Battlemage Halflings!?

Sess'sth · Post by **Sess'sth** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 8:52 am

Is it just me, or are most of the halflings the best mages in the game? I dont see how it isnt possible, people can put their intelligence up high and make them exellent mages, but its not very good rp. it says "halflings are fun loving peaceful creatures."

how about we make lots of the spells hard for halflings if not impossible, or make it so they cant put intelligence up very high. if they are bad at magic, they should be good at other things like farming, wood cutting, ect. that would make it more ''realistic'' and better rp.

(not to base this on movies/books, but when in Lord of the Rings, have you seen frodo saving the fellowship in battle by burning all of the orcs with his flame spell?)

and also i dont think that halfling should be really good fighters because of what i said before (fun loving PEACEFUL creatures).

(again not to base this on movies/books, but when in Lord of the Rings have you seen frodo kill an orc with one strike of his little dagger?)

Gro'bul · Post by **Gro'bul** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 9:38 am

This has been addressed MANY times, and I would have too agree. For some reason I don't beleive anything has been done about it. There are rare instances for everything yes, but this is far too common.

Bumbol Woodstock · Post by **Bumbol Woodstock** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 6:07 pm

There are only 2 halfling mages in the island. Crosis and Nilo, and only Crosis is really good. Crosis is a good roleplayer as well, and is peaceful, magic can be used as a peaceful tool. Secondly, why cannot halflings be able to defend themselves? I mean in the history they have been enslaved twice, so of course some are paranoid.

Gro'bul · Post by **Gro'bul** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 6:39 pm

You have forgotton Feips.

Freo · Post by **Freo** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 7:20 pm

use the search option pefore asking something like this! You will see that this exact same proposal has been adressed many times before you joined the boards, and I am sure after you joined as well.

Bumbol Woodstock · Post by **Bumbol Woodstock** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 9:37 pm

You are missing the point Grobul, the point is, after being enslaved twice I think it is fair to believe that many halflings have become paranoid about it happening again, so of course they will be prepared for whatever happens.

Gro'bul · Post by **Gro'bul** » Sat Jul 05, 2003 10:11 pm

Halflings weilding swords and armor is understandable, having halfling mages as powerful as the most experienced elf mage is not. A halfling normally doesn't have access to this knowlage. The exeption is occuring far too often.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 12:17 am

why can't halflings have magic? And how come orcs can be peaceful? And how come elves can cut down trees for money?

Elaralith · Post by **Elaralith** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 12:27 am

Grant Herion wrote:why can't halflings have magic? And how come orcs can be peaceful? And how come elves can cut down trees for money?

It all goes back to good RP that fits in the fantasy medieval scenario that is illarion. And in this fantasy context (that can be found at www.moonsilver.de/) halflings are a peaceful folk that love a good meal and don't like things that are too complicated (machinery and magic included). And orcs in this context are a savage war-like people that care not for civilities. And elves are a people of nature that adore all life etc. etc.

Bloodhearte · Post by **Bloodhearte** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 2:45 am

Yes, this is something that has been mentioned a million times. However, it is obviously a major problem, but nothing still hasn't been done about it. We can't rely on players simply doing it properly anymore, because it hasn't been slowed down.

And for you desperate halflings out there, don't poke fun or try to change the subject to friendly orcs, etc. Those are problems, but let's focus on one at a time.

And most hobbits, if not all (except 2 or 3) are mages. Even if they're not mages, they are just as battle hungry as a human, orc or lizardman. Crosis, Fieps, Iqloo, Bumbol, Hermie, Nilo, etc. are all either expert combatants (somehow carrying heavy armor and swords that are as big as them *laughs at the thought of a hobbit covered in clad armor, unable to move and arms sticking fully out because of the sheer size*) or archmages. The only hobbits that roleplay their role very well are the females, in my opinion. No offense or anything, but honestly, there are pretty much no male hobbits on this island, just shorter versions of elves and orcs.

As for the history, it's unfortunate for them, but you think such a race would do something like live out further, or booby trap their hills for enemies or something like that; not exceed their physical limit and become super mage knights over night.

Fieps · Post by **Fieps** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 2:58 am

Could you please stop with stating exactly characters?
It is a insult in my eyes to read that my char is a battle mage.

You should share between mage, and battle mage. My char doesn´t wear armor, weapons and so one, only a slouch hat, shirt and trousers.
He has never learned to handle weapons or something like that.
Perfect equipment and abilities for a battle mage, isn´t it?

So is the only chance to survive for the char Fieps, if he hadn´t the possibilty to run away, that he defend himself with a few spells.

I don´t like people which judge over the rp from other player´s, and exspecially not persons like you Bloodhearte, you have in my eyes no right to talk over such things.
If you see Fieps fighting over and over again, then we can talk more about this topic, not before!

Bumbol Woodstock · Post by **Bumbol Woodstock** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:16 am

Firstoff Bloodhearte,
My character isn't a fighter anymore.
Secondly,
Why can't halflings be fighters? They have been enslaved and been forced to learn how to fight, give me reasons to this question.
Thirdly,
I think you are just bitter that halflings are able to beat you up

.

Bloodhearte · Post by **Bloodhearte** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:24 am

Never have I once said you were a battlemage, Fieps. I said you were an archmage, and from my understanding, that is quite true. Were you not the hobbit by the tavern that was not even being scratched by the giant spiders during a town attack before, throwing ice bolts? I swear I saw that...

I said great combatants OR archmages, not 'and.' And people already named names, so why can't I? People are never reluctant to mention me in the lists of stale roleplayers when they're peeved at me. After all, it's the truth. All of those names I listed are ones who have beyond-hobbit-like skill in magic or combat.

You, however, are not a bad roleplayer. It's just the huge amount of magical power that makes the character slightly 'iffy.' Defense or not, hobbits are supposed to be not bad at magic, but they don't really use it due to the fact that they can't control it well (or they're very dangerous with it, or something like that).

Bloodhearte · Post by **Bloodhearte** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:30 am

That's true that your character isn't a fighter anymore Bumbol. I suppose your combats with my lizardman made me revive past memories.

Although halflings have been through attempted enslavements, the fact that they're short and low in strength compared to other races gives them the disadvantage in combat. Also, their size doesn't let them wear the armor of a knight. From my understanding, they only fight in self defense if their lives are endangered. So it would be more logical for such a race to seek help from friendlier, stronger races or set up booby traps around their home, or use their cleverness rather than their muscles which aren't supposed to be very useful in the first place.

Bitter because hobbits can beat me up? Oh contrare, do you remember the jolly hobbit butcherings Darlok and my lizard character went through? They weren't very difficult, so I have no reason to be bitter behind the computer.

Bumbol Woodstock · Post by **Bumbol Woodstock** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:33 am

They weren't attempted enslavements, they were enslaved twice, once by orcs and the next by humans, infact I plan on writing up the story soon, then we will see what really happened

Crocket · Post by **Crocket** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:42 pm

Bloodhearte wrote:Although halflings have been through attempted enslavements, the fact that they're short and low in strength compared to other races gives them the disadvantage in combat.

I just wanted to bring this up again because it is so true. Just because they have been enslaved and are paranoid does not make them good fighters. They are still "small peaceful creatures" and would probably find other ways out of slavery rather than fighting. Making a lot of money and buying their way out of slavery for example.

Bloodhearte wrote:Also, their size doesn't let them wear the armor of a knight.

Armor can be made in different sizes.

Bloodhearte wrote:From my understanding, they only fight in self defense if their lives are endangered. So it would be more logical for such a race to seek help from friendlier, stronger races or set up booby traps around their home, or use their cleverness rather than their muscles which aren't supposed to be very useful in the first place.

True.

It all boils down to bad rp. A halfling should not be role played as a great mage or fighter. They should be "peaceful creatures." A good roleplayed halfling would be a salesman, farmer, gemcutter, tailor, etc. I believe the halflings should be the richest characters in the game. If you want a strong mage or fighter then don't play a halfling. Play a human, orc, or whatever.

Grant Herion · Post by **Grant Herion** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 3:49 pm

Well, look at it through the eyes of a halfling, how many times would they have been killed off? If none of them knew how to fight for themselves I would have them enslaved. Just as Darlok would have before me. It is as simple as that, because "evils characters" like me and Darlok play I do not mind halfling's training to fight off people like me. And in this game, you can't just pick up a sword and fight off a warrior like in a movie, you have to train.

Caranthir the great · Post by **Caranthir the great** » Sun Jul 06, 2003 4:31 pm

It all boils down to bad rp. A halfling should not be role played as a great mage or fighter. They should be "peaceful creatures." A good roleplayed halfling would be a salesman, farmer, gemcutter, tailor, etc. I believe the halflings should be the richest characters in the game. If you want a strong mage or fighter then don't play a halfling. Play a human, orc, or whatever.

I am suprised to say that I agree with you for once, Crocket.
Fighter/mage halflings would not bother me that much if they would be something encountered only rarely, but when the 'exeption of the rule' becomes the rule itself, we're screwed.

Take a known dwarf for instance - He wants to be tall, he is generous, dislikes beer, is Mage, now I ask what's the point in playing a dwarf that is completely opposite of the 'average' Short, grumpy, magic-hating, beer drinking and greedy dwarf? I can't see the point, really.
If you want a character that is completely opposite to the 'average' of the race, or even opposite in some key point (Mage for a dwarf/halfling ect.), perhaps you should really consider playing a human. They have no pro's or con's, they can do whatever they want without any consieration. I was going to say at first that perhaps you should think a good reason or your character to do -install uncommon racial behaviour-, but then I realized that it wouldn't really help the sitiuation at all.

Droog smellfoot · Post by **Droog smellfoot** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 3:39 pm

(not to base this on movies/books, but when in Lord of the Rings, have you seen frodo saving the fellowship in battle by burning all of the orcs with his flame spell?)

Frodo is a hobbit!

Rynt · Post by **Rynt** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 7:09 pm

And what do you think a hobbit is? A Halfling of course!

Crocket · Post by **Crocket** » Mon Jul 07, 2003 11:13 pm

I know this has been said many times but I'll say it again.

This is not Lord of the Rings. This is Illarion. We do not have hobbits. We have halflings.

Thank You.

Bumbol Woodstock · Post by **Bumbol Woodstock** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 12:22 am

Rynt is saying it because, they are practically the same thing. Furry feet, like a warm meal, lazy, theives occasionally. They are described as the same thing.

Freo · Post by **Freo** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 1:40 am

This is not Lord of the Rings. This is Illarion. We do not have hobbits. We have halflings.

care to point out the difference?

Brumba · Post by **Brumba** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 6:42 am

I do see the problems with Hobbit battlemages. Yes yes yes, it's got it's problems that it's even possible to do that. BUT, remember where it says "Roleplay"? What if a wizard teaches Brumba a spell? Don't say "he doesn't have the mind power great enough to do that!" Well for goodness sake I value myself one of the most well spoken, and most gentlemenly men on the island (but for God's sake no where near the best typist or speller). I think he has a good mind, and if someone teaches him I suppose he could learn. There's nothing wrong with it, but, granted, a warrior halfling is a might, well what was the word? Iffy! that's it. But not as iffy, as say a dwarven Mage or an uppidy battling elf who makes his money from chopping trees and killing monsters (dont' they love nature? why would they kill sheep and pigs and trees?) I see many races that have things wrong with them, and I dont' see it as wrong, I just see it as being different, and that's what we need in the game. I know quite a few odd characters. I know a time travellor that has been stuck in the past, quite a few vampires and werewolves and that sort of thing (is there not a page on the site that says that people who RP vampires and the sort are breaking the rules and will be dealt with? no offence to anyone, I just remember reading that somewhere) and lots and lots of other personalities. I say, that either we leave everyone alone, OR we take out everyone that roleplays wrong. Don't just pick on the Halflings, get all the ones who break rules. The Polite orks, and the anti-nature elves, and the magic dwarves. Ohh and especially these lizards who for some reason think they are Wmils and get mad when you can't tell the difference, that's quite annoying. Seriously, like it's been said before, if you can't RP be a human, they can get away with anything. Or if you don't want to the get off the damned Halflings' backs about doing magic!!!!! Has anyone played D&D? Thru the eyes of the beholder has Halflings that do magic? So what if Tolkien didn't like it, boo-hoo, why do we have to go by his works?

Pronon Palmsuger · Post by **Pronon Palmsuger** » Tue Jul 08, 2003 11:31 pm

(not to base this on movies/books, but when in Lord of the Rings, have you seen frodo saving the fellowship in battle by burning all of the orcs with his flame spell?)

yes but do you ever see the orc wlak up and say " Hello Halfling me need wood for fire you got any?"

there arent enough postions for everyone to be "perfect" in how there race is described. Hell ive seen a Female, Farmer,Mage Dwarf. Threre is no point in argueing over this

Crosis · Post by **Crosis** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 2:30 am

I'm starting to get tired of seeing this topic arise anyways...

This is what moonsilver states:

Magic for sure is not their prime talent. May it be that there are some Halflings tempting the arts of magic but it is highly recommended not to be close as one or the other spell might turn out in a way which was not intended.

Never did I see "Halflings are bad at magic", it says "Magic for sure is not their prime talent". Which means halflings are better at other things (example:Farming). The second part says "it is highly recommended not to be close as one or the other spell might turn out in a way which was not intended." I don't think halflings intel should be reduced because of this, and right now spells do not backfire. If or when they do, halflings should have a better chance of having their spells backfire.

People who say halflings are not peaceful, you probably never got to know them, either that or you play evil characters who try to enslave them. Of course halflings are not going to act friendly to people who threaten them.

Bloodhearte, how the hell do you know what kind of armor I or any other halfling wears. My character wears a robe, a hat, and chainmail. Crosis doesn't have the strength walk at a normal pace wearing knights armor. And two thirds of halflings are mages? I would like to know who they all are. The only halfling mages, that I know of, that are still commonly around is Nilo, Fieps, and Crosis.

Please go find something else to complain about, cause this topic has been talked to death about.

Fooser · Post by **Fooser** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 2:33 am

Ahhh this is ridiculous, taking magic and fighting away from halflings? This will do nothing but open up morons who annoy and insult them knowing that they can't do anything in return. Look at the RPG forum and all the hatred that goes on against them, why shouldn't they have magic? If this ever happens, how will they be able to leave town alone? While your at it why dont you take away their right to cut down tree's because it's killing a living thing, or take away their blacksmithing skill because they wouldn't want to make weapons

Illarion stresses creativity and RPing, if we honestly need a book or website to tell us what to do then why are we even here? Anyone could read a site and do what it says. As long as they aren't causing too much trouble, and have learned magic successfully, leave them alone.

Seth Valor · Post by **Seth Valor** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 4:13 am

This is an old topic!
Example:
[quote="grant herion']Many halflings here do not play as halflings should. Using magic for a halfling is the norm and the rare halfling is the one who doesn't fight or use magic. Many halflings here seem very easily provoked and will quickly kill you.
What do you people think of the halfling roleplayer we have here?[/quote]

(http://www.illarion.org/community/forum ... php?t=5784)

[quote"Hermie"]There is nothing wrong with a Halfing using magic respectivley.

Quote:
May it be that there are some Halflings tempting the arts of magic but it is highly recommended not to be close as one or the other spell might turn out in a way which was not intended

We can cast, just we arent the best. And a spell may, at some point, go wrong. Of course, we perhaps shouldn't know all the spells, but rather only know of them.

I dont think a halfling's intelligence should be restricted. Perhaps it should be made that the easer the spell, the rarer it goes wrong, but the harder the spell the more rare it is to perform, with the halfling still being logic. Also, perhaps us halflings should have only 3/4 of the mana of ofther races.

Cara said:
Quote:
Quote:

Quote:
But I have seen some posts that seem to have been made by orcs. (Looking at their avatar.) And it does look like they speak intelligently.

Perhaps, but they might also have been thinking the comfort of the reader.
I as find long posts of 'gibberish' very annoying to read (this also includes posts without punctuation).

There is nothing wrong with the way orcs write as long as it is on the rpg board because it's only gibberish to non-orcs. Plus, an orc wouldn't give a damn if people of other races can't read their posts. Finally, since when were orcs educated enough to use education?
If it's in game then the orcs are fine talking anyway orcish way. Also, society in Illarion makes the orc speak better, because spendig much time amongst other races they would learn it, but still, that doesn't mean they can write.[/quote]

Look. There is not a single, perfect race. I dont think anyone in this game is a perfect roleplayer. For Example, we have all seen this: Friendly peaceful orcs, Lizards who dont like to fish, And other things that dont go along with rp.

Although I agree, that a halfling shouldnt be all that strong *rp*, there arent other places to put your stats, unless you make it a good fighter. So, it is either...good fighter...or mage and mixed stats elsewhere.

Also, keep in mind, that, there ARE peaceful, not strong halflings. For example: Bumbol Woodstock, Lotho Green, and in my opinion, Crosis too. Crosis might be a good mage, but he NEVER kills anyone. I mean, Crosis i dont think has ever killed anyone with out an EXTREMELY valid reason.

So,people, lay off why dont you! Especially those of you, who are stronger than even your race should be.

one final thing, and i shall be done;

I havent seen an "evil battlemage hobbit" ever. I have seen a few rather agressive ones, who dont like to be pushed, but there is an rp reason behind that i think. Considering they were supposed to be slaved around for quite some time, i think its fair enough that they are able to defend themseleves. especially after all of that slavery. I mean, who wouldnt want to get strong and defend themselves from going back into slavery?

oh yes.....one more thing.

STOP BRINGING UP THIS SUBJECT!!!!!!!!!

Bloodhearte · Post by **Bloodhearte** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 8:10 am

Ah Crosis, yet another board troll? Mention one time, in my post, where I said you specifically wear heavy armor. You shouldn't lie, either. During the "war" in Illarion, you wanted to test the power from my lizardman and wore two shields to protect yourself; you even admitted it, although Kirtar didn't get the same results when he tried the same trick.

Like I've said, I KNOW this topic has been talked to death a million times. But it has been stated this many times for a reason, because it is obviously a major problem that isn't being handled by the players like it should be. And it should keep being talked about until something is done about it. Don't make me name the mages again, just refer to my other post, because I hate naming names (although in this case, it had to be done). Common or not, you can't take the statistics of "who you know commonly" to measure of to the stats of the states you know.

Crosis · Post by **Crosis** » Wed Jul 09, 2003 3:55 pm

Where did I lie in my post?

During the "war" in Illarion, you wanted to test the power from my lizardman and wore two shields to protect yourself; you even admitted it

So what? This means I wear heavy armor?