Halflings
Description:
Halflings are small, slightly stocky folk who stand around three feet tall and weigh about 60 pounds. They have curly brown hair on their heads and feet, but rarely have facial hair. They are usually fair skinned, often with ruddy cheeks. Halflings are remarkably rugged for their small size. They are dexterous and nimble, capable of moving quietly and remaining very still. They usually go barefoot. Halflings are woodland folk, and usually get along well with elves and dwarves. Halflings are outgoing but not unusually brave, seeking treasure as a way to gain the comforts of home, which they so dearly love. Halflings prefer to live in pleasant areas of fair countryside near rolling hills and gentle streams. When not working or adventuring, halflings will spend most of their time eating, drinking, talking with friends, and relaxing. Their communities are called shires, and their recognized spokesman is called a Sheriff. They live about a hundred years. Halfling families live in Clans.Morals and Ethics:
Halflings are friendly, peaceful, and somewhat a carefree race of beings, with a strong sense of community and family. They value comfort, good food, and simple pleasures. Halflings are also known for their resourcefulness and adaptability, as they are often able to find clever solutions to difficult problems despite their small stature. They are skilled at navigating tight spaces and avoiding danger, using their wits and agility to stay one step ahead of their enemies. Halflings place a strong emphasis on honesty, loyalty, and fairness. They have a deep respect for the rights of others and the importance of treating everyone with kindness and compassion, and may be quick to forgive and forget. At the same time, halflings may be somewhat insular and inward-looking, focused primarily on their own communities and families rather than the wider world. Many are slow to trust outsiders, and may be wary of anyone who seems too different or threatening.Views on Race:
- Dwarves: Halflings and dwarves often have a friendly and mutually respectful relationship. Halflings mostly view dwarves as strong, dependable, and skilled, appreciating their practical and no-nonsense approach to life. Halflings also admire the dwarves' sense of honor and their deep respect for tradition and history. At the same time, halflings can find dwarves to be somewhat gruff and unapproachable, with a tendency to be blunt or even confrontational in their dealings with others.
- Humans: Halflings view humans as approachable and enjoy spending time in their company. Humans are viewed as adventurous and outgoing and halflings appreciate the human's energy and enthusiasm for life. At the same time, halflings also view humans as somewhat unpredictable or even dangerous because of their moral ambiguity.
- Elves: Halflings view elves with a mixture of admiration and awe. Elves are seen as graceful, elegant, and wise, with a deep understanding of magic and the natural world. Halflings appreciate the elf's beauty and sophistication. At the same time, halflings may also find elves to be somewhat aloof or distant, and may struggle to understand their complex and nuanced culture.
- Half-Orcs: The personal experiences of halflings with individual half-orcs will heavily influence their views. Positive or negative interactions can shape how they perceive the entire race. Halflings might be curious about the background and experiences of half-orcs, especially if they are not a common sight in the setting. This curiosity could lead to questions and an opportunity for cultural exchange.
Race Restrictions:
Halflings are required to have a minimum Dexterity of 9. Due to their small stature, they may not have a Strength higher than 17. Halflings never roll larger than six-sided dice (d6) for hit points regardless of class. Halflings may not use Large weapons, and must wield Medium weapons with both hands. These characters are prohibited from using large weapons, mainly due to their small stature and relatively low weight. It's hard to swing a weapon when the weapon is trying to swing you. If such a character tries to use a prohibited weapon, the Game Master may either apply a -5 attack penalty based on the difficulty of using the weapon, or alternately declare the attempt unsuccessful, at his or her option.Class Restrictions:
Halflings may be a Cleric if their Wisdom is 9+, a Druid if their Wisdom is +9, a Fighter if their Strength is 9+, or a Thief if their Dexterity is 9+.Special Abilities:
Halflings are unusually accurate with all sorts of ranged weapons, gaining a +1 attack bonus when employing them. When attacked in melee by creatures larger than man-sized, Halflings gain a +2 bonus to their Armor Class. Halflings are quick-witted, thus adding +1 to Initiative die rolls. Outdoors in their preferred forest terrain, they are able to hide very effectively; so long as they remain still there is only a 10% chance they will be detected. Even indoors, in dungeons or in non-preferred terrain they are able to hide such that there is only a 30% chance of detection. Note that a Halfling Thief will roll only once, using either the Thief ability or the Halfling ability, whichever is better.Saving Throws:
Halflings save at +4 vs. Death Ray or Poison, Magic Wands, Paralysis or Petrify, and Spells, and at +3 vs. Dragon Breath.
HALFLING CHARTS
Lifespan
100 years
Average Height
3 feet tall
Average Weight
60 lbs.
Geographic Distribution
