Levistus's_Leviathan
5e Freelancer
A lot of D&D is his fault.Indeed, I would extend this to say that we have gnomes to represent what elves mostly were in non-Tolkien traditions. So really both halflings and gnomes are his fault.
A lot of D&D is his fault.Indeed, I would extend this to say that we have gnomes to represent what elves mostly were in non-Tolkien traditions. So really both halflings and gnomes are his fault.
That wasn't the question. This thread is in the general D&D forum, so the question isn't "why are they still in D&D after 46 years?" The question is "why are they in the game at all?" Also, it isn't "why are they in the game as PCs?" It's just "why do we have them?" This is why.lol no.
That is why they are in the earliest version of dnd.
It doesn't explain their longevity in the game. That is quite simply explained by the fact that people enjoy playing them, and like the fiction of being an underdog in a small frame and overcoming that, and various other fictions that are well suited to these races.
I get what you mean, but I do think there’s value in analyzing the narrative role a race fills in a setting. Yes, the fact that people can make characters with them is reason enough for them to exist in the game, but it’s a worthwhile exercise to examine what it is about a race that makes people want to make characters with them.You know, this thread is just ticking me off.
We have gnomes and halflings in the game for same dang reason we have elves, aarakocra, humans and goliaths: Because you can tell make a character that is one of them, and have fun doing so. That should be the beginning, middle, end, and after credits scene of the discussion.
You know, this thread is just ticking me off.
We have gnomes and halflings in the game for same dang reason we have elves, aarakocra, humans and goliaths: Because you can tell make a character that is one of them, and have fun doing so. That should be the beginning, middle, end, and after credits scene of the discussion.
If you didn't identify with a character or groups of characters that's not an indictment on representation or your own identity. That's an indictment on the characters and character groups to which you've been exposed.representation is an odd concept for me as I have been told since I was 14 I was supposed to identify with I had nothing in common with nor any character to be honest so the concept does not really make sense to me. tell a lie I could get one but he was nuts and honestly should not have been chosen for the task.
In my campaign, at least a certain portion of halflings would say "Ooooh, Caves of Dooooommm!!! I wonder what's in there, I bet it's just a scary name to keep tourists out let's go find out!"
Curiosity killed the cat, but halflings are lucky and small enough to hide behind the barbarian.
If you want it to make sense, you can always do the rebellious teen thing. No matter how green the grass is, someone will always get tired of green and want to check out the wide world. They may not care about riches and fame, but they can be curious about what's over the next hill.
At the time they were featured in exactly one author's works. I'd argue they didn't become part of modern fantasy canon until much later, possibly with some help from their inclusion in the original D&D. Warhammer originated as a way to play Wargames with the models Citadel produced for RPGs. Would they have bothered to make halflings if those weren't called for in D&D? Take away D&D and Warhammer halflings, and would many other popular RPGs have bothered to include them just for the sake of emulating Tolkien?And rightfully so! They’re a very important piece of the modern fantasy canon.