D&D 4E Rename the races in 4E? Why halflings and not hobbits? Dwur not dwarf...

[Emirikol]

This is a question for the ages, but probably a modern one too: If D&D is to move to a stance of D&Disms, we should take a look at the races. We have halflings but not hobbits, how about the other races:

From the maker:
Dwur = dwarf
Olve = Elf
Drow = Dark elf

Is this a sacred cow? Would it make people's eyeballs fall out of their heads?

jh

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

This is a question for the ages, but probably a modern one too: If D&D is to move to a stance of D&Disms, we should take a look at the races. We have halflings but not hobbits, how about the other races:

From the maker:
Dwur = dwarf
Olve = Elf
Drow = Dark elf

Is this a sacred cow? Would it make people's eyeballs fall out of their heads?

jh

Damn it, there go my eyeballs...again. Thanks a lot, jerk.

I'd keep dwarf and elf for simplicity. Dwur and Olve just sound so pretentious. Of course, I normally change what they are called for my homebrews, so I suppose that I don't care what they are called.

 

[FreeXenon]

I think my eyeballs might fall out my head.

When changing editions we have to get used to brand new rules and mechanics.
Let's at least keep the race and class names so something looks familiar lest it becomes less like the D&D that we all know and love.

 

[Emirikol]

Damn it, there go my eyeballs...again. Thanks a lot, jerk.

I'd keep dwarf and elf for simplicity. Dwur and Olve just sound so pretentious. Of course, I normally change what they are called for my homebrews, so I suppose that I don't care what they are called.

Dwur and Olve are terms Gygax used in Greyhawk. There are others, but are inconsequential as the gnome will not be reappearing...

jh

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Dwur and Olve are terms Gygax used in Greyhawk. There are others, but are inconsequential as the gnome will not be reappearing...

jh

EGG did it so it's a good idea now?

Whaaaaaa? Things have changed whilst I was away, apparently, because it seems like it used to be that if EGG did it, it was probably not the greatest world design ever.

Dwur and Olve are ugly names that don't improve the game at all. That's a good enough reason to avoid them to me. I mean, why turn D&D into your typical "fantasy heartbreaker"?

 

[Doug McCrae]

Gary's crap at names.

 

[Darkness]

Olve = Elf

Assuming they're green-skinned, sure. Otherwise, it might get confusing.

 

[hafrogman]

The key to a change like this is, 'would people use it?'.

If you wanted your dwarves to be named Dwur. . . how many players would remember that in the heat of the game?

"Damn, it's dark down here. Geoff should lead, he's got his dwarven darkvision."
"Dwurven."
"What?"
"Dwurven, not Dwarven."
"Oh, right. . . whatever."

 

[Darkness]

The key to a change like this is, 'would people use it?'.

That made me think of this.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

It would, in no sense, improve the game at all.

In fact, I suspect it would harm it, by screwing with people. "Oh, you're too good for dwarves, you have to have dwurs?"

Brad