Why do Halflings get damage bonuses?

[slobo777]

Except they are not plausible at all.

Well I think that is where you are diverging most from other posters. Plausibility is up to you to accept or reject.

Any poster with a reasonable knowledge of physics and history could pick almost any game mechanic in D&D, deconstruct it, and show that it is "not plausible at all."

Want to pick a mechanic you think is a good counter-example to a hobbit getting +damage with weapon (i.e. one you like) and switch roles, with me arguing how it is implausible, and you arguing how it is in fact just fine, without resorting to gamist defence of your position?

 

[TrippyHippy]

Want to pick a mechanic you think is a good counter-example to a hobbit getting +damage with weapon (i.e. one you like) and switch roles, with me arguing how it is implausible, and you arguing how it is in fact just fine, without resorting to gamist defence of your position?

Err...no. I'll give that one a miss.

 

[Jhaelen]

Halflings never made sense as an adventurer race.

It's the whole point of why they were invented by Mr. Tolkien: It creates dramatic tension to send members of a race of the most unlikely adventurers on an epic adventure and have them succeed.

What works well in literature is not automatically working well in an rpg (unless it's intended to be exclusively run on rails...). Personally, I really think halflings as an adventurer race have no place in D&D and I've never felt any desire to play one (except in Dark Sun, but that's a different story).

 

[variant]

Being small should have its advantages and disadvantages.

The halfling should by default deal less damage with equivalent weapons their size. A short sword should deal dagger damage, a long sword short sword damage, etc. They should also get a minus to jump checks.and their carried maximum weight should also be reduced. At the same time, they should gain a bonus to AC and stealth for being small.

If they need to further offset the penalties, it should be done with other race specific abilities that make sense for the halfling.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

The halfling should by default deal less damage with equivalent weapons their size. A short sword should deal dagger damage, a long sword short sword damage, etc. They should also get a minus to jump checks.and their carried maximum weight should also be reduced.

Why?
I am not Jokeing, when I say this seams a very slippery slope. Elves are slim and as such have less mass, dwarves are smaller then humans. Where is the line we draw?

What if they add a line or two of fluff to haflings would that help?