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Message: <blockquote data-quote="mkill" data-source="post: 5312404" data-attributes="member: 55985">-- Dwarf --Dwarves probably got the most controversial change, with a new choice of a Str/Con pair. This puts them on par with Muls, Minotaurs, Warforged and Goliaths.Str/Con is not just a popular combination for races, but also for builds. Dwarves now move to the top rank as Rageblood Barbarians, several Fighter builds (Essentials Knight, Hammer or Axe user, Battlerager), Wrathful Hammer Runepriests and Earthstrength and Stormheart Wardens.Con, however, is a viable stat for pretty much any class - who doesn't need hit points and healing surges, so Dwarves also become better Strength Clerics, Strength Paladins, melee Rangers, and Warlords.Now, dwarves have pretty strong racial features, and some will argue the best racial features of any race. This may be true for armor wearing melee fighters, especially defenders, and especially when fighting with an axe or a hammer. Well, if you ask me, dwarves are an iconic fantasy race, and it would be a shame if they weren't best at exactly this role. Warforged and Goliaths definitely have enough own class features and other benefits to compete, Muls and Minotaurs not so much, but this could change with more published material.As an also ran, dwarves now feature a secondary stat for Rogue, Sorcerer and Swordmage. I'm not sure that's enough to make Dwarven Brutal Scoundrel or Ruthless Ruffian Rogues viable, though. At least they have a feat to sneak attack with a Warhammer (how subtle...), but they still suffer from slow movement speed.-- Halfling --Halflings gain Dex/Con, a somewhat unusual combination that they share with the Revenant, Gnoll, Kobold, Bullywug and Wilden, of all races. The halfling easily beats them in feat and PP support. Three classes use this combination. The first is the bleak Assassin, which makes Halflings top choice for both existing Assassin builds (the other is Dex/Cha). I'm not sure if that's so valuable, considering the well-known problems with the current Assassin, and the general question whether the jolly halfling nature fits a ruthless, stealthy killer (yes, I am aware of Belkar).Then, there is the Harrier Battlemind from Psionic Power. The halfling suffers from his limited weapon choice here, but his defensive class features are surprisingly useful for a defender. The halfling background doesn't exactly scream Battlemind, but then, neither does Gnoll or Revenant.The third optimal stat alignment is the Iron Soul Monk. Even if you don't choose this build, Con is still a better tertiary stat for monks than Charisma. The same applies to ranged Rangers. Strangely enough, 4th edition halflings don't get any ability that makes them better with slings. Not even a feat...Halfling Warlocks with a Vestige or Infernal Pact also benefit from a bonus to their main stat, but again these are off-choices, if I would play a halfling Warlock I'd rather match style and go Dex/Cha and Fey Pact (or play a Gnome instead).That leaves a laundry list of classes that use Constitution as a secondary stat in some builds - Artificer, Barbarian, Druid, Fighter, Invoker, Runepriest, Shaman, Swordmage, Warden, Wizard. None of these is a "classic" halfling class, but if you want to try a halfling here, you'll do better than before. Halfling Fighter is probably the most commonly played in this list.</blockquote>

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