I should have clarified it had nothing to do with official material - it was just how I chose to portray the various races distinctively in my games by drawing on elements of real-world culture. Rightly or wrongly, my teenage self associated the halflings with strong family ties and being good cooks. Since I liked pizza and spaghetti (well, like - I still do
), I decided to draw on elements of Italian culture to portray halflings in my games. And yes, I am embarrassed to admit that it also led to the development of the Halfling Mafia in my games
.
For what is worth, I'm not offended at all. Actually, I think it's a more imaginative way of using the Halflings than the abused rural English goodfellow.
Regading mafia, I think it's one of the things we Italians should be ashamed of. Still, it's part of our history and culture. We can not deny it. We can not hide it. And we can not avoid people putting it in works of fiction. Misusing it, misunderstanding, also, yes that can happen.
No more than people do with the Yakuza. Or samurai/ninja/feudal japan, or cowboys, or vikings.
That's the point i have been trying to make clear in my previous posts. While it is indeed interesting to have historically and geographically correct representations of real world and cultures, well, if I wanted to read a history book, I'd open a history book. Or at least play a game set in the real world.
If i play in a fantasy setting, i expect things to be fantastic. That also includes twisted takes from real world components. Like Azctecs discovering Europe or Italian Halflings, why not?
Funny thing, I also wanted to include an Asian country in one of my last games, loosely based on feudal anime Japan where the dominant race are Halflings. I guess we are even.
