Anyone else a little disappointed that Halflings don’t get a lineage choice like Elves and Gnomes get? They just feel a little… mehh compared to the older Halflings without the choice. What do you all think?
I'm going to tack in a *maybe* because aside from the Ghostwise Halflings since they did something different, there... wasn't really a need for halflings to have subraces/lineages anyway other than as a callback to a couple throwaway lines from descriptions of the Shire.
The only thing right now that I miss is the ability to use Medium creatures as Hide points.
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Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
I'm going to tack in a *maybe* because aside from the Ghostwise Halflings since they did something different, there... wasn't really a need for halflings to have subraces/lineages anyway other than as a callback to a couple throwaway lines from descriptions of the Shire.
The only thing right now that I miss is the ability to use Medium creatures as Hide points.
Maybe that’s what it is. 🤷♂️ I dunno, something about them seems a li’l… vanilla.
I'm going to tack in a *maybe* because aside from the Ghostwise Halflings since they did something different, there... wasn't really a need for halflings to have subraces/lineages anyway other than as a callback to a couple throwaway lines from descriptions of the Shire.
The only thing right now that I miss is the ability to use Medium creatures as Hide points.
Maybe that’s what it is. 🤷♂️ I dunno, something about them seems a li’l… vanilla.
I mean, these are revamps of the PHB races, more separating out the individual cultures and just saying "here's the baseline biology" (grumblegrumbleForgewhateverwithdwarvesgrumble), and halflings really AREN'T that remarkable, biologically speaking, aside from their naturally brave nature and tendency to be preternaturally lucky.
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Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
I'm going to tack in a *maybe* because aside from the Ghostwise Halflings since they did something different, there... wasn't really a need for halflings to have subraces/lineages anyway other than as a callback to a couple throwaway lines from descriptions of the Shire.
The only thing right now that I miss is the ability to use Medium creatures as Hide points.
Maybe that’s what it is. 🤷♂️ I dunno, something about them seems a li’l… vanilla.
I mean, these are revamps of the PHB races, more separating out the individual cultures and just saying "here's the baseline biology" (grumblegrumbleForgewhateverwithdwarvesgrumble), and halflings really AREN'T that remarkable, biologically speaking, aside from their naturally brave nature and tendency to be preternaturally lucky.
I suppose. But at least before there were the uniquely sneaky ones and the tough ones, and now there’s just the boringly sneaky ones. 🥱
I would hope that lineages for all species, that are vastely different from the "standard" stay. Duergar for example. I actually do not get why Gnomes have lineages, but halflings not. The differences are similarly minor, also for elves. Seems like a missed opportunity.
One of the difficulties of the new format is that it would be difficult to retroactively add lineages to races that didn't have them. In MotM style races, you just created a new statblock, because they were all treated as new races. If they released the Halflings as they are in the playtest, then they'd have to create a parallel Halfling with the stats laid out in the form of having lineages and just have two versions.
I suppose that was one strength of the MotM method. If a race they'd had no intention of expanding takes off and later they decide they want to add more subraces, it fitted quite naturally into the setup.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
One of the difficulties of the new format is that it would be difficult to retroactively add lineages to races that didn't have them. In MotM style races, you just created a new statblock, because they were all treated as new races. If they released the Halflings as they are in the playtest, then they'd have to create a parallel Halfling with the stats laid out in the form of having lineages and just have two versions.
I suppose that was one strength of the MotM method. If a race they'd had no intention of expanding takes off and later they decide they want to add more subraces, it fitted quite naturally into the setup.
That was a strength of the old Subrace/Variant system. I’m more than a little bummed they have abandoned it.
I personally think all races should have a lineage choice (even if there is only one lineage option initially avaliable) just as a future proofing method to save space for future ideas. For halfling specifically I think the current playtest version covers PHB halflings fine, but if I wanted to run an Eberron campaign there would be some debate over what to take out and replace with dragon mark features. (Going by the existing material I'd probably make it a background that gave magic initiate and tell them to pick thematic spells)
The original 5e halflings subraces are already forgettably bland -- I have a halfling in the campaign I run and I couldn't even tell you which subrace he is.
The original 5e halflings subraces are already forgettably bland -- I have a halfling in the campaign I run and I couldn't even tell you which subrace he is.
Isn’t that even more of a reason to make a pair of actually interesting lineages for the Hin?
Imagine this: subrace 1 is halflings... Subrace 2 is gnomes. ;P
This is pretty much how I run it in my setting. In 40 years of DMing I never once had anyone play a halfling (until 5e) but loads of gnomes to the point that they (gnomes) ended up taking over their (halflings) niche. At this point in my games halflings are just another offshoot of gnomes.
I think it’s time for WotC to give the halfling their dark vision (infra vision) back. They had it in 1E and 2E then when WotC took over in 3.0 the halfling lost it.
I think it’s time for WotC to give the halfling their dark vision (infra vision) back. They had it in 1E and 2E then when WotC took over in 3.0 the halfling lost it.
I would say that we need to remove it for (almost) everyone and maybe bring back low light vision.
In 5e I haven’t seen any gnomes be played. I think the only Halfling is the one my oldest son is playing now. My players typically go for more exotic races. .
I think it’s time for WotC to give the halfling their dark vision (infra vision) back. They had it in 1E and 2E then when WotC took over in 3.0 the halfling lost it.
I’d have to check to be sure, but I don’t remember Halflings having any sort of darkvision/infravision in 2e.
Anyone else a little disappointed that Halflings don’t get a lineage choice like Elves and Gnomes get? They just feel a little… mehh compared to the older Halflings without the choice. What do you all think?
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I'm going to tack in a *maybe* because aside from the Ghostwise Halflings since they did something different, there... wasn't really a need for halflings to have subraces/lineages anyway other than as a callback to a couple throwaway lines from descriptions of the Shire.
The only thing right now that I miss is the ability to use Medium creatures as Hide points.
Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
Maybe that’s what it is. 🤷♂️ I dunno, something about them seems a li’l… vanilla.
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I mean, these are revamps of the PHB races, more separating out the individual cultures and just saying "here's the baseline biology" (
grumblegrumbleForgewhateverwithdwarvesgrumble), and halflings really AREN'T that remarkable, biologically speaking, aside from their naturally brave nature and tendency to be preternaturally lucky.Formerly Devan Avalon.
Trying to get your physical content on Beyond is like going to Microsoft and saying "I have a physical Playstation disk, give me a digital Xbox version!"
I suppose. But at least before there were the uniquely sneaky ones and the tough ones, and now there’s just the boringly sneaky ones. 🥱
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I would hope that lineages for all species, that are vastely different from the "standard" stay. Duergar for example. I actually do not get why Gnomes have lineages, but halflings not. The differences are similarly minor, also for elves. Seems like a missed opportunity.
One of the difficulties of the new format is that it would be difficult to retroactively add lineages to races that didn't have them. In MotM style races, you just created a new statblock, because they were all treated as new races. If they released the Halflings as they are in the playtest, then they'd have to create a parallel Halfling with the stats laid out in the form of having lineages and just have two versions.
I suppose that was one strength of the MotM method. If a race they'd had no intention of expanding takes off and later they decide they want to add more subraces, it fitted quite naturally into the setup.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
That was a strength of the old Subrace/Variant system. I’m more than a little bummed they have abandoned it.
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I personally think all races should have a lineage choice (even if there is only one lineage option initially avaliable) just as a future proofing method to save space for future ideas. For halfling specifically I think the current playtest version covers PHB halflings fine, but if I wanted to run an Eberron campaign there would be some debate over what to take out and replace with dragon mark features. (Going by the existing material I'd probably make it a background that gave magic initiate and tell them to pick thematic spells)
The original 5e halflings subraces are already forgettably bland -- I have a halfling in the campaign I run and I couldn't even tell you which subrace he is.
I think Halfling should have lineage so that future product can more easily integrate subraces.
Isn’t that even more of a reason to make a pair of actually interesting lineages for the Hin?
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They should have some, but not the ones they had before. Like Pantagruel, I can't keep em straight.
Imagine this: subrace 1 is halflings... Subrace 2 is gnomes. ;P
This is pretty much how I run it in my setting. In 40 years of DMing I never once had anyone play a halfling (until 5e) but loads of gnomes to the point that they (gnomes) ended up taking over their (halflings) niche. At this point in my games halflings are just another offshoot of gnomes.
My experience has been quite the opposite with significantly more halfling than gnome at tables i run or play ☺
I think it’s time for WotC to give the halfling their dark vision (infra vision) back. They had it in 1E and 2E then when WotC took over in 3.0 the halfling lost it.
I would say that we need to remove it for (almost) everyone and maybe bring back low light vision.
In 5e I haven’t seen any gnomes be played. I think the only Halfling is the one my oldest son is playing now. My players typically go for more exotic races. .
Yeah, the more I deal with darkvision in 5e the more I want to just remove it.
I’d have to check to be sure, but I don’t remember Halflings having any sort of darkvision/infravision in 2e.
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