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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 7:47PM
#131
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I really like the new Halfling art, bit i think that art fits better for the stout/strongheart subrace (it brings inmediate sympathy, +1 Car), i´ll keep the 4e art for the lightfoot, cuz that screams agility, +1 Dex. What do you think?
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 8:03PM
#132
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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One of the problems with half sized humans is the unchanging proportions. Halfling a human quarters the size of their brain (three dimensions, so halved half). 4e halflings (aka three-quarterlings) have brains a little more than half the size of a normal person. In contrast, children - like the new halfling art - have a much larger head-to-body ratio.
Halving a human's height and adjusting the other dimensions to scale actually cuts the volume of their brain in eighths (1/8 = (1/2)^3). However, if you're worried about halflings with proportional brains being too stupid to function, fear not! It turns out that for whatever reason, proportional brain size relative to body mass has a reasonable correlation with species intelligence (insofar as we can actually measure that). For instance, humans are generally regarded to be smarter than most species of whales, despite cetaceans' much more massive brains.
<Ioun> they're apparently making a MolIsCool pp
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 8:19PM
#133
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One of the problems with half sized humans is the unchanging proportions. Halfling a human quarters the size of their brain (three dimensions, so halved half). 4e halflings (aka three-quarterlings) have brains a little more than half the size of a normal person. In contrast, children - like the new halfling art - have a much larger head-to-body ratio.
Halving a human's height and adjusting the other dimensions to scale actually cuts the volume of their brain in eighths (1/8 = (1/2)^3). However, if you're worried about halflings with proportional brains being too stupid to function, fear not! It turns out that for whatever reason, proportional brain size relative to body mass has a reasonable correlation with species intelligence (insofar as we can actually measure that). For instance, humans are generally regarded to be smarter than most species of whales, despite cetaceans' much more massive brains.
True, but humans with microcephaly (small brains) have brains somewhere between 70-80% a regular human and they have intense retardation. Halfings, with brains even smaller (a quarter the size a microcephalic) are pushing it.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 8:23PM
#134
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Neat analysis Jester. It took the image you made and inserted the halfling pic....
The halfling seems pretty proportional to a human child.
They line up nicely, likely too nicely to be coincidence. I imagine they did something simmilar in the office. As someone else mentioned, a little larger feet would help reduce the "cartoonish" look, but it is just concept art.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 8:31PM
#135
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Date Joined:
Jan 15, 2009
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True, but humans with microcephaly (small brains) have brains somewhere between 70-80% a regular human and they have intense retardation. Halfings, with brains even smaller (a quarter the size a microcephalic) are pushing it.
They're a different species though (or something); they aren't the same sized creature with a different sized brain.
Also, magic!
<Ioun> they're apparently making a MolIsCool pp
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 8:33PM
#136
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Of the myriads of things that I've found disappointing about Next, there is no doubt that this presentation of the halfling is the most painful. I had really hoped for a continuation of 3rd edition halflings (and 4th, I think? I don't remember how they appeared in 4th at all). But to regress to something that makes 1st edition look cosmopolitan? To intentionally proportion them as toddlers?! "Beware, yon heroes do come this way! I spy among them a cruel-seeming half-orc, an elven archer, a dwarven axemen, and a toddler whose sole purpose must be comic relief!" I very nearly dropped my glass of tea when the picture loaded. I cannot express just how much I despise this presentation. 
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 9:00PM
#137
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True, but humans with microcephaly (small brains) have brains somewhere between 70-80% a regular human and they have intense retardation. Halfings, with brains even smaller (a quarter the size a microcephalic) are pushing it.
They're a different species though (or something); they aren't the same sized creature with a different sized brain.
Also, magic!
Different species means you can get away with shifting the proportions a little and not having and intelligence penalty. It gives you some wiggle room but when their head is the size of my clenched fist and their brain is nearing the size of a dinosaur's it starts pushing verisimilitude.
Magic is a way to make the world special. It's not a crutch to justify silliness or bad science. When evoking "magic" there should be a reason, the magic should have a purpose and not just justifying quirks of the mechanics, laziness, or mistakes.
Before posting, ask yourself WWWS: What Would Wrecan Say?Spoiler:
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Read my blog on the WotC Community Site (updated irregularly to avoid spamming the "Featured Blogger" list).
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 9:06PM
#138
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Of the myriads of things that I've found disappointing about Next, there is no doubt that this presentation of the halfling is the most painful. I had really hoped for a continuation of 3rd edition halflings (and 4th, I think? I don't remember how they appeared in 4th at all). But to regress to something that makes 1st edition look cosmopolitan? To intentionally proportion them as toddlers?!
"Beware, yon heroes do come this way! I spy among them a cruel-seeming half-orc, an elven archer, a dwarven axemen, and a toddler whose sole purpose must be comic relief!"
I very nearly dropped my glass of tea when the picture loaded. I cannot express just how much I despise this presentation.
In 4e they all appeared as rastafarians. It was novel and neat at first. Then became great flavor. But, then after a few years and looking back, we thought - huh? But, overall I'd give them a B-.
These new halfling I'd give a solid B. Not sure how I'll feel in five years, but right now I'm digging it.
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 9:15PM
#139
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Date Joined:
Jan 10, 2013
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 I just don't see "rastafarian" in this picture. Perhaps it means something I'm not aware of?
The 2 core goals of DDN:
1. Create a version of D&D that embraces the enduring, core elements of the game.
2. Create a set of rules that allows a smooth transition from a simple game to a complex one.
- Mike Mearls
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4 months ago ::
Jan 27, 2013 - 9:30PM
#140
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Date Joined:
Oct 23, 2012
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I like the haflings...
Why don't you guys pick on a fictional being your own size?
My mind is a deal-breaker.
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