Little Folk
There are always two inevitable events whenever I sit down to a character creation screen: I will choose a female, and I will play the smallest race available.
The female thing, well, we’ve covered that before, but I wanted to explore why I’m always so fascinated with short races. For starters, they always tend to be the lesser-picked choice, which appeals to my sense of individuality — “I’m playing something you don’t see wall-to-wall in major cities!” If you want to get downright pragmatic, a smaller character doesn’t take up as much screen real estate, which gives me a better view of the playing field (as opposed to, say, Tauren, who often completely block whatever you’re fighting).
Whether it’s gnomes, hobbits, halflings or dwarves, playing a little folk makes me feel more spunky and energetic compared to a tall, lanky, and (most likely) incredibly dull elf. Better things come in short packages, dontcha know?
Maybe it’s because I myself dither between the 5’5″ and 5’6″ region, a threat neither to low-flying aircraft nor to NBA players. I identify with shorties, I know how it is to always be craning your neck up to talk to others (especially when you work with freakishly tall teens, as I do). Short people aren’t seen as the heroes, usually, particularly in non-LOTR movies. Short people may be the comedic sidekick or an Ewok or something, but hero? Pfft. That’s for tall, hunky studs and studettes.
So maybe picking a short race in MMOs is my way of spitting in the face of this trope, of doing a bit of wish fulfillment as I see a pint-sized powerhouse clean the floor with giants and mammoth monsters. I kind of get a kick out of going against the flow in a sea of regular-sized characters, and if little folk irk a few other players — who, for some reason, find shortness offensive and therefore worthy of mockery — then my mission for the day is done.
- Posted in: General
I typically subscribe to this short race philosophy as well, except that I always go male since I have some sort of mental block in choosing to play as female. My one deviation from this has been in World of Warcraft, solely because the extravagant armor models can be seen better on the larger races. That said, I’m currently playing a Dwarf hunter mostly
“…as opposed to, say, Tauren, who often completely block whatever you’re fighting.”
Now take this to the extreme and you have some of WoW/Wrath’s new “Mount” scenarios where your Titan Mount, viewed in 3rd-person, practically blocks the entire screen. It was so bad on some quests I had to zoom into 1st-person view so I could look down and see where the Mobs were that I was supposed to be attacking.
I love the Tauren models and they’re probably my favorite of the Horde races, but they do take up a lot of the screen, and they’re lumbering gait feels slow, even though they’re running at the same speed as the Gnome.
I do this as well for a few reasons:
1. I like to see what I am fighting and small characters block less of the screen. I like to see my character though so first person is flat out.
2. Female and small is opposite of me and I guess that appeals to me. The idea of a little female butt kicker is also appealing in several ways.
My love affair with short characters started with my Halfling in Everquest 1 and continued from there. And if there’s a height slider, I’ll plant it firmly on the left. But I don’t play Dwarves. Can’t stand ‘em.
It’s not just short people who love short characters. I’m 6 ft myself, and I love Ratonga, Gobbos, Dwarves and Halflings.
Your graphic just bought me back some great memories circa 1981. I had that book The Hobbit. It was a book on tape. Remember the bright red plastic cassette and the magical chime to tell you to turn the page. My dad being a Tolkein fan would sit and listen/read that book with me all the time.
As for characters, I have a no uglies policy. Even if i make an old character, its still a “pretty” old lady. My girly girl side always wins.
I love playing the ‘little folk’ it just feels like you can be more cheeky and get away with a hell of a lot more. It just brings out the mischievous side out in me. They are awesome fun to roleplay with, I remember one time roleplaying a squig herder in Warhammer online speaking ‘goblin’ the whole time while in a group.
My main in WoW was a gnome warrior, I loved raiding as main tank defending the whole raid (full of Big’uns) from the boss.
My favourite ‘little person’ is Tasslehoff Burrfoot the loveable Kender from the Dragonlance series of books.
Long live the ankle biters!
One look at my WoW character list will tell you I feel the same – 3 gnomes and a dwarf. If I’m still playing when Cataclysm launches no doubt it will be a fourth with the start of a gnome priest!
I prefer the term “chibi races”…which are small races with child like features and cartoon like demeanors. Whather it be the Lalafell of Final Fantasy, Asura or Guild Wars or we Gnomes of WoW. The idea of power and genius coming in small and unasuming packages. Unfortunatley, this excludes Dwarves and Goblins…since they maybe small, they’re far from child like except from the occasional unenlightened player who plays them.
For me it depends a bit on the lore and how the “little” race is written.
Example1: a Hobbit Burglar makes perfect sense where a Hobbit Guardian is a realy big stretch. They are just not the outgoing “beat me” race, they are tough, but not that tough i think. But overall it´s a very good implementation.
Example2: Gnomes. They fit the role of a caster and rogue very well, but a gnome warrior is almost an insult. Just stomp on them and it´s done. They are more the clever/tinker race and not the fighter ones. Still they can roll the class. Thats a bad implementation in my eyes.
Example3: Warhammer Goblins, Shamans and SH, with fitting and sometimes so funny emotes, perfect for the races and as they are described in the lore. No Goblin tank in the game and works in my opinion.
It depends on the lore of the game, how i look at the races/classes.
One of my favorite memories of WoW is my pigtailed, gnome warrior tanking the old 40 man Ony or Nef, bouncing away with sunder armor and getting punted left and right.
Or of my pigtailed hobbit guardian tanking the Balrog, while getting slapped around, and just me and a healer were holding aggro with everyone else was killing adds.
Hopefully in SWTOR there will be a midget race with pigtails that I can dress up as a Dark Mistress of the Sith…
Good times.