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Thread: Races: Halfling

  1. #1

    Races: Halfling

    +2 Dex +2 Wis is the straight translation of their 2e attributes, I think that hits them well even now. The only real issue is that wis/dex even though they don't key to the same ability tend to be mutually exclusive. However Wisdom is helpful for some Fighter builds (those that specifically max out OA's).

    This is the only race I have an opinion about starting encounter power out of the gate:
    I think, the shadow walk/dimension door could easily be translated to duplicate Eladrin's ability. That is teleport 5 squares (25ft).
    They could also have specials similar to that for outside combat, but as of right now 4e's powers mostly focus on in combat.

  2. #2
    Site Moderator kgauck's Avatar
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    I think Shadow Walking had more to do with passing into the Shadow World than it did changing your tactical location on a battle map.

  3. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by kgauck View Post
    I think Shadow Walking had more to do with passing into the Shadow World than it did changing your tactical location on a battle map.
    It did, but passing into the shadow world is no longer strictly speaking low level (at least using 4e Power scale). However, teleporting a short distance is, and would give a flavor to the halflings.

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    Site Moderator kgauck's Avatar
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    Setting trumps edition.

  5. #5
    They could shadow walk or dimension door, while shadow walk is moving from plane to plane (kinda) dimension door is a type of teleportation.

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    Quote Originally Posted by aluman View Post
    while shadow walk is moving from plane to plane (kinda) dimension door is a type of teleportation.
    And so is blinking.
    Rey M. - court wizard of Tuarhievel

  7. #7
    Lets not discount it too quickly. There is some sense there.

    I don't have an opinion either way but ...

    All teleportation spells in BR are considered to touch the shadow world one way or another. Why doesn't a race that has access to the shadow world be able to use in a similar fashion.

    Of course the same issue happens if they contact the shadow world there is a chance something could come out from there. This certainly reduces the effectiveness of the ability.

    In the end I feel it should be considered more of a plane shift .... going strictly to the shadow world and back. But neat idea.

    -BB

  8. #8
    Site Moderator geeman's Avatar
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    At 11:04 AM 6/8/2008, BB wrote:

    >In the end I feel it should be considered more of a plane shift ....
    >going strictly to the shadow world and back. But neat idea.

    I have no problem with an interpretation of the halfling ability to
    shift into shadow as something like that. One should note, however,
    that there`s a difference between that and
    teleportation. Teleportation is instant and (often) flawless. The
    SW is a mirror image of the world of light, not a sort of
    interdimensional warp, and the halfling ability is fundamentally to
    move into that world. To move about on the battlefield a halfling
    would shift into the SW, move, shift back and possibly have to
    reorient to the light after the change. Imagine the difference
    between a character who "pops!" back and forth, and another who
    vanishes, moves and then reappears.

    In practice, the ability might not differ much from teleportation
    game mechanically, but there should be some discreet differences to
    reflect the distinction.

    Halflings should probably not be able to just use such a power at any
    time and place either. BR is full of special criteria for such
    abilities. Those who Travel have special requirements, for example,
    and the ability to enter the SW often goes along with static "gates"
    between the two worlds, not simply an ability to "jump" into another
    world from any location. That said, one of the locations that are
    supposedly "close to the Shadow World" are battlefields where many
    have fallen. Presumably a whole area of ground might be a "door" and
    a halfling could shift from any point on that field.

    Gary

  9. #9
    The problem is, Plane Shift is now a ritual that costs money.

    Even granting them the affect of a plane shift (even limited) is probably more prohibitive balance wise then worthwhile (though through a racial paragon level feat it might be ok).

    By giving them a minor teleportation trick at the encounter level, in my thoughts, you keep the other worldly feel of the halfling, while maintaing the abilities presented in the PHB (One Race that teleports 1/encounter) but giving it a birthright twist.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by geeman View Post
    I have no problem with an interpretation of the halfling ability to
    shift into shadow as something like that. One should note, however,
    that there`s a difference between that and
    teleportation. Teleportation is instant and (often) flawless. The
    SW is a mirror image of the world of light, not a sort of
    interdimensional warp, and the halfling ability is fundamentally to
    move into that world. To move about on the battlefield a halfling
    would shift into the SW, move, shift back and possibly have to
    reorient to the light after the change. Imagine the difference
    between a character who "pops!" back and forth, and another who
    vanishes, moves and then reappears.

    In practice, the ability might not differ much from teleportation
    game mechanically, but there should be some discreet differences to
    reflect the distinction.

    Halflings should probably not be able to just use such a power at any
    time and place either. BR is full of special criteria for such
    abilities. Those who Travel have special requirements, for example,
    and the ability to enter the SW often goes along with static "gates"
    between the two worlds, not simply an ability to "jump" into another
    world from any location. That said, one of the locations that are
    supposedly "close to the Shadow World" are battlefields where many
    have fallen. Presumably a whole area of ground might be a "door" and
    a halfling could shift from any point on that field.

    Gary
    There is an ability of movement in 4e called phasing, that is functionally similar to Teleportation, but discretely diffrent.

    With teleportation you move more or less instantly, as long as you can see it, and you can teleport while imobile.

    Phasing you can ignore diffcult terrain, obstacles, and creatures, but must end in an unoccupied space but otherwise works like normal movement.


    The reason why I first suggested teleportation for the halfling is the simple fact that 4e is largely about tatical movement, one of the base races in the PHB offers teleporation (The Eladrin kinda sorta high elves) and the race in Cerillia it would go to didn't really fit them. It did however fit the general otherwordly feel the Halflings had.

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