My favorite D&D class has always been the Halfling Outrider. Nothing better than riding a Mastiff into battle. Plus most taverns are more likely to allow a dog in the building rather than a war horse or a wild animal.
Halfings are in close competition with Dwarves as my favorite race. I think Dwarves edge them out slightly but luckily there are Stouts. Best of both worlds. Great video thanks AJ
Only the single best race in all D&D imo. No inherent evil in there race whatsoever. Powerful enough to withstand anything the cruel worlds they inhabit can throw at them. They are the epitome of hospitality and generosity. Fear is near non-existent to them. I can keep going on and on, but I'm glad they were placed in the spotlight here. The small and simple folk have a way of changing the world on a grand scale, all without even missing second Breakfast. Thanks for the content A.J. can't wait for more!
Hahaha, I love the cameo by Ronnie James Dio at the end. Alice Cooper makes jokes about the "Hobbits of Rock" Dio, Glenn Danzig, Tommy Shaw, and any other short performer.
Halflings are the outcast half-breeds that banded together and formed their own race as their genealogy became more homogenized among their populace over time. I’d still say they are probably distinct from direct half-breeds as far as racial traits go though.
A quick bit of the history of halflings. The oldest version of D&D didn't have rogues, but 1st ed. did. The rules for halflings in 1st ed. is pretty much the same as 2nd ed. In Basic D&D/Mystara Halfling was a class like dwarf and elf. Basically they were fighters with special abilities.
Definitely the race I relate to most (not including humans of course). The halflings enjoy being part of larger communities and like to work patiently through situations, knowing that impossible things are possible with time. Plus, they're short, and depending on the subrace they don't need to wear shoes (my friends call me a hobbit sometimes because of these traits).
"The comforts of home are the goals of most halflings’ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver."
Oh I see that on the wiki now: Harfoot Hobbits = Hairfoot Halflings, Stour Hobbits = Stout Halflings and Fallowhide Hobbits = Tallfellow Halflings. Smeagol was a fisherman, simple enough for the background: fisher. I'm still mulling over the class (subclass) of Smeagol before and then also after the One Ring. Gollum lived to nearly 600 years old, not all of that time was used for 'levelling in a class,' though. Still, he may have 'multiclassed,' in D&D terminology. Gollum/Smeagol is most likely schizophrenic (not my diagnosis, it's on the bio wiki page), and the cause of that was/is the One Ring and/or Sauron. Since Sauron was Maiar, but fell, it could be Smeagol has levels in warlock. Is Sauron considered fiendish (fallen Maiar), or is he better classified as a Great Old One (insane/twisted Maiar)? He was a eventually a vestige-type power as the burning eye, after all. Lastly, is Sauron considered to be undead in his 'glowing eye form,' like a demilich with the ring as the phylactery? The fact that there was never a deal made by Smeagol and the charisma prerequisite, makes me reconsider & second guess warlock as a contender class for Gollum. Maybe he's simply a rogue with a cursed, legendary ring? Anyone have any further insights or input? I realize it's not going to be a perfect match without taking a few liberties via homebrew. I don't know LotR mythology and storyline well enough to be sure in my own judgement. If there's anything that AJ's vids have taught me, it is that I probably don't know what I'm talking about, and I assume too much in my reasoning. There's a hefty amount of complicated lore in both D&D and LotR.
Ive been requesting this video for over a year and am so pleased with the result. In the wake of a global pandemic, your videos have provided much needed relief. Thank you!
Ah, amazing information that, once again, is pertinent to the games I run, or the one I actually get to play. I have a human character that was raised by a Hairfoot couple (orphaned and as he was a tiny baby, he was fostered to the appropriate, though incorrect, race) in Waterdeep, and grew up to marry a Tallfellow woman a dozen years his senior. I find it funny that My human character at 5'4" is only about a foot taller than his halfling wife. I don't get to play too often, so I do tend to deep dive into my RP :)
I just learned today that Torils moon Selûne has a powerful illusion spell that hides it's true nature as an inhabited celestial body.. this sounds so interesting and I'd love to see a video on that topic!
I am planning on making a halfling wizard that is (because interesting conflict), always in debt. Half of it was from his master before he died and passed the burden on to him.... the rest is from gambling. This video is helpful as always.
My first DnD character was a 3.5 Halfling Wizard. Since i was new I was afforded the rare luxury of picking what character to play first, so i wouldn't be forced to pay healbot while everyone else had fun. Overloaded with options I rolled dice to figure out what to play, and she was hell of a lot of fun to play. She was a self taught caster, who made pocket money being a street magician, before stumbling into adventuring.
What heresy is this a halfling video before a Kinder video this has to be because of the Shire tourism board are they paying you tasslehoff burrfoot will hear about this slight against his people....28:00 oh now there's a mention. I still feel like the Kinder deserves their own video but then again I also get distracted by shiny things so yeah
I would also imagine that they would have access to finer material I mean I could see halflings farming silkworms and working silk and raising specific species of goats and sheep for their fur and other species of goats and cattle for their milk butter and most importantly the cheese
Comes at a good time. Have decided to finally put to work writing the story idea I have been working on with my fantasy economics. A Halfling community being the first race in creating an inter race trade agreement against human nobility just trying to control everything. But had a good deal of trouble differentiating the correct Halfling subrace, one I decided lived in northern warmer wooded climate, sharing close to wood gnome community, the other being colder and Hill dwarves. Guess the Lightfoots are in the north with hidden bush communities and lush farms after human settlements retreated, while the stouts are sort of like buffer people to the dwarves and humans. Due to dwarves apparently infamous stingy with trading to other races, I have plans with stout halflings. The trait of resist poisons that stout share with dwarves has me see it that they share the dwarves tolerance to alcohol, and communities would have similar rambunctious parties and cultural commerce like booze, which was going to impact my writing. The Halfling Luck feature is one of the most interesting, and given me funny ideas that you might not guess what sort of stuff a Halfling merchant, like a pawn broker, might have got hold of, without them understanding what it is.
Use to play 2nd Ed., my favorite character was a human cleric that was polymorphed into a halfling. He was then taught thieving by another halfling party member. The last time we played he was a 11th level Cleric, 8th level Thief. Good times.
Contrary to other worlds, Athasian halflings are the progenitor race of all the races on Athas, The Rhulisti as they were known as, were powerfull life shapers that altered themselves into all the other humanoids on Athas, an event known as the Rebirth. One small enclave still exists on the Jagged Cliffs. The rest of the Athasian halflings have devolved and forgotten their ancient history.
Hey AJ, epic video! Im so glad you talked about the Kender & Dark Sun Halfing. I have never heard of the arctic halfing. I always learn something new by watching your videos. Thanks AJ & have a great day.
This is actually a great story! I love the bleak darkness of stuff like the Illithid, but this origin story is wholesome and heart-warming. Thank you for sharing!
Didn't Dwarves' Deep call out half-dwarves specifically as being nearly indistinguishable from standard dwarves? The half-gnome/dwarf thing is something I always considered a cool possibility, but I've never read anything that said that in FR canon? Am I missing something?
With the spooky season in mind, this vid is giving me a little inspiration... Imagine coming across an abandoned hamlet where plant life becomes sparser and more sickly as you approach the epicenter of the malign un-life of the area, the home of a particularly un-neighborly halfling family who were such relentless curmudgeons that they'd damn near be considered Red Caps. Such conduct attracted the ire and curse of their patron goddess... with any food turning to ash in their mouths, wine and water evaporating in their throats and remaining, undying, these wretched souls cried out to Yeenoghu, the only one who could possibly understand their endless hunger. Hearing their call, he imparted most sound advice: devour eachother. Their curse sustaining them, they tear at one another to this day, just waiting for any poor sod too curious for their own good to wander through their blighted fields. oOooo00o spoogy!
I think most people just assume it’s because they’re basically half the size of a human. I also think prior to watching this video only about .001% of people that know the word actually knew the meaning and etymology of the word Halfling(myself included.)
In the Setting I’d like to build halflings and clockers have a connection, you know those Matt aberrations that have a really nice tail and scream, the two are friends due to connection in deity made up. That elder god domain in of wool and other fabrics.
My idea of the ultimate halfling is a Kender half-copper dragon temple raider of olidammara who moonlights as a local tavern bard. Can't get much more "halflingie" than that
could see some worlds like felicure, earth or the orc home worldsetc being places where ether races originated from or worlds used as sort of reserves or something for intelligent races
That explains those two folks that looked like kids in one of the episodes of “Restaurant to Another World” season 2. They looked like children but their mannerisms wasn’t childlike at all and I think I do recall them having hairy feet.
I heard there's a I heard there's a humanoid Turtle race I really want to build my first ever character around that being a drunken monk that owns a Tavern
@@AJPickett could be great could be great for a sturdy character that knows businessman at the same time can't provide hilarity with a few drinks in them
So I guess when I read into it I may have misinterpreted, but it seemed to me that halflings were their own full race, but the sub races were from halflings interbreeding with the others, as opposed to halflings being half whatever to start with
The writers who wrote people working in the buff don't understand day laborers. Taking your shirt off while working in the hot sun will destroy you. It's actually better to work with your clothes on and let the swett soaking your shirt cool down. Working outside topless is dangerous
@@AJPickett You mean to tell us this is based on some fictional mumbo jumbo? All the detail I've cited in the division of labor amongst the gnomes and the fungus people is going to have to be totally rewritten and my conclusions regarding the draconic ancestry of modern lizard people controlling world governments is in complete disarray. Who cares what's real? That I was pushing for that Succubus Queen to run for president as the first openly fiendish Elected official in the US. Back to the drawing boards.
I may be biased, but dont the halfling traits sound like typical filipino traits? Hospitable and friendly, but practical and are usually half other races due to mixing. Plus typical halfling colouration is literally filipino skin and hair tones. Plus both Filipinos and halfling have a distinct love for food and family, and tend to travel around the world from wanderlust and create pockets of community for themselves.
So the halflings create a sense of biological kinship with their host population by interbreeding with them, leading to taller, tougher and more graceful subraces of halfling? Interesting. Given this is dnd I'm surprised the little buggers don't get driven out by the stronger, hardier and longer lived races they subvert in this fashion. Dwarves have a strong sense of blood and lineage. Humans are often fearful of things that are different, and given their horror at tiefling breeding patterns I don't see why the halflings would be treated too differently. A half human half, uh, halfling kid is going to be visibly distinct from other humans. The plight of half elves in elven and human societies alike shows how warm a welcome this behaviour should, on paper, be getting with them. I can't help but wonder if halflings are more sinister in this regard than they let on. Perhaps their race has some sort of spell or weird hypnotic effect inherent to their nature. As smaller, weaker creatures their survival strategy appears to be the subversion and genetic cooption of better adapted humanoids. This is so effective that their host populations will give up sons and daughters of marriageable age to their suiters, even waging war and dying in their defense. I'm getting 40k genestealer vibes. I hope I'm not the only one.
You could also say halflings generate a sense of paternal affection/protection as humans are hardwired to care about young & cute things as the Neoteny features and the shortness of halfings could be causing other races to instinctively look after them like humans do towards their own young. Plus the smaller something is the cuter it is perceived. His a video about how cuteness works: th-cam.com/video/Z0zConOPZ8Y/w-d-xo.html
No, Jabber Jiprock. The Basterd of old home. My Red Steel character. Set up his own fence, engaged in racketeering, set up assassinations and propped up currupt nobles. Also set up a nice elf maiden prostitution ring. Who's worse? A goblin or Jiprock the Bastard of Oldhome.
Well you know, never know, I have had players who only play Geralt or vine deisel characters. It coulda been a guess, smeagul is a character I would play. I love vulnerable but hopelessly dark characters.
I've come to the realization that hobbit culture is just british culture lmao. I think it was an SAS guy in an interview said something along the lines of "If life hands you a shit sandwich, on goes the ketchup and down it goes." That's the hobbit indomitable will right there.
Well, Tolkien pretty much confirmed it. Hobbits/Halflings like to work with nature, enjoy good, simple food, and live rustic lives. Tolkien didn't like the Industrial revolution and appreciated nature and the countryside, and loved to sit in a pub with a mug of ale. So he obviously used those ideas for Hobbits.
athas halflings are best halfings, cannibal halflings for the win ¡! (one of many reasons that make dark sun my favorite setting, come on Woc where are we gonna get dark sun setting for 5e?)
Ah yes. The Wee folk. I like them in general. They always reminded me to enjoy and appreciate what we work so hard to build, and create. Though I remember one. He had a mythril rod in his ass hahahaha. I met him on a pilgrimage. Stout fellow, ward of a noble Dwarf family, The Metlemyzers. He was dedicated, and faithful. A true inspiration to great Paladin everywhere. He went a bit to seed later in life, but he and his riding mastif Stormswake, never backed away from a threat, and never forgot his duty. Bene, he was, bene indeed. You have to right of it Loremaster AJ, good folk indeed.
AJ mate, thanks to your last video that features the mega map of Toril, I can with authority point out that the Luiren region you circled in the video was in fact on the region of 'Serpentes'. 15:38 Luiren is much farther east. But don't thank me; As an Aussie, I always feel duty-bound to point out whenever one of my Kiwi brothers makes an epic blunder. 8P
would have loved to hear more about the Eberron halfling, but nope they where not mentioned. They where nomadic and tribal. here some came together to form the House Ghallanda (Mark of hospitality) that have inns and taverns all over Eberron. some other halfling where discovered to have natural abilities to heal and where put together to make the House Jorasco, that now have healers, alchemists, herbalists but also make experiments and are considered greedy. and they ride Dinosaurs :D
I personally can't stand Eberron. I really can't. To me its a setting that (no offense to younger players) seems totally designed and marketed for the newer generation, at the spite of the older loyal fans who want high fantasy. To me, any setting with golem druids and ninja's is a total smack in the face; to older and more loyal fans who cried out for Dragonlance pre-chaos war, Spelljammer, Ravenloft and Faerun.
@@anti-ponyassociation2444 Of course, of course! I agree. It's just something about a golem druid or a warforged ninja that is so off putting for me. How can a golem/construct be a druid, I just don't get it at all.
@@Mortablunt I was not being insulting, my Halfling was not quite Bilbo. My character was an actual rogue, not something a wizard assigned to me as a title. He had an affinity for Dwarves.
This was informative, my boyfriend said he has been a DM since 1st edition D&D but told me there was a huge difference between halflings and hobbits, and that hobbits was a LOTR term only and that unlike hobbits halflings had to wear shoes and boots for protection to their feet from the elements and obstacles. So this isn't true after all?
@Kevin Warburton yea, said in lotr hobbits feet are like the soles of shoes, so in lotr they didn't need them for that purpose, and Bilbo is super rich and never wears them.
Your boyfriend ought to read LotR again, then take a real close look at all of the established Halfling lore from editions past and present. The resemblance is nearly identical; indeed the difference only exists to keep the Tolkien Estate happy, who (thankfully) watch over their property like eagles.
The wierd thing is my theory of halfing oriegins wad they were a hybrid of elves and dwarves the essential are the best of both maybe add a bit of human; or they were former humans that remained in the inbetween stage of human growth that via magic or unknown phenomena prior the first halfling to come into existence. But with this video its essential comfirmed halfing are a hyrbid of faekind that is gnomes dwaves elves and humans think mulitcutural melting pot like in newyork but in fantasy setting
Obivously, AJ Pickett is reading straight from the book of Halflings, when it comes to Kender. Sometime during the reign of Malastryx, half the Kender race became the Afflicted and lost their immunity to fear, becoming more like regular halflings. It is disputed this loss of immunity to fear was created because of the destruction of Kendermore. Kenders also do not typically worship Yondalla, because Reorx was their original creator. However, Kender find Branchala to be more compatible with their way of life. It would be curious how halflings in Krynn would react to a male dwarvish looking god or the Bard God, Branchala appearing instead of Yondalla. But I wonder if there are Kender clerics of Yondalla, when they adopt a new god, upon leaving Krynn. Also, there is rumors that Kenders can interbreed with humans to create half-kender. They tend to be the height of elves, and they suffer similar issues to fitting into human and kender societies, much like half-elves do with human and elven societies.
Jose Molina was unaware that AJ Pickett was going to reply to his comment, so talked about him in third person, now everything started to sound like it was some sort of novel... AJ never considered the Kender to be that similar to halflings, but certainly appreciated them in their own ways, also, AJ was not aware of the events during the reign of Malastryx (is that a dragon? Sounds like a dragon), because aside from a lot of reading novels a Loooong time ago, AJ has not had much to do with Dragonlance since then. :)
@@AJPickett Ah, yes, the Age of Mortals series of Dragonlance novels introduced a lot of variants of existing races that didn't exist in the 4th age. It's too bad TSR/Wizards of the Coast has prevented any new Dragonlance novels from being printed. There were so many unanswered questions in the world of Krynn, despite so many answered. That is why you do not see Dragonlance in the 4th or 5th edition universe of AD&D.
Halfbreeds? That's certainly an interesting take on their origins. You got a source for that info? I'd like to chew through that a little more. I figured they had an evolutionary basis for things similar to the other races. But I'm also old school AD&D, so I kind of took the books at face value. Gods got the creation itch and made their respective peoples wholecloth and then they had their divergences through magics or proximity to the environments in which they were forced to live. Always thinking that humans were too mundane to get the various splats for similar situations...like their magical nature wasn't up to snuff like the many sub races of elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings. I don't think I can sleep at all until this is reconciled!
Before they were adopted by Yondalla, the halflings existed in small family groups, they are not a race originally created by one god or another, they share traits with the different races and those who live closer to certain races have more of that ancestry. It's pretty clear, but, as I said, if that doesn't sit rightly with how you want to view them, it literally makes no difference at all, they are now a distinct race, with their own gods, end of story.
@@AJPickett It's all good here. It's definitely not something I've seen but still cool and adds layers to a system. I like the idea they are basically orphans that never really had a place so they made their own and that drew the attention of higher powers because it made them worthy.
@@kylestark1800 Yeah, their mythology embodies that sense that, while other races may stand over Halflings, they are not 'above' them. Even their gods have more of a partnership.. and the halflings have far more gods than any other civilized race!
My absolute favorite race super excited wish I could have watched it sooner but work ya know how that goes. Also yes they are my favorite because I am short and still have a 13 1/2 shoe.
From Athas you missed the Rhul-Thaun and Rhulisti (reported to be extinct) races. While no Rhulisti have been seen for many ages, the Rhul-Thaun still flourish in the Jagged Cliffs, much to the dismay of the Tri-kreen. Their cities include Thamasku, Pareth, Glerran, Sahr-tosh, Yihn-tol, Ter-omak, Vir-rath, Sunnil, Reg-tol, Bav-rem (ruins). Their life shaped cities deserve at least a mention I think.
@@MySerpentine Ah well, there you go. Fallohides would be the Tallfellows then, then again, its more of an approximation, there is a specific D&D 5E Middle Earth source book set you can purchase, it no doubt has much better info.
Honestly you probably already see most things that I put out there, I do post to facebook, I barely use twitter, I don't even read Reddit or visit Instagram.
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I made a halfling paladin, who became a paladin because someone asked him to be and he felt it would have been rude to refuse.
That's such a good answer. I'm totally stealing that.
😂😂 That is awesome.
Isn't that the plot of lord of the rings?
@@helsharidy123😊
We’ve had one Halfling video, yes, but what about Second Video?
You know about Second Video, right?
I love halflings, almost all of my PCs are halfllings, they are in my opinion the most relatable race.
My favorite D&D class has always been the Halfling Outrider. Nothing better than riding a Mastiff into battle. Plus most taverns are more likely to allow a dog in the building rather than a war horse or a wild animal.
Op are you not human?
@@beau3646 No I am a kangaroo
@@beau3646 Humans are the worst.
@@beau3646 halfling is better
Made two back stories and one whole charector during this video. No other YT dnd personality inspires me like your videos do.
So Little Man is a plain walker on top of being a chosen one and a proper legend.
Halfings are love, Halflings are life.
Halfings are in close competition with Dwarves as my favorite race. I think Dwarves edge them out slightly but luckily there are Stouts. Best of both worlds. Great video thanks AJ
Your love of the halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind
Only the single best race in all D&D imo. No inherent evil in there race whatsoever. Powerful enough to withstand anything the cruel worlds they inhabit can throw at them. They are the epitome of hospitality and generosity. Fear is near non-existent to them. I can keep going on and on, but I'm glad they were placed in the spotlight here. The small and simple folk have a way of changing the world on a grand scale, all without even missing second Breakfast. Thanks for the content A.J. can't wait for more!
Sees title of video.
Shire theme from LOTR plays in my head for entire video.
Hahaha, I love the cameo by Ronnie James Dio at the end. Alice Cooper makes jokes about the "Hobbits of Rock" Dio, Glenn Danzig, Tommy Shaw, and any other short performer.
Dio, the 5 foot man with a 10 foot voice!
Thank goodness! Best lore in the four farthings!
I was literally wondering when your next post would be. And 30 secs later. Pure Gold my friend. Thanks for all your work
Halflings are the outcast half-breeds that banded together and formed their own race as their genealogy became more homogenized among their populace over time.
I’d still say they are probably distinct from direct half-breeds as far as racial traits go though.
so all humans in like 400 years?
A quick bit of the history of halflings. The oldest version of D&D didn't have rogues, but 1st ed. did. The rules for halflings in 1st ed. is pretty much the same as 2nd ed. In Basic D&D/Mystara Halfling was a class like dwarf and elf. Basically they were fighters with special abilities.
The early additions had some interesting ideas like professions and proficiency points but man they were crude systems.
Me: I really should catch some sleep before work
Dark me: Watch AJ Pickett
I love how Yondalla basicslly adopted the halflings!
I could see an Athis halfling wearing outfits similar to what the Forsworn from Skyrim wearing
Definitely the race I relate to most (not including humans of course). The halflings enjoy being part of larger communities and like to work patiently through situations, knowing that impossible things are possible with time. Plus, they're short, and depending on the subrace they don't need to wear shoes (my friends call me a hobbit sometimes because of these traits).
"The comforts of home are the goals of most halflings’ lives: a place to settle in peace and quiet, far from marauding monsters and clashing armies; a blazing fire and a generous meal; fine drink and fine conversation. Though some halflings live out their days in remote agricultural communities, others form nomadic bands that travel constantly, lured by the open road and the wide horizon to discover the wonders of new lands and peoples. But even these wanderers love peace, food, hearth, and home, though home might be a wagon jostling along a dirt road or a raft floating downriver."
Tasslehoff Burrfoot did feel fear when he met Lord Soth and also when entering the Shoikan Grove.
Think both are very special events that are so terrifying that even a halfling would feel fear.
Which halfling subrace, stats, feats, background and class fits Gollum the best? Gollum was an adventurer, after all.
He is a stout halfling
@@AJPickett And here I was, under the impression he was a dead halfling. Thank you for setting me straight.
@@Nildread Was originally a stout halfling river fisherman.
Oh I see that on the wiki now:
Harfoot Hobbits = Hairfoot Halflings,
Stour Hobbits = Stout Halflings and
Fallowhide Hobbits = Tallfellow Halflings.
Smeagol was a fisherman, simple enough for the background: fisher.
I'm still mulling over the class (subclass) of Smeagol before and then also after the One Ring. Gollum lived to nearly 600 years old, not all of that time was used for 'levelling in a class,' though. Still, he may have 'multiclassed,' in D&D terminology.
Gollum/Smeagol is most likely schizophrenic (not my diagnosis, it's on the bio wiki page), and the cause of that was/is the One Ring and/or Sauron. Since Sauron was Maiar, but fell, it could be Smeagol has levels in warlock. Is Sauron considered fiendish (fallen Maiar), or is he better classified as a Great Old One (insane/twisted Maiar)? He was a eventually a vestige-type power as the burning eye, after all. Lastly, is Sauron considered to be undead in his 'glowing eye form,' like a demilich with the ring as the phylactery?
The fact that there was never a deal made by Smeagol and the charisma prerequisite, makes me reconsider & second guess warlock as a contender class for Gollum. Maybe he's simply a rogue with a cursed, legendary ring?
Anyone have any further insights or input? I realize it's not going to be a perfect match without taking a few liberties via homebrew. I don't know LotR mythology and storyline well enough to be sure in my own judgement.
If there's anything that AJ's vids have taught me, it is that I probably don't know what I'm talking about, and I assume too much in my reasoning. There's a hefty amount of complicated lore in both D&D and LotR.
@@AJPickett I was making an awful joke about him dying in the lava.
Ive been requesting this video for over a year and am so pleased with the result. In the wake of a global pandemic, your videos have provided much needed relief. Thank you!
I've always had a soft spot for little folk. They are almost always in my games somewhere, and now I have more info to build them on. Thank you
Just like that I have a new favorite D&D god.
Ah, amazing information that, once again, is pertinent to the games I run, or the one I actually get to play. I have a human character that was raised by a Hairfoot couple (orphaned and as he was a tiny baby, he was fostered to the appropriate, though incorrect, race) in Waterdeep, and grew up to marry a Tallfellow woman a dozen years his senior. I find it funny that My human character at 5'4" is only about a foot taller than his halfling wife. I don't get to play too often, so I do tend to deep dive into my RP :)
I just learned today that Torils moon Selûne has a powerful illusion spell that hides it's true nature as an inhabited celestial body.. this sounds so interesting and I'd love to see a video on that topic!
Sounds like a good video for the Spelljammer series.
I still think of a previous campaign, where the DMPC of the campaign was a halfling cleric that used Invoke Fear in a lot of battles.
*I eat punks like you for second breakfast!*
-the Cleric, probably
I am planning on making a halfling wizard that is (because interesting conflict), always in debt. Half of it was from his master before he died and passed the burden on to him.... the rest is from gambling. This video is helpful as always.
My first DnD character was a 3.5 Halfling Wizard. Since i was new I was afforded the rare luxury of picking what character to play first, so i wouldn't be forced to pay healbot while everyone else had fun. Overloaded with options I rolled dice to figure out what to play, and she was hell of a lot of fun to play. She was a self taught caster, who made pocket money being a street magician, before stumbling into adventuring.
What heresy is this a halfling video before a Kinder video this has to be because of the Shire tourism board are they paying you tasslehoff burrfoot will hear about this slight against his people....28:00 oh now there's a mention. I still feel like the Kinder deserves their own video but then again I also get distracted by shiny things so yeah
He hates Kender, won't admit it though. They borrow all his cheeses.
*sits back and waits for the Kender squad to eat their words*
@@AJPickett sorry something shiny distracted me what were you saying
Demogorgon scares other demon Lords I mean if anyone could put fear in a creature that was incapable of feeling it my money would be on demogorgon
I would also imagine that they would have access to finer material I mean I could see halflings farming silkworms and working silk and raising specific species of goats and sheep for their fur and other species of goats and cattle for their milk butter and most importantly the cheese
So good at growing mushrooms they accidentally grow myconids
Comes at a good time. Have decided to finally put to work writing the story idea I have been working on with my fantasy economics. A Halfling community being the first race in creating an inter race trade agreement against human nobility just trying to control everything. But had a good deal of trouble differentiating the correct Halfling subrace, one I decided lived in northern warmer wooded climate, sharing close to wood gnome community, the other being colder and Hill dwarves. Guess the Lightfoots are in the north with hidden bush communities and lush farms after human settlements retreated, while the stouts are sort of like buffer people to the dwarves and humans. Due to dwarves apparently infamous stingy with trading to other races, I have plans with stout halflings.
The trait of resist poisons that stout share with dwarves has me see it that they share the dwarves tolerance to alcohol, and communities would have similar rambunctious parties and cultural commerce like booze, which was going to impact my writing. The Halfling Luck feature is one of the most interesting, and given me funny ideas that you might not guess what sort of stuff a Halfling merchant, like a pawn broker, might have got hold of, without them understanding what it is.
Use to play 2nd Ed., my favorite character was a human cleric that was polymorphed into a halfling. He was then taught thieving by another halfling party member. The last time we played he was a 11th level Cleric, 8th level Thief. Good times.
Thanks for this video. It really helped creating my first Halfling and first dnd character.
Halflings? yyyyYYYYYYYEEESSSSS!!!!!!
Contrary to other worlds, Athasian halflings are the progenitor race of all the races on Athas, The Rhulisti as they were known as, were powerfull life shapers that altered themselves into all the other humanoids on Athas, an event known as the Rebirth. One small enclave still exists on the Jagged Cliffs. The rest of the Athasian halflings have devolved and forgotten their ancient history.
@LordKellthe1st So says Oronis
I have a better appreciation for Halflings after watching this and I’m interested in playing one, now.
Hey AJ, epic video! Im so glad you talked about the Kender & Dark Sun Halfing. I have never heard of the arctic halfing. I always learn something new by watching your videos.
Thanks AJ & have a great day.
I really liked this upload. Thanks AJ.
*This post was "borrowed" by a halfling*
Good video good length good man
Love the videos but you forgot to mention all the kender are bloody little thieves!
I was waiting for this since the live stream.btw thanks for the mind flair advise running a crafting heavy campaign and it helped out a fair bit
Thankyou.
This is actually a great story! I love the bleak darkness of stuff like the Illithid, but this origin story is wholesome and heart-warming. Thank you for sharing!
What if Humans are just dire Halflings?
Some of us are.
@@AJPickett She's on to us! Shh... play it cool.
I've been waiting a long time for this one. Time to tuck in!
Once again, I had no idea how much I didn't know until I learned it. 😄
I'm looking forward to learning more about halflings in the next segment.
I’m starting off my first home brew campaign in a rip-off of the Shire, I’ll definitely use a bunch of this info
Between dwarves, halflings, and gnomes, the short races are always my favorite.
Halflings are LIT
In regards to halfling nudity, it sounds as if our sage has spent time living in subtropical farming communities. The best.
Didn't Dwarves' Deep call out half-dwarves specifically as being nearly indistinguishable from standard dwarves? The half-gnome/dwarf thing is something I always considered a cool possibility, but I've never read anything that said that in FR canon? Am I missing something?
I'll be talking more specifically about Toril and Stronghearts and such in the third video.
With the spooky season in mind, this vid is giving me a little inspiration...
Imagine coming across an abandoned hamlet where plant life becomes sparser and more sickly as you approach the epicenter of the malign un-life of the area, the home of a particularly un-neighborly halfling family who were such relentless curmudgeons that they'd damn near be considered Red Caps. Such conduct attracted the ire and curse of their patron goddess... with any food turning to ash in their mouths, wine and water evaporating in their throats and remaining, undying, these wretched souls cried out to Yeenoghu, the only one who could possibly understand their endless hunger. Hearing their call, he imparted most sound advice: devour eachother.
Their curse sustaining them, they tear at one another to this day, just waiting for any poor sod too curious for their own good to wander through their blighted fields.
oOooo00o spoogy!
This is probably a really embarrassing statement, but I didn’t actually know the reason that Halflings were called Halflings before watching this.
Neither did I 🤷
I think most people just assume it’s because they’re basically half the size of a human. I also think prior to watching this video only about .001% of people that know the word actually knew the meaning and etymology of the word Halfling(myself included.)
Today I learned. :)
In the Setting I’d like to build halflings and clockers have a connection, you know those Matt aberrations that have a really nice tail and scream, the two are friends due to connection in deity made up. That elder god domain in of wool and other fabrics.
great video AJ
Great video can't wait for more!
Personally I like ghostwise and the hairfoot the most.
Since my first halfling, this race is always my potential choice
Thank you Professor! Hope you have an awesome day
I think the deities of the three races in question might have a very different take on this video AJ! 😁
Love this, will watch a few times. Noticed "Thief" history a bit, thanks! The halfling thief was incredibly important in our 1stE games
The say the furchin favour warm clothing, but do they favour the wise?
Of course this video comes out as I'm in the midst of making a Halfling character, one Halfast Hashwise. how convenient!
While I do love me some halflings, will you by any chance be continuing with your giant themed videos :?
Absolutely! I am simply pausing for a little while as there is lore I need to talk about that is part of an upcoming video game.
“Hoffman” is what describes me in one word.
My idea of the ultimate halfling is a Kender half-copper dragon temple raider of olidammara who moonlights as a local tavern bard. Can't get much more "halflingie" than that
Great video!!!! I LOVE your videos, they inspire me so much!!!! My best wishes to you!!!
could see some worlds like felicure, earth or the orc home worldsetc being places where ether races originated from or worlds used as sort of reserves or something for intelligent races
That explains those two folks that looked like kids in one of the episodes of “Restaurant to Another World” season 2. They looked like children but their mannerisms wasn’t childlike at all and I think I do recall them having hairy feet.
I heard there's a I heard there's a humanoid Turtle race I really want to build my first ever character around that being a drunken monk that owns a Tavern
The Tortles? Yeah, the live out in the tropical islands.. dangerous places.
@@AJPickett could be great could be great for a sturdy character that knows businessman at the same time can't provide hilarity with a few drinks in them
So I guess when I read into it I may have misinterpreted, but it seemed to me that halflings were their own full race, but the sub races were from halflings interbreeding with the others, as opposed to halflings being half whatever to start with
Yes!!! another race video. 😀
The writers who wrote people working in the buff don't understand day laborers. Taking your shirt off while working in the hot sun will destroy you. It's actually better to work with your clothes on and let the swett soaking your shirt cool down. Working outside topless is dangerous
On Earth.
A wizard done did it.
@@AJPickett You mean to tell us this is based on some fictional mumbo jumbo? All the detail I've cited in the division of labor amongst the gnomes and the fungus people is going to have to be totally rewritten and my conclusions regarding the draconic ancestry of modern lizard people controlling world governments is in complete disarray. Who cares what's real? That I was pushing for that Succubus Queen to run for president as the first openly fiendish Elected official in the US. Back to the drawing boards.
@5:30 … Believe it or not that is the first "halfling" I have seen drawn with excess in the chestal region
I may be biased, but dont the halfling traits sound like typical filipino traits? Hospitable and friendly, but practical and are usually half other races due to mixing. Plus typical halfling colouration is literally filipino skin and hair tones. Plus both Filipinos and halfling have a distinct love for food and family, and tend to travel around the world from wanderlust and create pockets of community for themselves.
I can see that.
...and in Athas they'll eat you?
@@TheodoreMinick To be fair, most people would eat you on Athas
@@MythosTheSophist You're not wrong.
That aint biased or rascist, a trait and tradition is just that.
So the halflings create a sense of biological kinship with their host population by interbreeding with them, leading to taller, tougher and more graceful subraces of halfling? Interesting.
Given this is dnd I'm surprised the little buggers don't get driven out by the stronger, hardier and longer lived races they subvert in this fashion.
Dwarves have a strong sense of blood and lineage. Humans are often fearful of things that are different, and given their horror at tiefling breeding patterns I don't see why the halflings would be treated too differently. A half human half, uh, halfling kid is going to be visibly distinct from other humans. The plight of half elves in elven and human societies alike shows how warm a welcome this behaviour should, on paper, be getting with them.
I can't help but wonder if halflings are more sinister in this regard than they let on. Perhaps their race has some sort of spell or weird hypnotic effect inherent to their nature. As smaller, weaker creatures their survival strategy appears to be the subversion and genetic cooption of better adapted humanoids. This is so effective that their host populations will give up sons and daughters of marriageable age to their suiters, even waging war and dying in their defense. I'm getting 40k genestealer vibes. I hope I'm not the only one.
You could also say halflings generate a sense of paternal affection/protection as humans are hardwired to care about young & cute things as the Neoteny features and the shortness of halfings could be causing other races to instinctively look after them like humans do towards their own young. Plus the smaller something is the cuter it is perceived.
His a video about how cuteness works:
th-cam.com/video/Z0zConOPZ8Y/w-d-xo.html
Lol, I missed this class. My hobbit wasn’t any where near that polite. Mine was insensitive arsehole and a criminal mastermind.
Was he named Smeagol?
No, Jabber Jiprock. The Basterd of old home. My Red Steel character. Set up his own fence, engaged in racketeering, set up assassinations and propped up currupt nobles. Also set up a nice elf maiden prostitution ring. Who's worse? A goblin or Jiprock the Bastard of Oldhome.
@@murderedcarrot9684 'S a joke, but that does sound neat
Well you know, never know, I have had players who only play Geralt or vine deisel characters. It coulda been a guess, smeagul is a character I would play. I love vulnerable but hopelessly dark characters.
@@murderedcarrot9684 Smeagol is totally my favorite hobbit, not sure if he'd be easy to play though.
I've come to the realization that hobbit culture is just british culture lmao. I think it was an SAS guy in an interview said something along the lines of "If life hands you a shit sandwich, on goes the ketchup and down it goes." That's the hobbit indomitable will right there.
Well, living as I do in rural New Zealand, in the Bay of Plenty, it's like living in Hobitton for real.
Well, Tolkien pretty much confirmed it. Hobbits/Halflings like to work with nature, enjoy good, simple food, and live rustic lives. Tolkien didn't like the Industrial revolution and appreciated nature and the countryside, and loved to sit in a pub with a mug of ale. So he obviously used those ideas for Hobbits.
athas halflings are best halfings, cannibal halflings for the win ¡! (one of many reasons that make dark sun my favorite setting, come on Woc where are we gonna get dark sun setting for 5e?)
Ah yes. The Wee folk. I like them in general. They always reminded me to enjoy and appreciate what we work so hard to build, and create. Though I remember one. He had a mythril rod in his ass hahahaha. I met him on a pilgrimage. Stout fellow, ward of a noble Dwarf family, The Metlemyzers. He was dedicated, and faithful. A true inspiration to great Paladin everywhere. He went a bit to seed later in life, but he and his riding mastif Stormswake, never backed away from a threat, and never forgot his duty. Bene, he was, bene indeed. You have to right of it Loremaster AJ, good folk indeed.
can or have you done a video on the various different worlds in d&d with similarities and/or differences?
well, I can try.
AJ mate, thanks to your last video that features the mega map of Toril, I can with authority point out that the Luiren region you circled in the video was in fact on the region of 'Serpentes'. 15:38 Luiren is much farther east.
But don't thank me; As an Aussie, I always feel duty-bound to point out whenever one of my Kiwi brothers makes an epic blunder. 8P
Correct! You have won a set of premium metallic dice. Email me with where you want those sent. 😊
@@AJPickett Bless you AJ. PM on the way 8)
would have loved to hear more about the Eberron halfling, but nope they where not mentioned.
They where nomadic and tribal.
here some came together to form the House Ghallanda (Mark of hospitality) that have inns and taverns all over Eberron.
some other halfling where discovered to have natural abilities to heal and where put together to make the House Jorasco, that now have healers, alchemists, herbalists but also make experiments and are considered greedy.
and they ride Dinosaurs :D
I'm not that into Eberron, so, probably not going to do lore videos on it.
I personally can't stand Eberron. I really can't. To me its a setting that (no offense to younger players) seems totally designed and marketed for the newer generation, at the spite of the older loyal fans who want high fantasy. To me, any setting with golem druids and ninja's is a total smack in the face; to older and more loyal fans who cried out for Dragonlance pre-chaos war, Spelljammer, Ravenloft and Faerun.
Not defending Eberron here, but you can have ninjas and golems in a setting and still have it be good
@@anti-ponyassociation2444 Of course, of course! I agree. It's just something about a golem druid or a warforged ninja that is so off putting for me. How can a golem/construct be a druid, I just don't get it at all.
The throat singing at the beginning... glorious, I want a link
Great video AJ. Personally, one of my favorite characters to play is a Stout Halfling boxman (Thief that specializes in locks and traps).
Does he also hate when you blunt the knives and crack the plates?
@@Mortablunt He's the a-hole that came with the dwarves singing along with them.
@@Mortablunt I was not being insulting, my Halfling was not quite Bilbo. My character was an actual rogue, not something a wizard assigned to me as a title. He had an affinity for Dwarves.
I"m really excited for the follow up for this.
This was informative, my boyfriend said he has been a DM since 1st edition D&D but told me there was a huge difference between halflings and hobbits, and that hobbits was a LOTR term only and that unlike hobbits halflings had to wear shoes and boots for protection to their feet from the elements and obstacles. So this isn't true after all?
@Kevin Warburton yea, said in lotr hobbits feet are like the soles of shoes, so in lotr they didn't need them for that purpose, and Bilbo is super rich and never wears them.
Your boyfriend ought to read LotR again, then take a real close look at all of the established Halfling lore from editions past and present. The resemblance is nearly identical; indeed the difference only exists to keep the Tolkien Estate happy, who (thankfully) watch over their property like eagles.
They were literally called hobbits in the rules until the Tolkien estate sued TSR.
You didn't cover the Direhalflings of Z'Land.
I am a dire Halfling, it's true.
The wierd thing is my theory of halfing oriegins wad they were a hybrid of elves and dwarves the essential are the best of both maybe add a bit of human; or they were former humans that remained in the inbetween stage of human growth that via magic or unknown phenomena prior the first halfling to come into existence. But with this video its essential comfirmed halfing are a hyrbid of faekind that is gnomes dwaves elves and humans think mulitcutural melting pot like in newyork but in fantasy setting
Obivously, AJ Pickett is reading straight from the book of Halflings, when it comes to Kender. Sometime during the reign of Malastryx, half the Kender race became the Afflicted and lost their immunity to fear, becoming more like regular halflings. It is disputed this loss of immunity to fear was created because of the destruction of Kendermore. Kenders also do not typically worship Yondalla, because Reorx was their original creator. However, Kender find Branchala to be more compatible with their way of life. It would be curious how halflings in Krynn would react to a male dwarvish looking god or the Bard God, Branchala appearing instead of Yondalla. But I wonder if there are Kender clerics of Yondalla, when they adopt a new god, upon leaving Krynn. Also, there is rumors that Kenders can interbreed with humans to create half-kender. They tend to be the height of elves, and they suffer similar issues to fitting into human and kender societies, much like half-elves do with human and elven societies.
Jose Molina was unaware that AJ Pickett was going to reply to his comment, so talked about him in third person, now everything started to sound like it was some sort of novel... AJ never considered the Kender to be that similar to halflings, but certainly appreciated them in their own ways, also, AJ was not aware of the events during the reign of Malastryx (is that a dragon? Sounds like a dragon), because aside from a lot of reading novels a Loooong time ago, AJ has not had much to do with Dragonlance since then. :)
@@AJPickett Ah, yes, the Age of Mortals series of Dragonlance novels introduced a lot of variants of existing races that didn't exist in the 4th age. It's too bad TSR/Wizards of the Coast has prevented any new Dragonlance novels from being printed. There were so many unanswered questions in the world of Krynn, despite so many answered. That is why you do not see Dragonlance in the 4th or 5th edition universe of AD&D.
Halfbreeds? That's certainly an interesting take on their origins. You got a source for that info? I'd like to chew through that a little more. I figured they had an evolutionary basis for things similar to the other races. But I'm also old school AD&D, so I kind of took the books at face value. Gods got the creation itch and made their respective peoples wholecloth and then they had their divergences through magics or proximity to the environments in which they were forced to live. Always thinking that humans were too mundane to get the various splats for similar situations...like their magical nature wasn't up to snuff like the many sub races of elves, dwarves, gnomes and halflings. I don't think I can sleep at all until this is reconciled!
Before they were adopted by Yondalla, the halflings existed in small family groups, they are not a race originally created by one god or another, they share traits with the different races and those who live closer to certain races have more of that ancestry. It's pretty clear, but, as I said, if that doesn't sit rightly with how you want to view them, it literally makes no difference at all, they are now a distinct race, with their own gods, end of story.
@@AJPickett It's all good here. It's definitely not something I've seen but still cool and adds layers to a system. I like the idea they are basically orphans that never really had a place so they made their own and that drew the attention of higher powers because it made them worthy.
@@kylestark1800 Yeah, their mythology embodies that sense that, while other races may stand over Halflings, they are not 'above' them. Even their gods have more of a partnership.. and the halflings have far more gods than any other civilized race!
My absolute favorite race super excited wish I could have watched it sooner but work ya know how that goes. Also yes they are my favorite because I am short and still have a 13 1/2 shoe.
@Jake the Greatest My feet are size 14 and a half.
@Jake the Greatest yep and in the right shoe can get to 5'6" tall lol
@@AJPickett lol bet your taller than me I'm 5'5" and few have more hair on there feet
@@Taylor1989s I'm a dire Halfling (Stoutish), six foot one inch and as broad as a dwarf.
@@AJPickett lol greatest race ever got room for everyone.
From Athas you missed the Rhul-Thaun and Rhulisti (reported to be extinct) races. While no Rhulisti have been seen for many ages, the Rhul-Thaun still flourish in the Jagged Cliffs, much to the dismay of the Tri-kreen. Their cities include Thamasku, Pareth, Glerran, Sahr-tosh, Yihn-tol, Ter-omak, Vir-rath, Sunnil, Reg-tol, Bav-rem (ruins). Their life shaped cities deserve at least a mention I think.
Thank you can't wait to see the next video
So that guy was a Planeswalker.
If you like.
So are they leprechauns too then? Small, lucky. Sounds close, at least.
Negative.
AJ Pickett Figured. Still, they sound similar, hu? :D Are there leprechauns in D&D? Sounds like a good idea with St Patrick’s Day coming up.
There's Leprechauns in d&d they are kind of Fey imho, like faeries pixies brownies and sprites.
Check minute 15:44. Did you mark the land of Lurien wrong? I thought it was further east.
You are correct. My editor had a whoopsie.
So which subraces in D&D match up with the Stoors and the Brandybucks? They were practically subraces in Tolkien's world.
The Stoors are Stouts (exactly the same thing, even means the same), the Brandybucks are just Hairfoots who live in the Buckland region.
@@AJPickett Bagginses and Brandybucks had Fallohide in them. Brandybucks also had some Stoor--they were fishermen, like poor Smeagol and Deagol.
@@MySerpentine Ah well, there you go. Fallohides would be the Tallfellows then, then again, its more of an approximation, there is a specific D&D 5E Middle Earth source book set you can purchase, it no doubt has much better info.
@@AJPickett Sounds cool
Much love AJ Do you have any other social media account so we can follow you home by any chance?
Honestly you probably already see most things that I put out there, I do post to facebook, I barely use twitter, I don't even read Reddit or visit Instagram.
AJ Pickett what’s your name on fb so I can keep up with you brother
@@chaunceyshearinjr5997 facebook.com/TheMightyGluestick/ or twitter.com/AJPickett1