Any viable halfling fighter builds?

[Gnome]

I'm just curious if there's any way to make a halfling fighter be worthwhile compared to any of the medium races. I'm guessing no based on their strength penalty and the decreased weapon damage for small weapons, though.

It seems like the only advantage the halfling would have would be with thrown weapons: the +1 from size, dex, and thrown weapons would all combine here. It wouldn't matter if all of his attacks hit, however, if the damage was always pathetic.

Anyway, just wondering if anyone has ever played a halfling fighter, or is creative enough to come up with a build that's workable.

 

[Gnome]

Oh, and gnome ideas are also welcome, but this seems even more unlikely. The CON boost is nice for living longer, but they have the same problems with size and strength, without the advantages with DEX and thrown weapons.

Also, it's irritating that they have weapon familiarity with a weapon that would be much more useful for a larger creature (with the tripping ability).

 

[Thanee]

One obvious build is the mounted halfling fighter. Small enough to use the mount on most occasions, unlike a medium-sized rider with a large mount.

As for thrown weapons, there is the Invisible Blade PrC, which is pretty good, IIRC.

A fighter 4 / rogue X also makes a rather formidable "fighter", using two-weapon fighting, of course.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Aust Diamondew]

To make a good halfling throwing weapon guy you could take levels of halfling paragon (Unearthed Arcanan, 2 levels gives +2 to damage roles with throwing weapons and slings and at level 3 you get +2 Dex) and levels of fighter and maybe a little bit of rogue.

The -2 Str doesn't hurt too bad (the size bonus to attacks counter attacks the strenght penalty to attacks). What really compunds the damage issue is their smaller size.

I recently played a halfing Bard/Barbarian. He wasn't as good as the fighter but was good enough. He used a falchion and guisarme and mostly did melee combat. He would have been probably quite a bit more powerful if he weren't a halfling (or a barb for that matter )

 

[punkorange]

For what it's worth I had a halfling barbarian once that dual wielded throwing axes as hand axes, and he had them strapped all over his body so he could throw one and quick draw another. He was a fun character, but I don't remember his stats or anything.

"I come from a tribe of small people!" he would always say.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

I'm just curious if there's any way to make a halfling fighter be worthwhile compared to any of the medium races. I'm guessing no based on their strength penalty and the decreased weapon damage for small weapons, though.

It seems like the only advantage the halfling would have would be with thrown weapons: the +1 from size, dex, and thrown weapons would all combine here. It wouldn't matter if all of his attacks hit, however, if the damage was always pathetic.

There was a very clever build for a Finessed Power Attacking Spiked Chain wielding Halfling Fighter presented on these boards.

The idea is to convert the to hit bonus into bonus damage at 2 for 1 with the 2-handed weapon (+ Power Attack). It works because you have a very high net to hit due to high Dex (+ Weapon Finesse) and the +1 mod for size.

Surprisingly enough, the expected average damage is slightly higher than a similar styled Human. And because of Size and high Dex, your AC is a couple notches higher.

I think it could work well in a Fighter/Swashbuckler multiclass.

The downside: You are small. So you are never going to get the mileage out of Trip that the Human will get out of the Spiked Chain.

What really amazed me is the build works even with modest point buy stat generation in spite of having to buy a 15 Str in order to have a race modified 13 Str for Power Attack.

 

[Gaiden]

Actually, IIRC, the small races in the PHB are at quite an advanatage from a balance perspective: normally the bonus from increasing from small to medium is a +4 str, -2 dex meaning that the converse ought to be a -4 str, not a -2. The halfling can have the highest attack bonus of all the races at 1st level with throwing weapons: +1 from dex boost, +1 for size, +1 with throwing weapons, +1 (fighter BAB), +1 Weapon Focus, +1 Point Blank Shot. That's +6 without taking rolled dex into account. If you put your highest stat and for argument's sake, let's say it was an 18, you'd have +10 to hit with throwing weapons at 1st level. The only draw back then is damage potential with the reduced base damage from using smaller weapons and your str penalty. You can't offset low damage with Power Attack (because they are throwing weapons), monkey grip isn't really worth it (the -2 offsets the size and throwing weapon bonus, and the increase in damage is not significant (only 1d4 to 1d6 or 1d6 to 1d8). So, you have three options it seems to me: go with feats: Weapon Specialization, GWS, and exotic weapon proficiencies to get dire weapons or heavy weapons (AU, and FRCS respectively); go with ranger and focus on your favored enemy damage and take extra favored enemy and the feats that increase damage to your favored enemies; or get sneak attack damage. Of the three, I think the last has the greatest damage potential. Invisible blade would seem the obvious choice giving you +3d6 sneak attack dmg at full BAB.

There is one other option to consider: instead of trying to increase damage (or in addition to) you could try and increase your number of attacks. They have the same net outcome. You could go for rapid shot, manyshot, improved rapid shot, expert tactician (not sure if that works for ranged attacks), halfling skip rocks, etc.

For a viable halfling fighter I'd say you need three things: increased movement, increased damage, and versatility between ranged and melee attacks.

You could go with something like: Ranger 7, Fighter 8, Halfling Outrider 5,

feats: mounted combat, mounted archery, point blank shot, far shot, rapid shot, many shot, improved rapid shot, weapon focus, weapon specialization, weapon finesse, exotic weapon proficiency - halfling skiprock, precise shot, greater weapon focus, extra favored enemy. You'd be looking at potentially 10 attacks, would have great movement options, and if you got the right kind of skiprock (returning with energy enhancements) would not have too much problems with damage. Certainly this is not the most powerful build - no one ever thought that the outrider was broken to be sure. But go get yourself a cheetah mount, and it could be quite cool.

 

[Lasher Dragon]

I'm currently playing a strongheart halfling rogue 5/ranger 5 that is just nasty in combat. With rapidshot, point blank, far shot, two-weapon fighting, and some other feats I can't remember off-hand, he is doing insane damage. Of course, in the games I play in, DMs allow ranged attackers to receive flank if someone is in melee on the other side of the enemy, so that makes a huuuuge difference. The +1 keen mighty composite +2 shortbow is my main weapon. Also, both my melee weapons (pick & light hammer) have the Harmony special quality from Arms & Equipment - gives +4 when flanking instead of the usual +2. I took undead as favored enemy twice I think.

 

[Jdvn1]

I've been wanting to see a build with a Gnome with a Gnomed Hooked Hammer. TWF Gnome, seems like it could be cool.

 

[The Souljourner]

The key to being a small fighter-type is to make sure you get 14 strength. Don't try to go weapon finesse with huge dex and minimal strength, it just doesn't work. you can hit well, but no one cares because you can't actually do any damage.

Unless you tweak out the spiked chain cheese, you won't be rivalling the two handed sword fighter, but you'll still do reasonably good damage. And a mounted halfling fighter can pack quite a wallop with a lance. Doing 3-4 times normal damage really helps the ol' average damage.

Mostly, you have to play one because you think it'll be fun to be a small guy who can kick big ass. I've wanted to play one for a long time, and hopefully will get to sometime in the future.

-The Souljourner