Halflings - are the more than just short humans?

[Jürgen Hubert]

In Urbis, I essentially treat halflings as the Swiss of the setting. They look all traditional, harmless, and peaceful on the surface... but there's a reason why no one has invaded them lately.

 

[Old One]

Ultimate Survivors...

IMC, halflings are the ultimate survivors...

No matter what happens...they seem to survive and thrive. Always underestimated, ignored or forgotten...they just seem to "keep on keepin' on" !

They currently have the most powerful trading houses and own the best trade routes in the lands. Double-crossing an halfling trading house means a "blacklist" among the others...leading to quick financial ruin.

~ Old One

 

[Belegbeth]

You can have halflings OR gnomes -- but there really isn't a point in having both.

Halflings = Hobbits.
Gnomes = Hobbits with goatees and a few illusions.

(And I loathe Kender with a passion that cannot be put into words.)

 

[Drakmar]

And I love the image of a little dude all in a black ninja getup jumping backwards into trees.

Or a swarm of 20 or 30 mini-ninjas descending on some poor sob. Or a bunch of warpony mounted samurai halflings..

 

[eris404]

Anyway just wondering what people out there actually do with halflings.

Do Halflings actually have a niche beyond being short humans? (which even Tolkien seem to pitch them as)

I've always had this image of them being humans with too elfish-sensibilities and so IMC they went the way of elfs and became ethereal and an NPC fae race

can core Halflings be described without reference to humans and elfs? and should they even exist

One word: Jerrens. If you have the Book of Vile Darkness, why not include a race of evil, cannibalistic halflings in your campaign?

 

[lord_banus]

The halflings in my home-brew live in the grasslands and are very fast on their feet. They are natural born hunters with natural stealth, precision and speed. My main inspiration is the Velocoraptors from Jurasic park 2.

 

[Thanee]

Halflings are just small, highly curious humans with large sideburns.
Elves are just graceful, arrogant humans with pointy ears.
Dwarves are just small, stocky, greedy humans with beards who are always drunk.
...

Bye
Thanee

 

[papa_laz]

I love the idea of Samurai-esque halflings. As do I love the idea of a cannibal tribe of the little blighters. Might have to use these ideas in my campaign, if I ever bother to write it.

 

[Halivar]

In my last campaign (which we played over the course of two years), the Halflings were all powerful psions that dwelt in a valley region in the north. There in the happy, happy valley of Bolehollow, the five human villages lived their lives in complete harmony and happiness. If anyone ever had any NON-happy thoughts, the halflings could perceive it and the troublesome person would either be "made content" (think feeblemind/thrall) or would disappear. The whole set up was rather communist, and terribly creepy.

My players encountered them first at level five, and barely escaped with their brains intact. At level 13, however, they returned and slaughtered hundreds of them, then banished the rest to an alternate plane full of ravenous beasts.

They did make friends with one halfling. He was only a level 1 psion, who had abandoned the communist ways of Bolehollow to become a ranger. He had all kinds of feats and magic items that made him stronger than most humans. He beat our fighter in arm wrestling.

 

[Ravilah]

Oops. That last reply from Halivar is actually from me. The guy keeps logging me off and logging himself on, and I don't notice it till after I post.

Roommates. Can't live with them. Can't eat them in a tangy Asian sauce.