I've been having trouble as of late with the idea of the little folk fighting. The more I look at it, the more baffled I become. It's at the point where I'm considering not allowing gnomes(formerly a favorite race of mine)in the games I DM. As far as fantasy goes, I realize you can write/say/do whatever you want, but I enjoy a bit of common sense in my world. With that in mind I have found myself wondering over and over: "What the f*** are these puny creatures doing with a bunch of tough, dangerous adventurers?" All in all I find both races woefully inadequate as true combatants.
Halfling Battlefield qualifications:
Halflings posses great luck. Seriously? LUCK?!
Halflings get a bonus to perception. Ideal for a prey animal.
Halflings are slow. They are also small. They are quite literally small, slow creatures. What the f@!%?
Halflings are charming and child like. Ideal qualities for fighting ogres, really.
Gnome Battlefield Qualifications:
Gnomes have some nifty magic. Just nifty, kind of useful. Nothing more.
Gnomes are also small, slow creatures.
Before I get torn apart for being a hack and slash bastard, keep in mind that I know not every mission involves combat. But ultimately, combat is a part of virtually every game. (At least give me some credit for not talking in power-gamey terms). I just think that being little and puny means a race should avoid battle, barring extreme circumstances or racial abilities. Try as I might, the image of a halfling or gnome slaying a troll just doesn't do anything for me. I find it kind of unsatisfying.
Any thoughts?
If you have no chance to win battles in open fields or in direct one on one fights, then don't meet your enemy under such conditions.
Gnomes and halflings have short legs and weak arms, and they know it. So why would they ever try to use conventional battlefield tactics.
Instead, focus on situations in which these factors become meaningless. Ambushes and fortified defenses. For short races, keeping the enemy at range is even more important than usual. If you are dealing with only a small group of a dozen or so, lay an ambush and lure them into pit traps and shot then with bows or slings. If they don't die quickly enough, disappear before they can come after you. If you can't stage an ambush, avoid a confrontation.
If you are under attack, use defensive positions. Build palisades that provide cover, but also alow you to fire at anyone outside. If the palisades are breached, retreat to 4 feet high tunnels.
If you're out in the open and suddenly get attacked by enemies you can't outrun, then you're just screwed and will die. So a lot of preparation should go into avoiding such situation, by using lots of scouts and mounted messengers.
You'd have a hard time ever taking enemy fortresses, but I don't know of any setting in which gnomes and halflings are known as great conquerors.
You forget one thing about us halflings. We are fearless. Bring on the big baddies! I'll punch out their knnecaps and bring 'em down to my level!
You could say the same thing about Humans when Giants are walking around.
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They have sufficient penalties based on their size. Their weapons do less damage, they move slower due to the short legs, etc. They'll never be as good as larger races at melee, but if they can survive battle under the rules as written, then why not let them?
Besides, with their cha bonuses, both of these small races are probably better off hiding behind the big warriors casting spells as sorcerers.
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