Halflings are a minor[1] spacefaring race in the Spelljammer campaign setting,[2] and can be selected as a player character race.[3][4]
"I have forsaken the safety and comfort of my home to travel Spheres that never knew the gaze of a thinking creature, and I have seen wonders that have repaid a thousand times every distress my wanderings have caused me. I could never imagine a greater joy than mine."
- from the logbook of Bongo Furbinder, halfling Frontiersman[5]
Overview[]
"If the lizard man word for everyone else is the same as their word for 'prey'; their word for halfling must be 'appetizer'."
- An old (bad) wildspace joke[6]
Halflings are a race of small hard-working humanoids with close ties to the living earth, especially pastoral fields and gardens. Their communities are similar to those of humans, whom they closely resemble, though they usually have a number of burrow-like homes in addition to surface cottages.[3]
Because of their close ties, as humans began to establish communities throughout wildspace, so too did certain halfling communities. And while there are no halfling fleets or halfling nations in wildspace, individual halflings can be found everywhere, serving on ship's crews, or living and working in major spaceborn cities,[2] such as the Rock of Bral. In fact, most spacefaring halflings live among other races, and though they establish their own small communities, they happily mingle with humans and elves.[7]
Description[]
Halflings are short, generally plump humanoids, who closely resemble small humans. Their faces are round and broad and often quite florid. Their hair is typically curly and the tops of their feet are covered with coarse hair; as a result they prefer not to wear shoes whenever possible. They have an average life expectancy of approximately 150 years. In addition to their own language, many halflings also speak the common trade tongue, and that of the gnomes, goblins, and orcs.
All halflings are resistant to magic as well as poisons of all sorts, and can see in the dark up to 30 feet (depending on their lineage).[4]
Personality[]
Halflings are generally industrious, quiet and peaceful, and overall prefer the comforts of home over the dangers of exploration. They enjoy good living, rough humor, and homespun stories. Halflings aren't forward, but can be observant and conversational when among friends. Halflings see wealth only as a means of gaining creature comforts, which they love. Though they are not overly brave or ambitious, they are generally honest and hard working when there is need.[4]
Combat[]
Halflings will fight with great ferocity in defense of their homes. They have a natural talent with slings and thrown weapons, since rock pitching is a favorite sport among halfling children, and use these weapons, as well as the bow, to great advantage in battle. Their tactics often involve feints to draw their attackers into the open where they can be subjected to a volley of fire from cover.
When equipped for battle, halflings wear padded or leather armor, and are usually armed with short swords and hand axes. In addition, up to two-thirds will be carrying either a sling or short bow. Leaders and elite warriors may wear chain mail over their leather. All halflings are naturally resistant to magic and poisons and are exceedingly stealthy. In natural terrain, halflings are practically invisible when hiding in vegetation.[3]
Society[]
Halflings usually establish communities of their own alongside that of other races in most major spaceborne cities such as the Rock of Bral.[7] Since most halflings are as industrious and clever as any human, and have the additional advantage of not taking up as much space or requiring as much air, they are often employed on ships, or in areas where space is at a premium.[2]
Halfling communities consist of a mix of well-furnished burrows, where most of the population live, and surface buildings and cottages, where most of the work is done. Cheerful and outgoing, halflings take great pleasure in simple crafts and nature. Their fingers, though short, are very dexterous allowing them to create objects of great beauty. Because they are far more open and outgoing than other races, halfling get along well with humans and gnomes, and tolerably well with elves (who are generally patronising towards them), and dwarves (who consider them soft and harmless).[4][3]
Most of the Known Worlds, including Oerth and Toril, have substantial populations of halflings, with the notable exception of Krynn.[2] Other notable halfling communities include that of Cumberland in Herospace,[8], Lagor's World in Greatspace,[9] and Radole in Winterspace.[10]
Subraces[]
Hairfeet[]
Hairfeet are the most commonly encountered halfling subrace. They average about 3-feet in height, and have ruddy complexions, with sandy to dark brown hair, and blue or hazel eyes. Their clothes are often colorful but serviceable, and they like to wear caps or tunics. They may hunt occasionally, but prefer breads, vegetables and fruits, with an occasional pheasant on the side. They have an average life expectancy of a 100 years.[3]
Tallfellow[]
Tallfellows are somewhat rare among halfling communities, and are taller and slimmer than the hairfoots, standing about 4-feet tall with fair skin and hair. Tallfellows generally enjoy the company of elves and usually speak their tongue. Like elves, a tallfellow has a higher chance of spotting a secret door, and is skilled at moving through forests or wooded terrain without being seen. In combat, tallfellows often ride ponies and carry spears or small lances. They have an average life span of 180 years.[3]
Stout[]
Stout halflings are shorter and stockier than the more common hairfoots. They take great pleasure in gems and fine masonry, and often work as jewelers or stone cutters. They rarely mix with humans and elves, but enjoy the company of dwarves and often speak their language fluently. Like dwarves, stouts can see in the dark up to 60-feet, and have a chance of detecting sloping passageways and determining their location when underground. Their ties with the dwarven folk have spilled over into their combat tactics, with many stouts employing hammers and morningstars in combat. Stouts also have no fear of water and, in fact, many are excellent swimmers. Stouts have an average lifespan of 140 years or more.[3]
Anadian[]
Anadian halflings are native to the planet Anadia in Realmspace, where they thrive in the warm and humid northern and southern polar regions. Because of the sun's close proximity, Anadian halflings are exposed to an overabundance of sunlight, and have adapted by developing dark, almost jet black skin, and very dark hair and eyes. They have also lost the ability to see in the dark. The southern polar communities are somewhat xenophobic and hyper aggressive, whereas the halflings of the Northern Polarate regularly deal with spelljamming vessels, trading food and non-halfling slaves for weaponry to defend themselves against local predators and off-planet neogi.[11][12]
Notable Halflings[]
- Bardilac was the proprietor of The White Galleon, an inn and tavern on the Rock of Bral.[13]
- Kristobar Brewdoc was the proprietor of the Open Air Public House, a tavern on the Spelljammer.[14]
- Alliya Makabuck was a member of Halflings Inc., an all-halfling adventuring company based on Toril in Realmspace.[15]
- Link Pipinenses was one of the original founders of the Free Traders Group.[16]
- Meredin Sandyfoot was the leader of the Halfling Thieves Guild[17] and one of four Underbarons (or crime lords) who ruled the shadowy underworld of the Rock of Bral.[18]
- Hancherback Scuttlebay was the Lord Mayor of the halfling community on the Spelljammer.[19]
- Talf the Bold was an itinerant thief and member of the Gatherers in Krynnspace.[20]
Signature Spelljammers[]
The swanship is perhaps the best spelljammer design yet devised by halflings, and has even been adopted by the elves for inclusion in their fleets.[21]
Appendix[]
External Links[]
- Halfling article at the Forgotten Realms Wiki, a wiki for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
- Halfling article at the Dark Sun Wiki, a wiki for the Dark Sun campaign setting.
- Halfling article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
- Halfling article at Greyhawkonline.com, a wiki for the Greyhawk campaign setting.
- Halfling article at the Dungeons and Dragons Lore Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from every edition.
- Halfling article at the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki, a wiki for official Dungeons & Dragons content from 2nd edition AD&D.
References[]
- ↑ Jeff Grubb. AD&D Adventures in Space; Lorebook of the Void, TSR, Inc., 1989, Major and Minor Races side bar (pp.50, 52 and 54)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Jeff Grubb. AD&D Adventures in Space; Lorebook of the Void, TSR, Inc., 1989, Halflings section, chapter 3: Spacefarers (p.59)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Tim Beach et al, Monstrous Manual, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Halfling entry, page 183
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 David "Zeb" Cook, Player's Handbook 2nd edition (revised), 1989, 1995, (TSR Inc.), ISBN: 0-7869-0329-5, Halflings section, chapter 2: PC Races, pages 31-32
- ↑ Curtis M. Scott, CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook, 1992, (TSR Inc.), sidebar, page 34
- ↑ Curtis M. Scott, CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook, 1992, (TSR Inc.), sidebar, page 22
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 3: Player Characters on the Rock of Bral, page 87
- ↑ J. Paul LaFountain, SJA3 Crystal Spheres, 1990, (TSR Inc.), chapter 2, page 14
- ↑ J. Paul LaFountain, SJA3 Crystal Spheres, 1990, (TSR Inc.), chapter 5, page 31
- ↑ Nigel Findley, SJR4 Practical Planetology, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Radole section, chapter 2 Earth Bodies, page 14
- ↑ Curtis M. Scott, CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook, 1992, (TSR Inc.), chapter 1: Groundlings in Space, page 13
- ↑ Dale "Slade" Henson, SJR2 Realmspace, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Halfling, Anadian entry, page 83
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 3: A City Among the Stars, pages 58-59
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, The Legend of Spelljammer, Captains and Ships, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Personalities of the Spelljammer, pages 56-57
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJR6 Greyspace, 1992, (TSR Inc.), Spacefaring Companies chapter, pages 41, 42, 43, 47 and 82
- ↑ Nigel D. Findley, SJR6 Greyspace, 1992 (TSR Inc.), Spacefaring Companies chapter, page 78
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 2: A House Divided, pages 34-35
- ↑ Richard Baker, SJR5 Rock of Bral, 1992, (TSR Inc), Part 2: A House Divided, page 31
- ↑ Jeff Grubb, The Legend of Spelljammer, Captains and Ships, 1991, (TSR Inc.), Personalities of the Spelljammer, pages 48-49
- ↑ Jean Rabe, SJR7 Krynnspace, 1993, (TSR Inc.), Spacefaring Companies chapter, pages 79-80
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, SJR1 Lost Ships, 1990, (TSR Inc.), Ship Catalog chapter, pages 64-66