Why are they making demi-humans taller?

[M.L. Martin]

My theory:

Halflings are growing to further differentiate them from Hobbits... which are about 3ft.

This actually brings them more in line with hobbits, who were about 3'5" to 4' during the Third Age, although Tolkien reports that they have dwindled since.

(The 'halfling' is in comparison to Numenorean men, who often hit 7')

 

[The Grackle]

Yeah, I've always pictured elves that short. They're all petite, and even the men are so short you just want to cuddle them.

That is one reason I would expect some snide animosity of human men towards elven men - on how girlish and little the elven men are.

So... Many jokes... Grandma... Eric's... Must resist.

 

[ruleslawyer]

IMC, elves have always averaged taller than humans (though with a smaller spread), and halflings have been about 3'9", with dwarves edging up on 5'. So this won't change much for me.

But FWIW, AD&D dwarves were 4' (hill) and 4'6" (mountain), respectively.

 

[FireLance]

Why are they making demi-humans taller?

It's the easiest way to grow the game.

 

[am181d]

I assume that halflings have been upped in size to let them use medium sized weapons. (Which, it 4e, may just be called "weapons.")

I'm guessing that there are two things going on with the elves: One, they want to bring them more into line with LotR. Two, they want to keep the height difference between halflings and elves. (Halflings were already "short elves" in 3e. They don't want to make them "slightly shorter elves" in 4e.)

 

[Wik]

I think the LotR people are right on this one - elves in the fantasy I know of are always at least slightly taller than humans (and who here's played Dark Sun?!). Dwarves were not too much shorter than humans (but much stockier). and three feet is tiny, so why not make halflings... welll.... a little bit more than "half"?

I just think it was done to mesh with what people are actually DOING. *shrug*

 

[Irda Ranger]

I just think it was done to mesh with what people are actually DOING. *shrug*

This is the answer to the OP's question.

 

[Baron Opal]

My son was 41" tall on his sixth birthday. That would be a tall halfling. I think a halfling would look rather impressive with a sword the size of a large kitchen knife and a shield the size of a trash can lid.

I would knock that sucker off his feet with my 8# sledge, and Heaven help the halfling that stood against me with my axe.

They just don't have the mass to be taken seriously, and you have to wonder what the STR 16 halfling looks like when your human fighter has the same strength and is considered unusually strong.

 

[RPG_Tweaker]

I think the LotR people are right on this one - elves in the fantasy I know of are always at least slightly taller than humans (and who here's played Dark Sun?!). Dwarves were not too much shorter than humans (but much stockier). and three feet is tiny, so why not make halflings... welll.... a little bit more than "half"?

Doing a little check, I've found that Tolkien's elves were REALLY tall... well over 6'.

Hell... Elendil, who had elven blood, was a freakin giant at nearly 8' tall!

 

[Frostmarrow]

When my 3-year old hits me in the face with a 18" plastic sword it hurts.