Halflings -- what version (if any)?

[Bihor]

I did not care much for halfling before, in 2e or 3e.
But when I read the book of badaxe games (Heroes of high favor: halfling), I changed my mind.
Whit the explication of the combined class it made more sence.
I just hope mister Ratbane publish the one with the gnomes becose, I don't like them much. Well races of stone help with the gnome but not much.

 

[Bihor]

oups double post

 

[Zander]

Weird ... my complaint with the current halflings is that they don't have a real niche. They're pint-sized gypsies, why bother? Just have gypsies.

(If your reaction to that is "hobbits are just pint-sized English country gentry, why bother?" I'd have to say, "It's a fair cop. I don't see a real need for them either, except for people who want to do Tolkien.")

I have to disagree with you there. Halflings as conceived by Tolkien have a symbolic value. In the fantasy worlds created by Tolkien and by many gamers, they represent reluctant heroism. You could argue that any character of whatever race could be a reluctant hero, and to a certain extent that's true. But halflings, by virtue of being so small and vulnerable and yet so brave, are particularly heroic. They're the representation of the latent heroism we (like to think we) each have within ourselves. In other words, they make you believe that if a 3 foot gardner can help defeat the forces of Mordor, so can I!

That's why I don't like 3E halflings. There's nothing in particular to admire about them.

 

[Maliki]

I prefer the more Tolkein like halflings of earlier editions, and they have just as much of a reason to be in a fantasy world as any other fantasy race. I think if not in attitude then in look the 3rd edition halflings are very much like Kender. IMO the 3rd edition halfling is much closer to Tasslehoff than to Frodo.

 

[The_Gneech]

I have to disagree with you there. Halflings as conceived by Tolkien have a symbolic value. In the fantasy worlds created by Tolkien and by many gamers, they represent *snip*

I understand the symbolic value, certainly, and if you want that in a story or a game, then by all means go for it and have a blast. That's what I meant by "people who want to do Tolkien." Having said that, I still don't see a big need for them ... I've only ever once in two decades of gaming seen somebody choose to play a halfling, and the only reason he did was "for a change."

Of course, I could just be in a very humanocentric group.[1] YMMV.

-The Gneech

[1] Well now it's humanocentric, anyway ... in the 1e/2e days, elves were a lot more popular, since they got sooooo many goodies.

 

[Filby]

Huh, I actually like both. Lightfoots and hairfoots each have their place in my setting (along with tallfellows, stouts, etc...).

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Wipe them out. All of them.

Brad

 

[avendeen]

I've been playing with my current DM for 12 years and in his campaign Halflings do not exist. Recently the campaign's greatest mage has been at war with the Dwarves. The Dwarves have been decimated and could even face extinction at some point in the future. We (the players) assume the Halflings must have suffered a similar fate in the past.

 

[Whimsical]

I selected the last option, even though I would go berserker rage on any kender that I come across, even if I was roleplaying Jesus Christ the pacifistic Cleric of the One God. The only kenderesque qualities of the 3e halfling is their slenderness, their +2 to fear saves, and their wanderlust (although the 3e halfling has communal wanderlust).

I have played a halfling cleric of Yondalla in Living Greyhawk since 3e has come out and have been playing him very lawful good. He seeks to bring wayward halfings back to Yondalla and dislikes when they waste Yondalla's gifts on criminal pursuits. Even though he has a level of rogue, he is the opposite of a thief.

 

[Nifft]

Kender = lame.

However, Lidda = hot.

So, Halflings = 3e, with joy.

-- N