Halflings - What's the Attraction?

[small pumpkin man]

When you've got a class that actually has 3+ good At-Wills which key off the same stat -- Wizard, Infernal Warlock, Wizard, Con-Star Warlock, Wizard, and possibly Warlord -- then it's good.

For many classes, it's a waste. That's sad, and maybe the splat-books will fix it.

Cheers, -- N

You missed Rogue, but sure.

 

[med stud]

Hi all,

I'm just reading through the halfling entry and I'm wondering why anyone would want to play them. They get the usual +2 to two stats and two skills, two situational bonuses (one on saves vs fear and one against opportunity attacks) and the usual racial encounter power. That's it. And I don't see any advantages to being Small. Only disadvantages (what's with the weapon thing? Why Small-sized armor but not Small-sized weapons?)

Why would anyone choose to play a halfling? Am I just missing something? Or do halflings suck worse than the half-elf?


Grumble grumble.

Cheers,
Jonathan

About the weapons: Halflings can use scimitars so they can use a shield and a 1d8-weapon.

 

[Shabe]

Halflings make interesting Rangers.
A Halfling Ranger has no reason to take the Two Weapon Fighting style, because all his one handed options are versatile and need to be wielded with two hands. Instead, the Halfling is stuck dual wielding smaller weapons.

But, there's no penalty for taking Archery style. That means the Halfling Ranger using two melee weapons still gets +4 AC Versus Opportunity Attacks, and another +2 if he's lost in the crowd.

Wrong on both accounts i think, the TWF path will allow him to use ambi scimitars (unless rangers don't get scimitar prof) 1d8 weapons and being small he can only use a short 1d8 vs a longbow 1d10, either way hes dropping from a 1d10 to a 1d8 compared to a medium sized creature.

 

[gribble]

That's great but I'm just talking about the racial features. Not their feats. Feats are optional. I'm talking about the stuff you get automatically when you choose halfling over some other race.

But access to those feats *is* a racial feature. The only way to get access to those feats is by being a halfling. The halfling racial feats are markedly better than most other races feats (human and dragonborn being the possible exceptions), so access to those feats has got to count for something. And other than not being able to use 2H weapons, being small seems to be a benefit, not a penalty.

 

[generalhenry]

halflings make the best artful dodgers
they rank up there for warlocks
and they make good paladins, a free defense reroll on a tank is powerful

 

[Cam Banks]

It seems as if halflings are generally superior strikers. Rogue, warlock, and ranger are all pretty good choices for halflings.

Also, what am I missing about scimitars? They're heavy blades, just like longswords, aren't they?

EDIT: Never mind. It's because they're not versatile, isn't it.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Mengu]

One advantage of being small, is that, you are two size categories smaller than large. That means, you can run between an Ogre's legs. That is one very cool ability. Yes until you get Underfoot, you'll take an opportunity attack but you likely have around a +5 AC against that not to mention second chance should you need it. The halfling rogue is incredibly well built for snatch and run missions.

Halflings also make great defenders, thanks to Halfling Agility and Lost In the Crowd. They also have an easier time specializing in scale mail and shield thanks to good dex.

 

[pukunui]

But access to those feats *is* a racial feature. The only way to get access to those feats is by being a halfling. The halfling racial feats are markedly better than most other races feats (human and dragonborn being the possible exceptions), so access to those feats has got to count for something. And other than not being able to use 2H weapons, being small seems to be a benefit, not a penalty.

Yes, when you put it that way ...

All right. I think I'm convinced now. I'll leave the halfling alone.

Thanks everyone!

 

[hamishspence]

loss of magic staffs

As it stands, they cannot use either quarterstaffs or staff implements. I recommend WotC errata it: just giving the staff the Small keyword would fix it.

 

[ozziewolf]

I think the real question is... what's not to love about a halfling?

I'm dead sexchay baby! *rubs his halfling nipples*