Are small characters under powered?

[Wiseblood]

It has been my experience that small characters have a number of drawbacks. It would seem crippling to someone with the occupation of adventurer. Some classes are not reliant on physicality and this can mititigate the impact of these disadvantages but is unlikely to eliminate them. They do get some small compensation for this but it overall seems negative.

Perhaps they need a -1 ECL?

 

[kitsune9]

Could be. A -1 ECL does sound reasonable if you and your group feels that the smallfolk are getting the short end. For me, I think they are fine, but I can see the argument for it.

 

[amerigoV]

They are fine. They have the best chance of surviving a near TPK. I mean, who are you going to kill when it is down to the last two PCs -a Dwarf with a massive glowing battleaxe or a halfling with spork? The Dwarf becomes what is known as the Rearguard.

Some players like the challenge of playing something that is a bit underpowered. As a result, they tend to do alright as the player is very conscious putting their PC in the best possible situation.

 

[Wiseblood]

They are fine. They have the best chance of surviving a near TPK. I mean, who are you going to kill when it is down to the last two PCs -a Dwarf with a massive glowing battleaxe or a halfling with spork? The Dwarf becomes what is known as the Rearguard.

Getting killed last because you don't pose a threat doesn't sound like much.

I am all for a chllenge. I also see people avoid the RP possibilities of the small folk because they have less latitude.

 

[Ahnehnois]

I always saw small races as being pretty powerful. They get bonuses to attack and AC (hard to come by) and Hide (useful). They lose out on speed (not that important and easily fixable), weapon damage, grappling, and strength (only needed for carry weight, weapon damage, and grappling).

For many classes, that's a pretty good deal. On top of that, halflings are decked out with special abilities. They're much more powerful than "half-races". I've had success with halfling casters and rogues. No need for an ECL, IME.

 

[amnuxoll]

I think it depends a lot on the game system you are playing.

Your post implies 3e or 3.5e. I think Half-Elves have the worst of it in that system. I've seen some very effective halfling and gnome PCs. IMO, -1 ECL is over correcting.

 

[Dausuul]

Assuming you're talking 3.5... small is beautiful. You get +1 to attacks, +1 to AC including touch AC!), bonuses to hide, and the ability to use Mounted Combat in a dungeon. You suck in grapples and you move a bit slower, and your weapons do less damage, but overall I find it's a substantial benefit.

Do they make good barbarians? Well, no, but that's more or less a given for a race with a Strength penalty. But rogues, bards, spellcasters... hell yes.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Races are polarized. Dwarves and the small folk are more polarized than the other races. Halflings and gnomes make great wizards, sorcerers, bards and rogues, but aren't so good at any other role. Dwarves make good fighters and clerics and not much else.

If you must grant a bonus level, it should only apply to classes they're already bad at.

 

[Dausuul]

Races are polarized. Dwarves and the small folk are more polarized than the other races. Halflings and gnomes make great wizards, sorcerers, bards and rogues, but aren't so good at any other role. Dwarves make good fighters and clerics and not much else.

If you must grant a bonus level, it should only apply to classes they're already bad at.

Dwarves are only good at being fighters and clerics? What's wrong with dwarven wizards, rangers, barbarians, rogues, and monks?

A bonus to Constitution is good for pretty much everybody, while Charisma is D&D's traditional dump stat. Plus you get darkvision and a grab bag of random bonuses (+2 to save vs. spells is nothing to sneeze at!). The slow movement is a minor-to-moderate nuisance.

All that said, halflings make better rogues and gnomes make better wizards. But dwarven rogues and wizards are still good.

 

[amerigoV]

Getting killed last because you don't pose a threat doesn't sound like much.

I am all for a chllenge. I also see people avoid the RP possibilities of the small folk because they have less latitude.

I probably should have thrown at least a smiley in my original post. As other posts point out, the Little People really are not underpowered (3.x anyway, I have not played that much 4e). If a players wants to run a halfling barbarian with a little greataxe, that is their suboptimal choice - not that you cannot have a blast running that character, but it is not going to have the damage output of a 1/2orc barbarian. I do not run halflings or gnomes often, but they a very good at their "best class" and I never found them lacking in effectiveness.