I generally think that race as class can suck it, but, despite that, I've slowly been re-hashing the generic D&D races as more individuated--and pigeonholed--classes. Today, I'm taking on halflings; my version being based somewhat more on the Harvard Lampoon's shrewd and devious boggies than on Prof. T's paeans to pastoral domesticity.
Some things you might not have known about halflings:
They hate being called "halflings."
The preferred term amongst their own kind is unpronounceable gibberish to most non-halfling ears, though they'll accept the more politically correct Haffolk. Terms such as haffies, smalluns, hobblets, knibbites, shire-fiends, li'lfucks, are also common.
They didn't survive as a species by being plump, complacent, homebodies.
To the contrary, they are stealthy by default, dead-eye shots with all forms of missilery, and are masters of the ambuscade. Quick for their size, they also have developed a form of gang combat that allows them, when attacking larger creatures, to exceed the sum of their parts. When challenged or in a dangerous setting they actually seem to grow
taller--they walk on the balls of their feet when not in a "civilized"
setting--and put on a shrewd and even vicious demeanor.
- small'ns are +3 to hit with bows, crossbows, handguns, rifles, and slings
- gain an extra attack with such if they gain surprise.
- when several Hobblets engage in melee with larger opponents they gain 1 additional attack for every 2 haffies swipin' at the same target. Your ogre is surrounded by 8 hobblers? They attack 8 + 4 = 12 times each round. This rule could be a serious pain in the butt to administer.
Sneaky bastards, knibbites move silently and hide in shadows as a matter of course and are excellent wall climbers as well; perform all those feats as a thief of 3 levels higher than their own ability level.
They always travel in packs.
There is an adage:
If you see a lone haffie, beware: you're outnumbered 3 to 1.
It is a common tactic of the small'ns to leave the bulk of their number lying in ambush and then send a small portion of their gang out to gauge the temperament of a party of travelers. Anyone displaying distemper toward the knibbite delegates will be subjected to a fusillade of lethal missile fire.
Furthermore:
All PC halflings will be accompanied by 1-3 beta haffies. Beta haffolk are 0-level and equipped with padded armor, sling and dagger. The PC must provide all other provisions and such. Betas roll 2d6 + 1 for Str, 1d6 + 12 for Dex, and 2d6 + 6 for Wis. If the alpha haffie (aka, the PC) should die, the beta haffie with the highest Cha will immediately be promoted to Alpha, and the player may run that haffie as his new PC.
Yesterday's undercooked post failed to mention the influence of Jeff Dee's buff little warriors on my conception of haffers though, clearly, if you've read anything on this blog before you'll have guessed that the ripped fuzz-foot from the cover of V. of H. could not be far from my mind. [Thankfully Leicester came along to correct the matter in the comments section.] Anyway, I was going to follow up with a splat-post of Jeff Dee's hobbit beefcake, but a quick internet search proved that Scott Taylor over at Black Gate already did that.
