tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post2692366534252449395..comments2024-03-28T00:41:13.514-07:00Comments on B/X BLACKRAZOR: Nerfing HalflingsJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-25992406950265297252011-07-21T15:31:16.317-07:002011-07-21T15:31:16.317-07:00@ Scad: It's not just Tolkien...as I said ther...@ Scad: It's not just Tolkien...as I said there are "wee folk" in a variety of media, but nowhere do I find them out-dueling a dwarf or elf...<br /><br />Still, the fact that you find them quite rare is strange, unless you're playing a different edition from myself...<br /><br />@ Anathematician: I considered that, too, when first tinkering with the wood elf class...I was going to simply 'port the halfling profile in its entirety and stick a new name on it. But I like the little guys too much to disregard them completely.<br /><br />Please note, we're talking B/X here...in other editions (especially AD&D) halflings would be the 2nd PC species I'd kick to the curb (right after Drow).<br /><br />@ Fictive: I always found the GNOME barbarian to be the guy with the longest staying power...with the proper toughness feats, they could have hundreds and hundreds of hit points even without raging. Truly ridiculous but a fun experiment in the art of min-maxing.<br />; )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-83131294597529991802011-07-21T12:15:06.907-07:002011-07-21T12:15:06.907-07:00In 3E I had the most distressing experience of hav...In 3E I had the most distressing experience of having a player bring a halfling with a constitution bonus playing a barbarian--this furry midget swiping things to death with paired axes had a vast reserve of hit points and was generally a pint of amok waiting to be spilled wherever. I struggled to make sense of the little guy having the most hit points...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-65647520450710244822011-07-21T11:14:53.635-07:002011-07-21T11:14:53.635-07:00I say banish halflings from the game completely......I say banish halflings from the game completely...problem solved.Anathematicianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09690147218442114230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-17602077330633372042011-07-21T09:35:43.099-07:002011-07-21T09:35:43.099-07:00Yeah, well, if you hold up Tolkien as your standar...Yeah, well, if you hold up Tolkien as your standard of measurement, you're gonna have to seriously take a look at your Magic Users as well. :)<br /><br />That's meant somewhat in jest of course, but the larger point is that, all of those negatives you've listed, plus being viewed by players in the group as the least heroic figure makes them quite rare in my 30+ years of running games. I agree that they are quite the little badasses, but I think that a high percentage of players, those who want to get into grips with their foes, desire a more heroic character to play. That is to say, more strapping, steely-eyed, and dangerous-looking combatants. Doughty human fighters and burly dwarves fit this model, whereas the halfling does not. They don't pass the eyeball test and as such, if you take away their significant advantages, only those who really like the idea of being a 2.5 foot tall dunderhead in constant need of rescue will find them appealing. YMMV of course.T Mullinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240533108966151902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-87187334320330247252011-07-21T06:30:32.430-07:002011-07-21T06:30:32.430-07:00@ Jovial: But there are (for instance) warriors in...@ Jovial: But there are (for instance) warriors in every fantasy species of D&D...orc warriors, dwarf warriors, etc...<br /><br />Though the idea of a halfling "myrmidon" is completely laughable.<br /><br />@ Ryan: Really? I consistently find them the toughest and longest-lasting characters in my campaigns. We've seen many of 'em.<br /><br />@ Shlom: Sheriff goes last because of the way the halfling endgame works...it's the highest martial title available, akin to "generall" or "marshall."<br /><br />@ Faol: downloading.<br /><br />@ Antonious: Oh, I totally agree that hallings are balanced for B/X play up to level 14 (and in my games, no weapon does more than D6 damage).<br /><br />I'm talking about modeling Tolkien Hobbits. B/X Halflings are a little too badass for my taste.<br />: )JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08532311924539491087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-12827517428623379992011-07-21T01:10:24.828-07:002011-07-21T01:10:24.828-07:00I am not sure I agree. The inability to use weapon...I am not sure I agree. The inability to use weapons which inflict more than a d6, plus the difficulty of finding magic armor and shields of the proper size, and the level limit at 8th already provide a sufficient balancing element in my experience. Many campaigns go to at least name level, and having to stop well away from it is not exactly an incentive to play the class.Antoniohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17258180992723371727noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-74998533054081280312011-07-21T00:54:09.155-07:002011-07-21T00:54:09.155-07:00I'm pretty fond of this version of the halflin...I'm pretty fond of <a href="http://bravehalflingpublishing.blogspot.com/2009/01/original-edition-options-halfling.html" rel="nofollow">this version</a> of the halfling.faoladhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03691952430041394614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-62618005242256205042011-07-21T00:33:39.129-07:002011-07-21T00:33:39.129-07:00i'd go with sheriff first, then hero and champ...i'd go with sheriff first, then hero and champ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-29937141718549003752011-07-20T22:45:22.371-07:002011-07-20T22:45:22.371-07:00But....but...halflings can't use any weapon la...But....but...halflings can't use any weapon larger than a short sword... and... I mean, I already find that most players have <i>no</i> incentive to play a halfling to begin with. <br /><br />Besides, halflings saved the world...they've got to be badass, right?DMWieghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03682249561077936507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4143435314932633148.post-42198237149399243302011-07-20T22:28:27.193-07:002011-07-20T22:28:27.193-07:00How strange. I offered level titles for halflings ...How strange. I offered level titles for halflings on my blog yesterday as well. Though I reject a demihuman simply having their race placed before a human level title. That, in my opinion, fails to recognise then as a different species.The Jovial Priesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00160018433070823408noreply@blogger.com