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

[Faolyn]

Freebie speak with animals and minor illusion makes forest gnomes insanely good scout/sneak types. Rogues, rangers, illusionists, bards, etc.

And they can understand animals. I'm still a bit miffed by firbolg can communicate ideas to beasts but can't understand them in return.

 

[Don Durito]

Not just woodland creatures in 5E.

Freebie speak with animals and minor illusion makes forest gnomes insanely good scout/sneak types. Rogues, rangers, illusionists, bards, etc.

It's very GM dependent though. It's not exactly clear how well the animals can commicate back. Some GMs will play them as able to hold conversations with the gnome, while others will play them as too dumb to really be of any use.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

It's very GM dependent though. It's not exactly clear how well the animals can commicate back. Some GMs will play them as able to hold conversations with the gnome, while others will play them as too dumb to really be of any use.

Speaking animals are always tricky. The spell doesn't actually increase their intelligence. What can the animal actually understand? Dogs are about as smart as two-year old humans, and most animals are quite a bit dumber than dogs.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's very GM dependent though. It's not exactly clear how well the animals can commicate back. Some GMs will play them as able to hold conversations with the gnome, while others will play them as too dumb to really be of any use.

Relying on your DM not screwing you over isn't restricted to gnomes, though.

But even very basic animal communication -- birds making warning cries that possibly hostile animals approaching, for instance -- is extremely useful, since a forest gnome knows exactly what's being said, rather than others having to guess or roll a skill check.

 

[Faolyn]

But even very basic animal communication -- birds making warning cries that possibly hostile animals approaching, for instance -- is extremely useful, since a forest gnome knows exactly what's being said, rather than others having to guess or roll a skill check.

Although as my party's Totem barb learned, while casting speak with animals, knowing exactly what's being said during mating season is not necessarily all that helpful. And can make even an orc blush.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

The original gnomes, as introduced by Paracellus were earth spirits (even rock gnomes fail at this), 18" tall and that could move through earth. And having halflings there should free gnomes up to be at least as magical as genasi. But instead we get gnomes that are halfling wannabes.

When 4E finally got to svirfneblin (in what I think was the last published book for the edition) they got a good number of optional racial powers that involved melding with stone, summoning temporary rock armor, and summoning an "earth friend" elemental ally.

In my own 5E campaign I've represented this somewhat by giving deep gnome "stone priest" the Unearthed Arcana stone sorcerer class.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Although as my party's Totem barb learned, while casting speak with animals, knowing exactly what's being said during mating season is not necessarily all that helpful. And can make even an orc blush.

You definitely never want to ask a rabbit what's on their mind, that's for sure.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

It's very GM dependent though. It's not exactly clear how well the animals can commicate back. Some GMs will play them as able to hold conversations with the gnome, while others will play them as too dumb to really be of any use.

I've pretty much decided to hand wave away speaking with animals as the magic taking liberties with the translation to making something intelligible rather than a literal translation.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've pretty much decided to hand wave away speaking with animals as the magic taking liberties with the translation to making something intelligible rather than a literal translation.

Given that forest gnomes can create illusions at will, this seems more than reasonable.

 

[Don Durito]

I usually tend to role-play animals like small children and with an alien mindset, so there is some ambiguity about what they mean.

But I also include animals that are part faerie animal and are capable of having an extremely articulate conversation (and may in fact be a bit too glad to finally run across a worthwhile interlocuter).