“Though she be small, she is fierce.” (Shakespear), a quote that suits what a Halfling Rogue is capable of. They may be known as happy folk great for a good time but before anyone can even blink they’ve already gotten away with your wallet, goods, children, and dog.

The Halfling race AND the Rogue class can be found in the Player’s Handbook. Click here to pick up your own copy of The Player’s Handbook!

How to Make a Halfling Rogue

Let it be known Halflings aren’t actually the race’s original name. Instead, it is Hin. The term ‘Halfling’ came because they’re half the size (at the average of 3 feet tall) of human beings. They’re a well-known race with good humor, excellent support and aren’t easily agitated towards insults.

They are usually compared to their Gnome cousins as they live good simple lives and aren’t hostile toward other races. In truth, Gnomes are much more childish than Hins. Think of Halflings as those old folk who have seen the world and just choose to lead good simple lives when they’re capable of more. They are mostly traditional and choose to live and have closer ties with their own kind and family. It may surprise you that only two of the seven subraces are actually open to mingling with others:

Anadian	They come from a red planet that is closest to the sun, Anadia. They are emotional extremists that are distrustful of others and value only members of their clan and family. Northern Anadian Halflings are also pretty racist referring to those from the south as “sub-Halfling”. *Last mention of them was in 2e. Skin: Dark/Jet BlackHair: DarkEyes: DarkPros: Can see in really bright areas, resilient (not immune) against magic and poisonCons: Can’t see anything at all in dim and dark areas.
Ghostwise	You probably have a higher chance of slapping an Eldritch being’s butt than finding one of these telepathic beings. These Halflings live a nomadic life that centers around family. Due to the savagery and worship of Malar & the violence their ancestor committed during -100 DR and the war with other Halflings at -63 DR, the Ghostwise swore an oath to never speak again till their sins were atoned for. Appearance: They’re very similar to lightfoot and strongheart HalflingsAlignment: Lawful GoodPros: Can speak telepathically to anyone within 30ftCons:
Lightfoot	The most common and carefree of the Hin. They’re known to be good-natured and very open to others and about themselves. They have a strong wanderlust and adapt well to the culture of the places they live. Skin: RuddyHair: Straight, Black. Sideburns/mullet/bowl cut (Male) Shoulder length- rarely allowed to have long hair-(Female) *Beards are only common among older HinEyes: Brown/Black/HazelAlignment: Lawful goodPros: Specialize in travel-based magic, Often carries a bag of holding, a carpet of flying, Heward’s handy haversack, horn blades, and the bird variation of Quaal’s feather token.
*Tallfellow	These are a variation of lightfoot halflings. They’re rare and grow up to 4ft tall compared to other Hins. They share similar characteristics to other lightfoots but are more combat-oriented. Despite this, they’re better known as entertainers, craftsmen, and skilled carpenters. Alignment: Lawful GoodAppearance: They are described to have elven features with fairer skin and longer hair than other Halflings. They have lighter bones and slimmer bodies
Lotusden	The ultimate flower-powered hippies. They are said to prefer living a solitary lifestyle, believing the world is beautiful, and prefer not to stray from their homes and UNLESS there is a need to. Skin: Darker skinPros: Natural at druidic craft, Timberwalk
Strongheart	Also known as Stout Halflings or Good folk, this subrace is the shortest, heavily armored, and most in tune with magic among Hins. They’re also more closely related to dwarves and even have better relations with them. They aren’t easily corrupted too. Alignment: Lawful Good
Mark of Hospitality	They are basically the sweet characters that no one should ever mess with. True to their name, they’re kind folk who are there for those in need and play a vital support role in their communities. If you mess with them, you mess with the whole town that loves them. That doesn’t make them incapable, though, as they are very intuned with magic. Alignment: Lawful GoodPros: Mark of Hospitality Spells

Rogue and all: “I could be right behind you and you wouldn’t know.” 

Rogues are notorious for their mastery of sneaking, stealing, and trickery. That is, if you know how to play the class right or else you’ll have your whole party coming at your throat rather than the enemies’. Fortunately, Hins are great at being Rogues due to their height, dexterity, and nimbleness. 

Archetype- It’s basically the kind of Rogue you want to main. Don’t be a Mary/Gary Sue and say you’re good at all of them, even Rogues have their limit.

• Arcane trickster: with a knack for illusion and enchantment spells, this subclass brings magic as a plus to being a Rogue. This is pretty good if you’re going as a Lotusden, Strongheart, or Mark of Hospitality Halfling.
  • Spell Casting– Not only do you have access to magic, you don’t need to go to wizard school to be able to cast spells. Although, that wouldn’t be needed due to your race.
    • Cantrips
    • Spell slots
    • Spells Known of 1st-Level and Higher.
    • Spellcasting Ability- You’re going to need Intelligence for this
      • Spell save DC = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence modifier
      • Spell attack modifier = your proficiency bonus +your Intelligence modifier.
  • Mage Hand Legerdemain– a.k.a magic hands!
  • Magical Ambush
  • Versatile Trickster
  • Spell Thief

• Assassin: The edge lord’s archetype. A subclass is mainly made up of hired hitmen, bounty hunters, spies, and even priests trained to kill their deities’ enemies.
  • Bonus Proficiencies
  • Assassinate
  • Infiltration Expertise- a.k.a mastery in catfishing and scams
  • Impostor- this doesn’t just involve a change of outfit, but you can mimic a person’s voice, writing, and behavior. If anybody gets sus, you have an advantage in charisma to fool them regardless if your disguise is just a clip-on mustache. 
  • Death Strike– when you attack or hit a creature, it can immediately die. So yes, you b**** slap someone, to death. 

• Thief: A vanilla subclass to being a Rogue but not a bad one if your character is a more typical street criminal. Suitable for Halflings due to their size and love for precious objects.
  • Fast hands- Butter fingers! This ability doesn’t just cover crime but also your skill in lock picking, using your tools and weapons, and disarming.
  • Second-story work- No, this does not mean you get to add more to your backstory. This refers to your climbing ability and running jumps. This ability helps you GET TO the second or upper floor of a building which is also referred to by fancy people as a story. 
  • Supreme sneak 
  • Use magic devices
  • Thief reflexes

• In general, Hins get a stat increase of +2 Dexterity, lucky, nimbleness, and a couple more qualities that’ll be discussed in “How to Play”. If you think that’s all, there are actually bonuses depending on what subrace you pick!
  • Lightfoot: +1 Charisma
    • Naturally Stealthy- this also means you can easily hide when you were just spotted. It wouldn’t be impossible to hide behind a cup of water and never get spotted either.
  • Stout/Strongheart: +1 Constitution
    • Stout Resilience- Advantage in saving throws and resistance to poison
  • Ghostwise: +1 Wisdom
    • Silent Speech- So long as you share the same language, you can talk to someone telepathically within 30 feet. 
  • Lotusden: +1 Wisdom
    • Children of the woods (see how to play)
    • Timberwalk- you can easily move through difficult non-magical terrain.
  • Mark of Hospitality: +1 Charisma
    • Ever Hospitable
    • Innkeeper’s Magic- You can cast prestidigitation cantrip, purify food and drink, & unseen servant.
    • Spells of the Mark (see how to play)

When building your Rogue it is best to make your Dexterity your highest attribute, you can’t be the master of sneak without the sneak. Next is Constitution which should be followed by Intelligence. Wisdom and Charisma follow in whichever order you prefer with Strength being your lowest skill. 

How to Play a Halfling Rogue

Hit Dice: 1d8 per rogue level

Hit Points at 1st Level: 8 + your Constitution modifier

Hit Points at Higher Levels: 1d8 (or 5) + your Constitution modifier per rogue level after 1st

Before we go over your ‘in general’ skills as a rogue, you should bear in mind what other whozits and whatzits you have up your sleeve. After all, you have to know what you can use to your advantage:

• Nimbleness– your height and light bones give you an advantage. Just make sure you aren’t carrying anything heavy.
• Luck– Although Rogues have this ability (a.k.a stroke of luck) you’ll only be able to attain it when you’re level 20. Lucky for you you have like a minor version of this due to being, well, naturally lucky.
• Brave– Horror movies are something a Halfling can surprisingly stomach. In the face of being frightened and intimidated, they will laugh in the face of death itself. 

Some of your class’ default features are:

• Expertise- choose two of your skill proficiencies or one of your skill proficiencies and your proficiency with thieves’ tools. By 6th level, you can choose two more proficiencies.
  • You can choose four skills from Acrobatics, Athletics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Investigation, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand, and Stealth.
• Cunning Action
• Ability Score Improvement
• Uncanny Dodge
• Evasion
• Reliable Talent
• Blindsense- If you can’t trust your eyes then you can trust your ears.
• Slippery Mind- No, it’s not you getting your head in the gutter or being easily distracted. It’s basically mental strength and wisdom. 
• Elusive- the second reason why enemies and DM will hate you. 
• Stroke of Luck- The main reason why you will be despised. Even if you purposely try to fail you’ll still be successful and fail in failing.

• If you’re going for Lotusden Halfling,  you’re naturally and freely(that means no need for materials, rituals, and hoodoo-voodoo stuff) able to use druidic craft cantrip, so take note of these:
  • 3rd level Entangle Spell
  • 5th level Spike Growth

• If you’re going for Mark of Hospitality Halfling, you’re able to do some spellcasting apart from the aforementioned:
  • 1st Goodberry, Sleep
  • 2nd Aid, Calm Emotions
  • 3rd Create Food and Water, Leomund’s Tiny Hut
  • 4th Aura of Purity, Mordenkainen’s Private Sanctum
  • 5th Hallow

How to Roleplay as a Halfling Rogue

Much like Gnomes, Halflings (or Hins) aren’t always the happy-pappy beings most races think they are. In fact, they value their clan and family, and the majority of their subrace rather not mingle with other races except for certain exceptions or quests. 

Being a Rogue isn’t always the edgy mysterious figure as everyone expects. Many suppose that being a rogue is about being a cool assassin just waiting for the chance to strike or the one who has a tragic backstory and wants to avenge the death of their parents or dog. In fact, you could just be someone who’s carefree and just in it for the money or thrill. After all, if you’re going for the more sociable Halfling subrace, you’re the kind to be the life of the party or in it for the thrill. 

Even if you didn’t choose the more sociable of Hins, Halflings are diligent to do what they must. You may have been sent on an important quest for the sake of your people. Halflings have good alibis as craftsmen, carpenters, and entertainers among other occupations. Although, notorious for being able to steal and run easily. 

Despite Hins being mostly uninvolved in other societies, they are capable of reading, writing, and speaking in common apart from their Halfling language. If you choose to be a Strongheart/Stout Halfling, then you’re also fluent in the Dwarven language. For Lotusden, the druidic language comes naturally to you.

Half & Wholes: Interracial relations

For the most part, Hins are a great support to their team. If they happen to be a lightfoot or a Mark of Hospitality Halfling, they would be the kind to openly show their care towards their fellow party members. Similar to Dwarves, kinship with a Halfling is considered precious and one that lasts throughout a lifetime. For the less sociable Hins, regardless of whether they’re with a member of another race with more business-like relations, there is still trust that must be valued. They work readily with others and are actually quite loyal.