Reimagining the Hobbit

[Jürgen Hubert]

They are described as "tough as tree roots." Frodo shrugged off a successful attack by a troll that beat his AC in LOTR.

I'd say that Tolkien mithril gives some sort of damage reduction...

 

[Cam Banks]

Tolkien described the hobbits in Middle Earth as having a pastoral culture, rustic and centered around farming and agriculture and being very much like the English Lake Country folk. I agree with the assertion that he didn't intend for them all to be natural thieves, but I think they'd retain the skill bonuses and abilities they have in 3.5 because all of them seem appropriate. They even get a bonus to all saving throws and resistance to fear, not because they're kender-clones but because they are capable of withstanding a great deal of stress both physical and mental if they're subjected to it.

So, yeah - drop the Dex bonus and give them a Con bonus, and you'd probably have it.

Cheers,
Cam

 

[Quartz]

I'm gonna assume you mean +2 Con; having a Great Fortitude feat with a -2 Con merely cancels out the Fort save penalty for a reduced Con.

No, I meant -2 Con. Less HP, but more resistant to spells, poisons, etc; it's a net +1 to Fort saves.

 

[mmu1]

They are described as "tough as tree roots." Frodo shrugged off a successful attack by a troll that beat his AC in LOTR.

No, he didn't. He got hit with a spear by an orc chieftain (unusually large - almost as tall as a man - but no Troll) which - since his Mithril shirt held - smashed him against the wall, knocking him out but doing no lasting damage other than some nasty scrapes and bruises.

The other members of the Fellowship were amazed at his toughness... until Aragorn insisted on treating his wounds and everyone saw he was wearing armor that was worth as much as a small country.

And for what it's worth, the quote you're referring to is actually something like "...soft as butter…and yet sometimes as tough as old tree-roots." It really doesn't suggest, to me, the sort of everyday toughness that'd be granted by higher Con.

IMO, the Hobbits are, first and foremost, about the strength of spirit, and mind over matter... Which is why I would be inclined - like I suggested before - to give them Str and Con penalties, a Wis bonus, and give them both a bonus on saves and the ability to use their Wis bonus on Fort saves and Con checks.

 

[Herobizkit]

They're supposed to be good with hurled weapons. Sure. They're ACCURATE (because of their original bonus to Dex) but they don't HURT that much. Even if they keep their +1 to damage with hurled/thrown weapons, that would help off-set their Str penalty.

D'oh me, I guess it's +1 to their ATTACK rolls, not their damage rolls. Still, validates my point.