Halflings and Classes

Hey gang, What classes are Halfling's best suited for ??

Think outside of the box but believable ??

Monk. Speed increase sets off racial penalty, Racial Dex bonus and underfoot fighting focused feats make for a good maneuver user.

A Halfling Alchemist could work if you got weird roll. Their stats might look like -2 str, +2 dex, +2 cha but with Halfling Luck and being small they practically have a -2 str, +4 dex, +2 wis, +2 cha for modifiers. Also bombs are not size dependent for damage.

Cavaliers and other mounted classes; you can ride a medium mount which means that you can actually go mounted inside dungeons. Pure cavalier works and allows a Worg mount if you're Neutral. Paladin with mount-divine bond and a 1-level dip into emissary-cavalier works nicely.

Swashbucklers go online at level 3, thanks to Slashing/Fencing Grace.

Bard works just fine. You can probably convince enemies you're not a high-priority target, too.

Archer-paladin; don't be afraid to spend more on Strength than you'd normally do though. But your (Smite-enhanced) To-Hit rate will be excellent.

Fortune's Favored/Divine Favor/Halfling Luck-driven divine caster gives you a decent leg up. There's something to be said RP-wise for a halfling inquisitor; many people underestimate halflings and that can be good if you're trying to do things nonviolently.

Sadly, halfling rogues aren't as awesome as you might expect. The lack of Darkvision really hurts them. Ninjas are a little better, because their Ki is Charisma-driven and they can get Darkvision through a talent. In the long run the Shadowdancer prestige class could be a good fit, especially if you use Slayer to boost your BAB.

Of course your stats are decent for sorcerer or oracle, but I'm not blown away; they're good but they lack that special something.

Rogue/Ninja

I am playing a halfling Barbarian and having a blast with it. Only losing about 2-3 dmg per hit vs a medium character and when you it for 15 per hit before damage dice there isn't that big of a difference between a d6 and d4.

Any class is fine, you can easily get around the Str penalty with a little work and some creativity

The "mysterious stranger" gunslinger can be decent, with the given boosts to cha & dex.

Protean Blooded Sorcerer is a lot of fun to play. The small size bonus to hit and first level bloodline power allow you to throw a bunch of tanglefoot bags that burn over time and keep enemies locked down. I usually go for a mix of ranged touch spells and mixed save blast spells to get the most out of the ability score bonuses.

A mounted Summoner (Possibly dipping into fighter or scout rogue for a few levels) works well with the ability score bonuses and the quadrupedal eidolon's speed more than offsets the speed penalty. Plus, since your faithful steed does all the hitting, you never have to worry about the strength penalty. Even when it dissipates, you can summon a celestial or fiendish steed with a standard action and charge back in.

Barbarian. No, no, just hear me out. Apart from not getting a +2 in Str/Con, is there any particular reason it wouldn't work? That's a very minor handicap for them, the +1 AC vs creatures larger than themselves can be handy, the size bonus to hit and AC is nice, and for all that trading of abilities back and forth the real benefit of the class is this:
"I haven't eaten in four hours, and you're somewhat in my way. I'd like to be perfectly reasonable about this and give you the opportunity to please leave. No? THEN JUST ***** DIE!!!!!!!!!"

Because hungry halflings lose all semblance of manners.

Sorcerer is the standard answer:
1) Cha and Dex are primary for a sorcerer, and Str is a dump stat
2) Size is all good: +1 AC, better stealth, +1 to hit. Smaller weapons don't matter.
3) Save bonuses, perception bonus
4) Take the trait that changes sure-footed to 30' move

Otherwise they make competent rogues, inasmuch as any rogue is competent. Downsides are 20' speed (or lose sure-footed) and no darkvision, but otherwise it's good.

Barbarian. No, no, just hear me out. Apart from not getting a +2 in Str/Con, is there any particular reason it wouldn't work? That's a very minor handicap for them, the +1 AC vs creatures larger than themselves can be handy, the size bonus to hit and AC is nice, and for all that trading of abilities back and forth the real benefit of the class is this:

"I haven't eaten in four hours, and you're somewhat in my way. I'd like to be perfectly reasonable about this and give you the opportunity to please leave. No? THEN JUST ***** DIE!!!!!!!!!"

Because hungry halflings lose all semblance of manners.

If you go this route take The titan mauler archetype.

Is there a class for thrown projectiles?

Anything that works well with TWF.

This is because Risky striker, which trades 1 AC for a boost in damage that is on par with power attack (but only against large or larger targets...which is anything important that isn't wizard-y after a certain point it seems). Yes, that is +2 damage at every 4 BAB.

It lacks the 2 handed clause, but it also lacks the offhand clause, which means it works great with TWF.

Heck, it would actually be good on a TWF rogue since it takes a small drop in AC (which was the point you got from being small anyway), allowing vaguely decent damage even without sneak attack. Much nicer choice than power attack for them since they have to worry about their attack bonus so much.

Slayer might be better though. But...did that even need to be said?

Halfling Archer Paladin. I wasn't fond of the idea at first, but a fellow player blew my mind with it.

Halfling Swashbuckler. Stats match -perfectly-. Probably an understatement. Flying Blade comes to mind, for the retro halfling knife-thrower. They used to have an extra +1 attack for thrown weapons.

Why, a Half-Orc Barbarian of course!

Daring Champion Cavaliers

All the draws of a swashbuckler, plus more!

Opportune Parry & Riposte doesn't play well with power attack... but it sure does play well with Risky Striker! Mix that with Combat Reflexes and you've got a lot of parry attempts in a pinch. Add in the Helpful trait and Bodyguard, and you're a great defender too! That's not all! You're also eligible for 2x level to damage with challenge and precise strike on a race with +1 to attack rolls.

Now here's where it starts getting good;

Halfling Cavalier favored class bonus is +1/2 levels damage on opportunity attacks, which is great because you're already going to grab combat reflexes right? However, how would you like to give your whole party Outflank, Paired Opportunists, and Broken Wing Gambit using tactician? You're suddenly making crazy amounts of attacks off-turn too, each benefits from precise strike and challenge as well!

Offense not your thing? How about the deed Dizzying Defense combined with Cautious Fighter + Blundering Defense? Dizzying Defense drops the penalty for fighting defensively to -2 for +4 AC, increased to +6 from CF, increased to +9 by blundering defense giving an additional +4AC to your adjacent allies too! Even crazier; you can spend a panache point to fight defensively as a swift action! AND THIS ALL COMES 4 LEVELS EARLIER THAN SWASHBUCKLER!

This combination is a goldmine, and this isn't even touching choice of orders... I'm pretty sure Halfling is the PREMIER Daring Champion race.

Halfling Witch can also be interesting with Malicious Eye, Sluggish Jinx and Bolster Jinx. Lots of unsaveable penetaly from 1 Evil Eye.

id haveto go with druid. get a pet mkae it a large one. then later on you go all zoo on whoever you face(think Mogly). also nice spells ;)

Way back in 3.5, I played a halfling barbarian named Grunk, and I loved every minute of it. The AC bonus was nice, and the RP was friggin' hilarious -- this three foot tall guy going ape in every combat. That said, the other players would panic whenever I yelled, "GRUNK SMASH!!!"

Thanks to Risky Striker, halflings make a good darn-near everything. The only thing they don't really EXCEL at is Intelligence and Wisdom-based spellcasting, but even then the size, saving throw, and dexterity bonus ensure that they're still tough buggers.

I personally like halfling rangers, rogues, cavaliers, and fighters, because I love the image of a halfling impaling some guy with a greatsword. I don't know why, but I do.

Thanks to Risky Striker, halflings make a good darn-near everything. The only thing they don't really EXCEL at is Intelligence and Wisdom-based spellcasting, but even then the size, saving throw, and dexterity bonus ensure that they're still tough buggers.

I personally like halfling rangers, rogues, cavaliers, and fighters, because I love the image of a halfling impaling some guy with a greatsword. I don't know why, but I do.

Yeah, for attack on a strength build, when you think about it, their problem is less their strength penalty than their lack of strength bonus. Their size bonus brings them up to neutral for attack rolls. And for damage... well, yeah, risky striker, plus something like challenge, sneak attack, etc.

Overall, painful early on since you might lack consistent mechanics and most enemies are likely going to medium things like bandits or orcs. But once the big beasties become normal, you are doing great.

And heck, I find it kind of funny that casting enlarge person on an enemy caster is a near perfect debuff (-1 AC for size, -1 for dex loss, and risky striker would make quick work of them.)

The Fleet-Footed alternate racial trait combined with the Oracle Lame curse means you can effectively avoid any penalty at all. You could select a more casting/summoning centric mystery and spell selection, and thereby don't have to worry about your low strength. With the lame curse at 10th level you won't be slowed down by medium armour.

Ninja / Swashbuckler / Swashbucker&Fighter combo (for dex TWF build) / bard (caster/ranged style) / sorceror (I prefer gnome - but they're a close 2nd since they don't have to be slow - better if you're going ray heavy)

One advantage of halflings that you might not think about - they can ignore the annoyance that is pugwumpis because of halfling luck. :P

Ninja / Swashbuckler / Swashbucker&Fighter combo (for dex TWF build) / bard (caster/ranged style) / sorceror (I prefer gnome - but they're a close 2nd since they don't have to be slow - better if you're going ray heavy)

One advantage of halflings that you might not think about - they can ignore the annoyance that is pugwumpis because of halfling luck. :P

Unfortunately, despite the name, the bonus to saving throws is a racial bonus, not a luck bonus.

Half-Orcs, on the other hand... lucky sons of guns.

Unfortunately, despite the name, the bonus to saving throws is a racial bonus, not a luck bonus.

Doh - my bad. Though you could take the Adaptable Luck racial trait instead. (actually a luck bonus)

Dang, that is unfortunate.

Wow, I never realized it wasn't a luck bonus. Bummer.

On the other hand, that does remind me that the Extra Traits feat might be worth taking on my current half-orc character, because Fate's Favored is actually a +1 bonus to all saving throws for me. >_>

Beast Rider Archer Cavalier.

You lose out on Heavy Armor (pfft - who needs it?) for an AWESOME mount. Go with an archer build - I like the halfling sling staff, but since you're probably dumping STR, a bow works just as well.

Choose a T-rex mount and you're playing a prehistoric pigmy. If that doesn't go against the typical Halfling, I don't know what does.

I would like to repeat the sentiment that the Shining Knight paladin archetype is a blast, as long as your campaign/DM is ok with a dog as a mount. The mount eventually gets the paladin's charisma bonus to saves and will have better saves than most monks. Get a STR of 16 and power attack/spirited charge/smite with a lance will 1 shot anything but a boss-level evil bad guy.

Beast Rider Archer Cavalier.

You lose out on Heavy Armor (pfft - who needs it?) for an AWESOME mount. Go with an archer build - I like the halfling sling staff, but since you're probably dumping STR, a bow works just as well.

Choose a T-rex mount and you're playing a prehistoric pigmy. If that doesn't go against the typical Halfling, I don't know what does.

Well, if you go with the fairly standard lance charging build, heavy armor is not too much of a loss. Since there was a specific FAQ about how '2 handed is 2 handed, even if it is 1 handed', you can grab a shield without losing any power. Between armor and shield, you can get a fine AC, and at a cheaper price than everyone else.

Halflings are excellent at being Summoners, especially "stealth summoners"- a strategy where the Summoner himself hides from the enemy while dropping summoned monsters in to do the fighting. When done right, the enemy never even knows where these monsters are coming from or why.

Halflings are excellent at being Summoners, especially "stealth summoners"- a strategy where the Summoner himself hides from the enemy while dropping summoned monsters in to do the fighting. When done right, the enemy never even knows where these monsters are coming from or why.

They'd be pretty easy to find unless they summon everything with Silent Spell.

They make pretty sweet deaf oracles if you throw in the highlander trait to make stealth a class skill. All the reasons they make a great sorcerer, plus they get silent spell for free, which works nicely with their natural size bonus to stealth.

I also think they make good bards. Stats work nicely for them, and it just kinda fits their personalities IMO.

Silent Saturn wrote:

Halflings are excellent at being Summoners, especially "stealth summoners"- a strategy where the Summoner himself hides from the enemy while dropping summoned monsters in to do the fighting. When done right, the enemy never even knows where these monsters are coming from or why.

They'd be pretty easy to find unless they summon everything with Silent Spell.

Spell like abilities have no verbal, somatic or material components, so as long as you're using the SLA, not actually casting a summon spell, silent spell is unnecessary.

I also think they make good bards. Stats work nicely for them, and it just kinda fits their personalities IMO.

I've seen a halfling bard in action. She uses Weapon Finesse + Helpful Trait + Whip to give +4 to attack rolls from a distance away.

Oracle. I´m playing a halfling Oracle at the moment...high dex and cha.

Sorcerer is the standard answer:

1) Cha and Dex are primary for a sorcerer, and Str is a dump stat
2) Size is all good: +1 AC, better stealth, +1 to hit. Smaller weapons don't matter.
3) Save bonuses, perception bonus
4) Take the trait that changes sure-footed to 30' move

Otherwise they make competent rogues, inasmuch as any rogue is competent. Downsides are 20' speed (or lose sure-footed) and no darkvision, but otherwise it's good.

This is what I'd recommend as well.

Spell like abilities have no verbal, somatic or material components, so as long as you're using the SLA, not actually casting a summon spell, silent spell is unnecessary.

Always makes me wonder how they provoke attacks of opportunity.

Thanks to Risky Striker, halflings make a good darn-near everything. The only thing they don't really EXCEL at is Intelligence and Wisdom-based spellcasting, but even then the size, saving throw, and dexterity bonus ensure that they're still tough buggers.

I personally like halfling rangers, rogues, cavaliers, and fighters, because I love the image of a halfling impaling some guy with a greatsword. I don't know why, but I do.

Really a Halfling Wizard could start with stats of STR 10, DEX 12, CON 12, INT 17, Wis 12, Cha 9. And that is only 15 point buy. Just switch Wis & Int for Wis casters. Obviously, this is a little harder for INT/WIS casters that also need Cha (Arcanist/Cleric). But even then you can easily adjust to 9/12/12/16/10/14

What do you think of a Halfling rogue?

It sucks.

Halfling monk all the way.

Puck is one of my favorite characters.

I expected some opinion, not an insult

I expected some opinion, not an insult

It's an opinion based on experience.

Synthesist works, +Cha for spellcasting, the size and Str penalties are negated due to Eidolon.

Holy Gun Paladin, Again the +Cha works, and, as ranged, the +Dex works as well.

If you use psionics, the Wilder would be great (Cha-based manifestor). The Marksman can utilize throwing weapons (with archetypes using guns). The Soulbolt archetype of Soulknife can also work.

Any meleer with a Dex-to-damage ability (or feat)

Deighton Thrane wrote:

Spell like abilities have no verbal, somatic or material components, so as long as you're using the SLA, not actually casting a summon spell, silent spell is unnecessary.

Always makes me wonder how they provoke attacks of opportunity.

Using a spell-like ability or casting a spell with no components still requires concentration, and thus takes attention away from defending yourself, leaving you open to attack. It doesn't matter if the attacker realizes you're casting a spell or not. He just needs to know that you are momentarily distracted and that there is an opening.

Monk. Speed increase sets off racial penalty, Racial Dex bonus and underfoot fighting focused feats make for a good maneuver user.

Dual class with Bard for a capoira mestre.

What do you think of a Halfling rogue?

It sucks.

In fairness, no more than any other Weapon Finesse Rogue. Which is still sucking, don't get me wrong, but it's the Rogue part that sucks, not the Halfling.

In fairness, no more than any other Weapon Finesse Rogue. Which is still sucking, don't get me wrong, but it's the Rogue part that sucks, not the Halfling.

Well, the lack of darkvision and 20ft movement speed hurts too.