Here's a thought: to keep gnomes and halflings from being clones of each other, halflings, as cunning, perceptive sorts, should have a +2 bonus to Wisdom, rather than Charisma. And to keep with the pattern of ability bonus/favored class match up, favored class: monk. This would mean none of the five major races (not including humans and half-elves) would have duplicate favored classes, and 10 of the 11 core classes would be the favored class of at least one major race (the exception being paladin).
I'm not sure I can 100% go with monk. Not only does the flavor not match Golarion's halflings, but it doesn't quite match up with other world's either (although monks and paladins are a bit more common with FR's strongheart halflings).
While I didn't like half-orc's having druid as a favored class, I kind of thought that the halfling's classes could work out as druid or rogue, to reflect the kind of difference between rural halflings and city halflings, and also because halflings were one of the few races that got to be druids besides humans in 1st edition.
However, I'd also be inclined to give halflings back their intelligence bonus for their mental stat, since they seem to pick up on things a lot, but they don't always play it safe, which would seem to preclude wisdom as a bonus. But that wouldn't play into druid particularly well (though I wouldn't mind a race being good at being a given class even if he didn't have a stat bonus that relates to that class).
Well, as the halflings are often slaves/second class citizens (at least in Korvosa), it would make sense that they picked up the skills needed to defend themselves without using/needing weapons.
It could be a justification for them having Monk as one of their favored classes.
I think that halflings having Wisdom as their mental stat boost is an excellent idea. I was wondering why they suddenly got Charisma instead.
Bard isn't a bad fit at all for halflings, even though Yondalla's paladin order in Faerûn were multi-classed paladin/monks. That could be used as justification.
Then again, I really like halfling paladins and Yondalla is lawful good (I think). Maybe Paladin could be the favoured class of the wise halflings, instead of Bard for the charismatic ones.
I'm not sure I can 100% go with monk. Not only does the flavor not match Golarion's halflings, but it doesn't quite match up with other world's either (although monks and paladins are a bit more common with FR's strongheart halflings).
It's true I'm more familiar with Forgotten Realms hin than with Golarion halflings. But lower class citizens that don't have much with which to defend themselves folds well into the monk class.
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The only problem I see is that this creates a situation where 3 races (dwarves, half-orcs, and halflings) have Wisdom as a bonus stat, and only 2 (elves and gnomes) have the other mental stats.
I wonder how much of this is hesitation over the whole +2/+2/-2 system (and having to make one a mental stat) and Wisdom just seems like the "safe" mental score.
I'd rather see halflings or gnomes get +2 Int.
Call me crazy, but when have halflings been known for their great spellcasting ability?
WHy not have their favored classes be rogue or fighter? they've always been good archers and throwers, and it lends to their resourceful nature...
and I would prefer a bonus to INT, over CHA or WIS. Adaptable, resourceful, cunning. Seems like a logical step to me.
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I can very much picture halflings thematically being rangers, but as it stands, their ability score bonuses in PF Beta make them weaker rangers than half of the other races (dwarves included). Also, the design decision seems to be that one of the favored classes must be a spellcasting class.
I'm a bit torn about this... on the other hand, I think that halflings' "wanderlust" justifies the bonus to CHA and bard as their second favored class.
At this point I'm still probably in favor of halfling bonuses and favored classes as they are in Beta...
Tolkien's hobbits strike me as great examples of high-wisdom, low-intelligence characters. Well, some of them had high wisdom anyway. More than a few high total will saves, too. But all around, not much in the way of book-learnin'.
I know that 3e tries to divorce halflings from hobbits more than a little, but this is something that never really took with me. I played halflings as hobbits for two editions, and continued to do so in 3rd edition Forgotten Realms. Pathfinder designers have repeatedly stated they are going for "classic fantasy gaming," and I would like to advocate giving us proper hobbits back as a step in that direction.
As far as this goes, I think a +2 Wisdom serves better than a +2 Charisma. The case that it makes them a race of spellcasters applies to leaving it on charisma too— what sits easier with you, a Halfling Cleric/Druid/Monk or a Halfling Sorcerer? I'd say any of the first three works at least as well as sorcerer does for Gnomes.
The only problem I see is that this creates a situation where 3 races (dwarves, half-orcs, and halflings) have Wisdom as a bonus stat, and only 2 (elves and gnomes) have the other mental stats.
I wonder how much of this is hesitation over the whole +2/+2/-2 system (and having to make one a mental stat) and Wisdom just seems like the "safe" mental score.
I'd rather see halflings or gnomes get +2 Int.
I agree that having 3 races with Wis (or any other stat) is too much and that either halflings or gnomes should get +2 Int instead. I'm leaning towards changing gnome to +2 Int and leave halflings as is. If you give halflings +2 Int, now they become too much like elves. Whereas if you give gnomes +2 Int and change their favored classes to bard and wizard, you can go for gnome illusionist. Halfling favored classes should then be rogue and sorcerer.
I agree that having 3 races with Wis (or any other stat) is too much and that either halflings or gnomes should get +2 Int instead. I'm leaning towards changing gnome to +2 Int and leave halflings as is. If you give halflings +2 Int, now they become too much like elves. Whereas if you give gnomes +2 Int and change their favored classes to bard and wizard, you can go for gnome illusionist. Halfling favored classes should then be rogue and sorcerer.
I think if anything change were to be made, it should be this - reinstating the Gnome Illusionist favored class would be kinda neat.
However, I don't think there really is a perfect solution (I've been playing with various combinations in my head for a while), and this would double up wizard as a favored class, and push halfling to Sorcerer, which just.. isn't "quite" them. Not *anti* them by any means, but Halfling Bard is much more appropriate (and an Iconic) to my eyes.
I think overall, I'm more in favor of two +2 Cha races than two +2 Int races.
When I picture a halfling adventurer, I see the little guy sneaking, scouting, hiding, and ambushing. To me, that says Ranger or Rogue.
If the favored class mechanism gets kept (still hoping they drop it). I'm a big fan of Ranger/ Rogue fav class for halfling and a +1 to INT. It seems to me halflings are craft and skilled but get into trouble even though they know better. I know the -2STR would penalize the ranger a but but they could easily take the ranged/ archery path to minimize the impact of the -2. Plus rangers are the 'other' skilled class and INT would help both favored classes.
Halflings are described as strong-willed in the text, which is in line with the original concept--thus +2 WIS is called for. They don't merit a +2 CHA, at least not where they keep to themselves. Frankly, I always saw them as tough and plucky, so a +2 CON fits more than +2 DEX to my eye, or a FORT save bonus.
Favored class, well Commoner won't work--Ranger or Druid seems appropriate. Different campaign settings, different backgrounds, different favored classes. The favored class rules should include something about changing them for any race to be setting appropriate.
As much as I like the idea of unique favored classes among the core races, monk as a favored class for halflings seems unpopular. Ranger or druid both seem popular. If I can't vote for monk, I'd vote for ranger.
Call me crazy, but when have halflings been known for their great spellcasting ability?
I'm not sure what the point is. Every non-human race gets +2 to a mental stat, and every mental stat boosts some kind of spellcasting. So the question (even for half-orcs) is what kind of spellcasting is boosted. In my opinion, druid makes a lot more sense than wizard for a halfling, so Wisdom, not Intelligence, is the preferred boost.
WHy not have their favored classes be rogue or fighter? they've always been good archers and throwers, and it lends to their resourceful nature...
That sounds good to me.
and I would prefer a bonus to INT, over CHA or WIS. Adaptable, resourceful, cunning. Seems like a logical step to me.
If you look at the skills that are helped by high intelligence, none of them (least of all Spellcraft) are skills I would typically associate with halflings, with the exception of Knowledge (local) and Knowledge (nature). "Adaptable, resourceful, cunning" sounds more like wisdom to me (they really sound like ranger qualities). I'd rather see halflings boost their rogue skills by means of racial traits rather than intelligence bonus.
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Halflings of Golarion should have the +2 to charisma. As the well liked slaves or the constant companion to humans thier ability to survive and thrive as second class citizens yeilds itself to cleverness and maniuplation.
The favored class issue follows the same lines, rogue is a perfect fit and bards, who better to entertain the children or the drunks? Both classes allow halflings to "make themselves useful" and still have plenty of talents left over for their own interests.
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I see your point, playing aginst type is a lot of fun. From a game design point of view it is very difficult to build in options that allow playing aginst type since the game mechanics are the primary way that "type" is defined. Specifically a halfling ranger in Golarion would be the perfect way to do that, you could even take Humans as your favored enemy and fight the status quo to great effect.
I really dont see how a halfling ranger is that weak, the favored class is just a +1 HP or SP not a huge thing. the only race issue i see is the -2 to str and maybe speed but eh ya want to play a small ranger you deal not a huge thing. work off dex that works fine with bow or twf.
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Halflings have always been outgoing little buggers, schmoozing their way through one situation or another. I think Cha is a great fit for them. Gnomes should get something else, though. My vote is for gnomes getting a bonus to Int (I'm still an illusionist grognard), but Wis would work too. Halflings could get Int instead, but I think Cha is a better fit. Halflings are known to be clever, but not smart. There is a distinct difference.