Why are they making demi-humans taller?

[IanB]

I have to say that this issue does creep me out just a little. One adventure I was playing in (three years ago) had a halfling prostitute in it. One of the characters seemed very interested. At that moment, the fact that my 4 year old daughter was almost exactly the same size struck me like a bucket of ice water. It was a pretty creepy moment. I'm not saying that this is a good reason to change the default description of halflings. I'm just saying - creepy.

On the same topic, way back in the Five Shires gazetteer for BXCMI D&D, there's a line about the Thyatian ambassador having learned "to appreciate smaller women" or something.

Creeeeeeeepy. Thanks Ed.

 

[Ahglock]

On the same topic, way back in the Five Shires gazetteer for BXCMI D&D, there's a line about the Thyatian ambassador having learned "to appreciate smaller women" or something.

Creeeeeeeepy. Thanks Ed.

I like to think some of this is more of a reference to some kind of racial tolerance. Kind of like a Marvel mutant thing where theoretically everyone is still supposed to be able to find the freaky morlock types pretty, but only the sexy Red Heads get the lovin.

Though for the appreciation for smaller women thing, I think its supposed to be something like I think Asians are hot, but I'm white. The different species in the game world are supposed to be somewhat like races in ours in that regard.

 

[mara]

I like to think some of this is more of a reference to some kind of racial tolerance. Kind of like a Marvel mutant thing where theoretically everyone is still supposed to be able to find the freaky morlock types pretty, but only the sexy Red Heads get the lovin.

Though for the appreciation for smaller women thing, I think its supposed to be something like I think Asians are hot, but I'm white. The different species in the game world are supposed to be somewhat like races in ours in that regard.

That comparison does not negate IanB's description.

 

[Mark Chance]

But not too many human three-year-olds have testosterone. If you blew a 3-year-old up to 6 feet tall, they'd be a lot weaker than a 6-foot-tall 30-year-old. A LOT weaker. They aren't made to do heavy physical work yet, or fight, because they're not supposed to.

A QFT contrasted with some perceived silliness (emphasis added):

The design philosophy is that in the past, gimping and stunting some players was deemed fun - no more.

Realisticaly, a 3' something thing should be even weaker.

As soon as someone produces a real halfling, we can worry about realistically portraying them.

Size does not necessarily coorelate with physical strength, especially across species, as has been more than adequately pointed out by others in this thread. There isn't any reason to change halfling size other than to change their size. It's change for change's sake, which isn't necessarily either a bad or a good thing.

To re-emphasize Carnivorous_Bean's point above, consider this: My son will be 11-years-old in a few days. He's nearly 5 ft. 8 in., and weighs in the 150-160 pound range. I've got only about a two inch height and about a 30 pound weight advantage (the latter mostly from fat).

But he lacks the muscular strength of an adult, any real experience with hand-to-hand combat, and my callous disregard for the bodily integrity of others. Any time I want to manhandle my son, I can. At will. Without fail. It's one of the little joys of life.

 

[pawsplay]

Size does not necessarily coorelate with physical strength, especially across species, as has been more than adequately pointed out by others in this thread.

Actually, it does. There are simply other factors involved, as well.

 

[Mark Chance]

Actually, it does. There are simply other factors involved, as well.

RIF. Emphasis added:

Originally Posted by Mark Chance
Size does not necessarily coorelate with physical strength, especially across species, as has been more than adequately pointed out by others in this thread.

 

[JoeGKushner]

They realized that by the size weight ratio, that all of the evil humanoids that have been eating the demi-humans would've starved long ago.

It's best to keep the ogres eating 4-6 halflings a day as opposed to the assumed 3-5.

 

[Urbannen]

Halflings should have received -4 to Strength instead of -2. I believe all other Small creatures have an assumed -4 penalty to Strength, just as all Large creatures have a +4 to Strength. -4 Strength is much more believable considering the Halfling's purported size. However, it would have made the Halfling too unattractive a mainstream race for game play, so they chose to make Halflings disporportionately strong.