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

[Ranger REG]

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

Isn't "hobbit" trademarked by Tolkien Estate and/or Tolkien Enterprises? TSR and now WotC don't want to step into that legal minefield.

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?

Don't know if this is sacred cow, but it's better to use already familiar names of D&D races. What you call in your own campaign setting (homebrewed or pregenerated) is up to you.

Besides, I prefer Korobokuru over Dwur.

 

[Jhaelen]

"Hobbit" is actually a trademarked term, and cannot be used by D+D without permission from Tolkien's estate.

Exactly. As an aside I've been wondering why we have 'mithral' in D&D. Is 'mithril' also a trademarked term?

 

[Twiggly the Gnome]

Apparently the 4E Halflings will have some sort of luck abilities, so I'll just call them Leprechauns.

 

[Brennin Magalus]

I kicked myself for not covering every possible contingency in my last post. This is the internet, after all.

What I mean is that, while the names elf, gnome, and dwarf are all invented by humans to describe imaginary creatures in folklore, you could believe that, in your setting, those creatures invented those names for themselves, cliche that races refer to themselves with more exquisite terms aside. Following that concept, halflings are an anomaly. Why aren't elves called "earlings," or dwarves "beardlings?" Having others refer to a race with a colloquialism is fine, but that race should be presented more formally initially, with the name from their own tongue that they apply to themselves.

I'm fairly certain I'm going to start referring to dwarves as beardlings though.

How is dwarf different from halfling?

 

[Felon]

I kicked myself for not covering every possible contingency in my last post. This is the internet, after all.

What I mean is that, while the names elf, gnome, and dwarf are all invented by humans to describe imaginary creatures in folklore, you could believe that, in your setting, those creatures invented those names for themselves, cliche that races refer to themselves with more exquisite terms aside.

Brennin is ahead of me on this one, but I still want to state that I'm eager to know why it's credible that dwarves wuld apply a term to themselves that is a reference to a shortness? They're not short to each other, after all.

 

[Remathilis]

How is dwarf different from halfling?

The fake beards. (Nodwick Reference).

I really don't like those "kinda" names like dwur, olve, or hin. Bah. Give me dwarf, elf, and halfling. They can be pronounced whatever they want in their own tongue...

 

[Zamkaizer]

How is dwarf different from halfling?

Brennin is ahead of me on this one, but I still want to state that I'm eager to know why it's credible that dwarves wuld apply a term to themselves that is a reference to a shortness? They're not short to each other, after all.

Dwarfism, the medical condition, takes it's name from the mythical creatures, rather than the other way around.

You know, I've never thought about the nomenclature of miniature things in fantasy settings.

 

[CleverNickName]

We have halflings but not hobbits, how about the other races:

We've always called halflings "Hobbits" at my game table. I say, if you want to rename a race, go for it. Nobody is going to show up at your door and demand that you cease and desist immediately. (Well, some of your more eccentric rules-lawyers might, but you can always beat them up and take their lunch money.)

 

[Arashi Ravenblade]

I would find that totally annoying.
"I wanna play a Dwur."
"Not in my game. Your playing a dwarf."

 

[Lurks-no-More]

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

Looks like change for change's sake, and not a good change, either.