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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James Gasik" data-source="post: 8712065" data-attributes="member: 6877472">Yeah, I remember the last Psionics thread.  Yikes.So ok, here's the thing.  Could the game remove Gnomes and Halflings from the PHB?  Maybe. It would be odd to not have them around, since so many settings have them, or standins like Kender.  But whether these settings have them because they are in the PHB, or they are in the PHB because settings have them is a chicken or egg debate.The question then becomes what to replace them with?  And how many players will look at this as a reason to see the "new D&D" as not being the kind of game they want to play?The outcry about Gnomes not being in the 4e PHB wasn't about Gnomes, I don't think.  I think it became a rallying cry for people who didn't feel like they needed a new edition, and were upset that it wasn't like whatever kind of D&D they felt comfortable playing- lore changes like removing the Great Wheel, which really, only Planescape fans cared too much about, and adding Dragonborn to the PHB was the same way.People need to feel that yes, this is in fact the game I love.  So a PHB with no Gnomes, or Halflings, but say, Kobolds or Goblins, will be a little scary.  What is this game?  What else has changed?  Why should I switch to this instead of my security blanket game?We know, from a business standpoint, that WotC wants everyone on the bus.  So they aren't going to ditch these races because of that, no matter how popular or not they are.I like Halflings, but I admit their default lore isn't exciting.  Of course, most races are in the same boat, so in my games, if I want Halflings or any race, I need to make lore that's more compelling.And even if I do, that's no guarantee anyone will want to play a given race.  I think most people are, at best, happy with the idea of Halflings being around, more than really wanting to play one.  But it's not like they take up much space, either (lol).I mean, let's be honest, the lore for Dragonborn is way worse.  The only reason they are popular is, well, dragons are cool for a larger cross section of people than Halflings, I suppose.  Until recently, it wasn't like their racials were all that.And ultimately, that's how I look at this debate.  The reason to get rid of Halflings has nothing really to do with mechanics or lore- but popularity.  If you don't like 'em, and few people play 'em, why have them?And the answer, sadly is, because nostalgia.  And nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool, and WotC knows it.  What I would prefer is WotC doing more with all the races, but they're not going to do that either, for the same reason.There were people who griped that 3e Halflings weren't Hobbits anymore, for example.  "They just look like Kender!"  When you buy a product, chances are you're buying the brand.  And if the brand changes, you can end up with a New Coke situation on your hands.Again though, sure, if you weren't worried about the market, you could remove less popular races.  But I don't see a real reason for it.  What are you going to replace them with?  Another couple kinds of Elves?  Monstrous races?What race has a huge presence in established settings....or, if we want to be honest, the only setting that will matter, the Forgotten Realms, that's more popular, and plays well with others, that we can put in the PHB?Orcs?  Not traditionally, but maybe in the new, kinder, gentler D&D we'll have Orc towns and Orc mayors, and Orc merchants in major cities, who can say?</blockquote>

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