I can't actually recall any imm ever responding positively (or at all, probably signifying indifference) to requests of adding halflings as a PC race, so I'm not exactly holding my breath for it to happen... but I do think it would be a welcome addition, besides helping to balance the evil skew in the available race/class options. In fact I can only remember some imm commenting that there's no need for halflings, because we already have gnomes and svirfs. I can't but disagree with that, first because halflings are (or can be) good, which in itself is already a HUGE difference, but also their stats/abilities/background would be clearly different.

Besides, they already exist in game and their addition would only require minor updates to the area, such as guilds, a few shops, altar/healer room, etc. Also, I think this could be an excellent opportunity to allow players to contribute to the game by having a "contest" where they could post descriptions for all the required new NPCs/rooms/items. Some hero imm would of course be in charge of the update, and modify the provided descs/ideas as and if needed (personally, were I a hero imm, I'd LOVE this kind of input from others, because the thought of coming up with a zillion different descs for a new area is such a daunting one that I doubt I'll ever attempt, even though I'd like to contribute as a coder sort of imm, adding little and bigger things into the game, fixing bugs and the like... but I digress).

So, this is how I'd see PC halflings (hoping someone in immland might take pity on poor old Bilbo who can't take much more beating!):


HALFLINGS

Nimble and hearty little folk, halflings generally prefer to live a simple and peaceful life among their own kind, being mostly unconcerned of the world at large. However, they do possess a certain natural curiosity of all things big or small in the world, and occasionally some of the bolder ones set out on adventures beyond the borders of their land. A few never return, finding more fulfillment in their travels or some other new calling than in the comforts of traditional halfling life, which generally consists of several meals a day with a pint or two of ale and enjoying a smoke of fine pipeweed after a day's work on the fields. Curiously halflings even of the heartiest appetites tend not to get that fat, and even the slightly plump ones retain their ability to move around quietly and unnoticed when desired.

Halflings are simple folk who tend to have little affinity for things mystical, and thus produce no true mages. At most halfling rangers may learn some nature magic, and depending on class training, also to invoke the magic imbued into scrolls and talismans. Their heightened resilience and innocence gives them resistance to magical and mental attacks. They are uncomfortable in or on water and are at best poor swimmers due to their fear of drowning. Physically they tend to be slightly taller than svirfnebli, but shorter than dwarves, and live somewhat longer than humans. Halflings are good or neutral in alignment.

Height: 3'3" - 4'
Average lifespan: 90-110 years

Max stats: 18str 19int 21wis 22dex 22con 21cha

Available classes:
- thief
- warrior
- bard
- ranger (Terrain: Forest, Plains / Expertise: Survivalist, Explorer, Hunter, Animist)
- healer
- druid* (*even goodies; i.e. I'd expand druids in general to be allowed to be good)

Inherent abilities:

- Quiet movement
- A freely (re)callable 'inherent sneak', which uses a bit of mana, but otherwise functions as the class-based sneak skill (alternatively with a short reuse timer: "You need to calm down before you can sneak again")
- Resistant to spells (-20?)
- Resistant to mental attacks (-20?)
- Improved morale (+10?) when nearly full/full/completely full, but suffer a morale penalty (-10?) when slightly hungry or worse
- Hydrophobia/vulnerable to drowning
- XP penalty 250(ish)

I never even thought of halflings as a race.

This is the best idea I've heard in at least a decade regarding CF.

I think a better race choice which I suggested awhile back would be Sahugain. They are very well represented in Theran underwater areas, they could be a true water-based race instead of a race that just happens to be able to breathe water like storm giants and although I'd require them to be orderly evil or neutral evil I still think that if you both gave them some advantages underwater and exapnded the opportunities for ranking underwater (as well as more underwater connections between underwater areas) you could really create a unique play option for players.

>I think a better race choice which I suggested awhile back
>would be Sahugain. They are very well represented in Theran
>underwater areas, they could be a true water-based race
>instead of a race that just happens to be able to breathe
>water like storm giants and although I'd require them to be
>orderly evil or neutral evil I still think that if you both
>gave them some advantages underwater and exapnded the
>opportunities for ranking underwater (as well as more
>underwater connections between underwater areas) you could
>really create a unique play option for players.

I like this idea a lot, we do need more underwater life.

The idea of Halflings on the other hand.... makes me want to kick them in the nuts.We already have gnomes in a very weird nobody knows what a theran gnome does except for being wise and bookish. They are not crazy tinkering WOW gnomes, As far as I know they all probably wear pointy hats and try to sell you vacations online. I really dont get gnome rp at all, so halfling rp confusion would probably be gnome^n.

Very few players play a typical "Theran Gnome." Many seem to play gnomes like some kind of kender. They should not have silly names and act like 12 year olds. At least, not ALL of them.

They are isolationist, Taoist scholars. imo. Wise and bookish is a good place to start too.

Halflings are very different. You can go to the Halfling Lands to learn about them.

I want a non-mayfly winged race.

I can get behind Talshidar, but only if halflings are put in as a natural food source.