What are your Halflings like?

[jdrakeh]

Logically, a slow-moving race of nomads would be more ideally suited to a river-dwelling culture. On land, they would be at a severe disadvantage against predators, raiders, and enemies, since they move slower than most races. On water, this disadvantage is removed, allowing the race a more realistic chance for survival and growth.

All true. It doesn't make them resemble any past versions of D&D Halflings any moreso. The 4e Halfling still appears to be worlds apart from its predecessors, sharing only a name in common.

 

[The Little Raven]

All true. It doesn't make them resemble any past versions of D&D Halflings any moreso. The 4e Halfling still appears to be worlds apart from its predecessors, sharing only a name in common.

The 4e halfling is closer to the 3e halfling than the 3e halfling is to the hobbit.

Hobbit - Sedentary farmers.
3e halfling - Nomadic clansmen.
4e halfling - Nomadic clansmen on rivers.

 

[jdrakeh]

The 4e halfling is closer to the 3e halfling than the 3e halfling is to the hobbit.

Hobbit - Sedentary farmers.
3e halfling - Nomadic clansmen.
4e halfling - Nomadic clansmen on rivers.

And? It's still a screaming far cry from the AD&D Halfling and, in terms of cultural specifics, it's not very similar to the 3e Halfling, either. Sure, they're both nomadic but the similarities pretty much stop there from what I've seen. Saying that the 3e and 4e Halflings are almost the same is like saying that Seminole Indians and Vikings are almost alike. I mean, after all, they're both nomadic clanspeople, right?

 

[GAAAHHH]

Hairfoot halflings are hobbits. Tallfellow halflings are 4th edition halflings, and lightfoot? halflings are 3rd edition halflings. I'm not sure what to do with Stouts, though.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

Saying that the 3e and 4e Halflings are almost the same is like saying that Seminole Indians and Vikings are almost alike. I mean, after all, they're both nomadic clanspeople, right?

Vikings weren't nomadic.

 

[GAAAHHH]

It's not a dumb question. "Halfling" always sounded like a pejorative to me.

IMC Halflings call themselves "Kender" (which simply means "the people"). I've excised all the annoying from them, but I do like the name. (But don't worry Piratecat, we'll call them "Hin" or something for the night if you ever stop in for a game).


On the contrary, most worlds have Dwarves being an elder race than humans, so perhaps humans with a growth deficiency are named after them.

If I remember my Lord of the Rings correctly, halfling is what humans called hobbits. It is mentioned once in Bree (IIRC).

 

[The Little Raven]

I mean, after all, they're both nomadic clanspeople, right?

Nope. Vikings, as noted, were not nomadic.

You claim that the 4e halfling is worlds away from it's predecessors, but it is closer to the 3e halfling than the 3e halfling was to the hobbit. The differences between the 3e halfling and the 4e halfling is a matter of environment, since they have the same nomadic, adventurous, opportunity-seeking mentality.

If you have a problem with non-hobbit halflings, you're voicing your complaint about 8 years too late.

 

[jdrakeh]

Vikings weren't nomadic.

My bad. The point made is still valid, however.

 

[jdrakeh]

Nope. Vikings, as noted, were not nomadic.

Don't be pendantic, the point is still valid. Sharing one similarity while touting dozens of dfferences does not make two things alike.

You claim that the 4e halfling is worlds away from it's predecessors, but it is closer to the 3e halfling than the 3e halfling was to the hobbit.

And? You keep saying this. It is of absolutely no relevance. The 4e Halfling closer resembling the 3e Halfling more than the 3e Halfling resembled the AD&D Halfling does not make the 4e Halfling any more closely related to the long-default land locked, diminutive, D&D Halfling of hairy feet, which was the initial point I was making.

The differences between the 3e halfling and the 4e halfling is a matter of environment, since they have the same nomadic, adventurous, opportunity-seeking mentality.

Environment, culture, and appearance. All of these things are very, very, different from the 3e Halfling to the 4e Halfling basd on what I've read so far. The 4e Halfling is apparently native to warm (if not tropical) climates, which has both changed their appearance, mannerisms, and society greatly from that of Halflings in previous editions.

If you have a problem with non-hobbit halflings, you're voicing your complaint about 8 years too late.

I don't at all, actually -- as noted the 3e Halfling is my favorite and I have a particular disdain for Hobbity Halflings. My only point was that the 4e Halfling is a radical departure from the long-standing D&D Halfling standard (the 3e Halfling, not so much).

 

[Arkhandus]

Mine are generally somewhere between the 3E halflings and the original hobbits. Some settle down and live much like hobbits, but others are nomadic or adventurous.

Very much a mercantile people though, crafting and farming and selling their goods to any communities they pass by. Halflings have some tendencies as diplomats in my campaigns, due to their love of travel, barter, and intrigue. Rather than forming nations or city-states of their own, or conquering others' lands, the halflings just live in small communities or nomadic groups, and stick to making their livings as merchants, farmers, or vintners.


An aside: As far as I know, halflings in Oerth/Greyhawk are called Hobniz by the Flan, and must have some name for themselves too, but I dunno what it is. In Toril/Faerun they call themselves Hin, I think.

I haven't named Aurelian halflings anything yet, but halflings in my Rhunaria setting call themselves Keth, and just diplomatically ignore the fact that the taller folk have taken to calling them 'halflings'.