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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Charlaquin" data-source="post: 8176670" data-attributes="member: 6779196">By being the Everyman, halflings have a relatability that the human heroes of a setting like LotR lack. They have a humility that makes their heroism all the more inspiring. Only a hobbit could have successfully borne the ring to Mordor, as only one so simple and humble could weather its evil for so long.Additionally, being the Everyman archetype in a medieval context is a far cry from being “the faceless masses.” That’s a very post-industrial view of the common folk. Halflings aren’t faceless masses, they’re the agrarian class. A halfling adventurer is the farm boy who gets thrust into adventure by circumstances beyond their control - an incredibly common fantasy trope.Now, again, that theming doesn’t necessarily translate well to D&D, which is why over time halflings have grown apart from that agrarian Everyman role. They’ve become curious, plucky thrill seekers and mischief makers, smiled upon by Lady Luck for their sheer audacity in the face of improbable odds. That’s a decent alternate direction to take halflings in if you are strongly opposed to the Everyman archetype.Again, I personally prefer to treat each of these archetypes as stereotypes. My halflings are an oppressed underclass who have developed close bonds based around their mutual struggles. The halfling love of freedom and dedication to community are products of those shared hardships. That’s one example of how to subvert the typical halfling tropes, if neither of them appeal to you. If you take the time to delve into the themes behind the tropes instead of dismissing them, you can play with those themes, coming at them from different angles, or turning them on their heads.</blockquote>

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