D&D General why do we have halflings and gnomes?

[Twiggly the Gnome]

My major issue with the smaller races as PCs is speed. When your base move is slower than 95% of the creatures you will be encountering, you're pretty much dead if you have to run. They're just plain faster than you are.

What I don't understand is, if gnomes and halflings are slower because of their size, wtf do goblins and kobolds have a speed of 30.

 

[tetrasodium]

It's all about believablity.

Everyone has different thresholds of it. And when you have a game about adventurers questing, treasure hunting, and monster fighting, there is a leel of believability every player needs in there races, places,and classes that the things in the game would exist in the way they do within the context of the game. The level s often based on the object's emphasis and importance to the game.

Some things clear that minimum level easily like humans, elves, and fighters. Others take some work but pass the bar like gnomes and sorcerers.

And some things, like halflings, take more work that the core book provide for many fans.

I think to a degree it goes further than that. A lot of things about fr are so laden with plot armor protecting layer upon layer of plot armor that it goes from incongruities in the setting to affecting free will and motivations in ways that make "these are not the droids you're looking for" a positively unremarkable demonstration of clear headed free will played out on a global scale. Halflings just happen to be horrific examples of it.

 

[Minigiant]

What I don't understand is, if gnomes and halflings are slower because of their size, wtf do goblins and kobolds have a speed of 30.

Goblins and kobolds are portrayed as noticeably twitchy. Short legs that move fast like cartoon characters.

Halflings and gnomes are given more humany or dwarven gaits.

 

[Maxperson]

My issue is that in every edition except 3e, being small was almost always just penalties. The bonuses for being small were few and situationally. In D&D and D&D clones, small aces areslower and weaker. So forme, you have to give a small race something major in mechanics or lore to make their existence make sense.

Dwarves are so wide they are Medium sized and have a culture which stresses duty and reveres warriors and smiths.
Gnomes have illusion magic in their culture and high saving throws.
Goblins are breeders, fast as a human, see in the dark, and absolutely vicious with an advantage.
Kobolds are decieptively pathetic, fast as a human, see in the dar, naturally fight as in groups, and seek or are sought after by powerful masters.

3.5 Halflings got lots of good stuff.

1. +3 to hit when using thrown weapons or slings(1 from dex, 1 from size and 1 from race)
2. +2 to AC(1 from dex and 1 from size)
3. +5 to hide(1 from dex and 4 from size)
4. +1 to all saves(+3 vs. fear)
5. +3 to move silent(1 from dex and 2 from race)
6. +2 to climb and jump from race, this more than makes up for the -1 from strength.
7. +2 to listen
8. +1 to initiative from dex

All of those skills are among the most used.

In 5e they got.

1. The ability to virtually never fumble by re-rolling 1's.
2. +1 to AC and initiative from dex.
3. Advantage on saves vs fear
4. Subrace ability.

I think 5e stepped it back with abilities, but they seem on par with the other racial abilities which are generally more underwhelming than 3e had. 5e is a lower powered game.

 

[Maxperson]

What I don't understand is, if gnomes and halflings are slower because of their size, wtf do goblins and kobolds have a speed of 30.

I agree. I suspect it's for balance reasons, but it still seems odd.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Statistics class.

The whole point of "luck" in a fantasy setting is it overrides statistics.

“Scientists have calculated that the chances of something so patently absurd actually existing are millions to one. But magicians have calculated that million-to-one chances crop up nine times out of ten."

-Sir Terry Pratchett​

 

[Paul Farquhar]

What I don't understand is, if gnomes and halflings are slower because of their size, wtf do goblins and kobolds have a speed of 30.

Dwarves are also slower, and they are medium. And wood elves are faster but typically shorter than humans. There are factors other than height in play.

 

[CapnZapp]

What is the desired outcome from the partisans in this thread? People will stop playing halflings? Or other people will start using them? It feels like this got to page 41 largely out of inertia.

Related to this:

Could someone summarize any suggestions to make Halflings or Gnomes more distinct and interesting? I'm sure 40+ pages must have yielded some suggestions?

(And not just the "cannibal nomad" halflings of Dark Sun. Thanks)

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Related to this:

Could someone summarize any suggestions to make Halflings or Gnomes more distinct and interesting?

Same as any character, consider them as individuals, not as a collection of racial tropes.

 

[Mecheon]

Could someone summarize any suggestions to make Halflings or Gnomes more distinct and interesting? I'm sure 40+ pages must have yielded some suggestions?

Gnomes are in a good spot at the moment with their combo of fey-ness, illusions and technology. They've got enough stuff there to keep 'em going