, but halflings throw The Party.

I have literally never heard of this, are you certain it is not some homebrew that just became normal and assumed to you?

 

[Cadence]

I have literally never heard of this, are you certain it is not some homebrew that just became normal and assumed to you?

They certainly seem that way about gardening and cooking...

 

[Faolyn]

I have literally never heard of this, are you certain it is not some homebrew that just became normal and assumed to you?

Never heard of House Ghallanda? (edited because of wrong house)

 

[Mind of tempest]

They certainly seem that way about gardening and cooking...

but running social institutions never struck me as a halfling thing.

Never heard of House Jarasco?

that is Eberron which we all agree would be a cool default but sadly it is not.

 

[Faolyn]

but running social institutions never struck me as a halfling thing.

Well, rearrange your perceptions. They're opening, they're welcoming, they cook and brew well, they like comfort.. they're perfect for this sort of thing.

Maybe they don't make pubs, but invented cafes and tea houses.

And I made a mistake, it's House Ghallanda.