Halfling Halflings , also known as Hin amongst themselves or the " good folk " amongst other races , or the " quick folk " and " sly folk " were humanoid creatures similar in shape to human s , who halflings called the " Big Folk , " , " Manyhanded " or " Hurbryn " but around half their size . Halflings got along well with most of the other races and were known for their curiosity and tendency to collect things . The term " halfling " was derived from the fact that a halfling was around half of the size of a human , but otherwise very similar in appearance . Description . Halflings were small in comparison with the members of most other races , standing somewhere from 2 ' 8 " – 3 ' 4 " ( 0 . 81 – 1 . 02 meters ) tall and weighing on average between 30 – 35 lbs ( 14 – 16 kg ) . In many ways , halflings resembled small humans and usually had the same proportions as the typical human adult . Most halflings had dark hair and eyes , regardless of their skin complexion which , although commonly ruddy in hue had a similar range to humans . Nearly all male halflings were incapable of growing true beards , though many had long sideburns . Halfling hairstyles were often complex , with strands woven together or braided . Although halflings had an affinity for collecting valuables , they did not prefer to wear these on their person , instead preferring more comfortable clothing . Halflings had lifespans comparable with , but slightly longer , than humans . A halfling was typically considered an adult in their early twenties and some lived into their 150s . Abilities . Halflings were quick and dexterous humanoids , even given their size , with quick reflexes and an ability to recover easily from sudden danger . Halflings , who by large had a strong force of personality , were also intensely courageous and were more likely to retain their valor than most other humanoids , even when under the effects of a spell or other power . Beyond this , halflings had what could be best be described as a lucky streak and had an ability known as " second chance " , which made it less likely for them to be injured in perilous circumstances . Additionally , the small size of halflings had an effect on their abilities . Halflings were , for instance , incapable of wielding larger weapons like greatsword s or halberd s . It was sometimes said that halflings were weaker for the wear than other humanoids , and as a trend , halflings tend to be weaker . However , this was not a universal truth of the race . Similarly , although many had an excellent sense of hearing , not all did . Psychology . Halflings were by nature joyful and friendly in their dealings with others . Because they lived in a world where they were surrounded by larger creatures , halflings tended to avoid notice , often deliberately , or at the very least , acted cordial towards the larger races . Halflings appeared deceptively harmless , meaning they were often beyond the notice of enemies that might otherwise pose a threat to them . The halfling mind was practical and halflings concerned themselves with their immediate surroundings . They took pleasure in simple things , with few aspiring to greatness in the same manner as humans . Some halflings did become adventurers , but usually this was a practice taken up for reasons of necessity rather than personal drive . Because of their love for home and family , halflings made loyal and courageous allies , willing to put their own lives at risk for the sake of others . While many halflings did not have the ambition for adventure that some races did , most preferred trouble to boredom ; the race was notoriously curious . Halflings were courageous , moreso than many races , and their daring was often difficult to match . Many halflings also had a strong appetite for food and drink as well as narcotics and clothing . Similarly , many halflings were enthusiastic collectors , and loved to hold on to possessions won through skill and daring . Society . Culture . Halfling communities were tightly knit groups found around the world , usually near the settlements of other races . Most halflings didn ' t recognize the claims of kings or nobles as sovereign rulers but instead looked primarily to their family elders to guide them . This focus on bloodlines enabled halfling traditions to continue for millennia relatively intact . Halflings also valued a sense of community ; halflings naming each other " halfling " was a salute of brotherhood . Halfling culture had a fondness for stories and legends and was rich in the oral tradition . So much care was put into the retelling of traditional stories and their preservation that halflings often unwittingly had access to lore about ancient and long - gone cultures or empires that others had long since forgotten about . Many halflings were able to recall some detail of the ancient past , though it was usually wrapped in the shrouds of legends . Halflings underwent something of a cultural and philosophical change through the Hundred Years of Chaos . During this time , the typical halfling aversion to adventure for its own sake was overcome by a powerful sense of wanderlust . Halfling - run adventure companies became common in many major cities of Faerûn . Halflings called the longer times of a day by how far the sun traveled in the sky and shorter moments like up to three minutes " A long tune " and around ten minutes " 3 long songs " . Cuisine . It was said that " Cheese , bread , ale and more cheese are what fill a happy Hin ' s stomach . " and that could be evidenced by their own agricultural choices in places like Secomber and Corm Orp . Sometimes the Hin made food goods for humans , among these were sausages , cheeses , stews , and baked goods . Halflings themselves liked those foods as well , but made them chewier and more rubbery for their tastes , with no strong spices , but instead using melding herbs . When Hin were left to their own devices , they produced flavored cheeses , sour grape wines , " blue eyes " ( blue grapes ) , sour table grapes , and goat and sheep meats and their milk . In winter , the Hin had two stews ready all day ; one lighter broth , and the other filled with more sustenance . Named special halfling foods : Relations with other races . Halflings , in general , tried their best to get along with everybody , though exceptions did exist and ghostwise halfling s were notoriously xenophobic . Lightfoot and strongheart halfling s , however , were friendly and outgoing and were uncommonly adept at fitting into communities of humans , dwarves , elves , or gnome s . Most halflings , in fact , didn ' t live in communities of their own but instead regions dominated by other races . This was particularly true in human societies , which attracted halflings because of the comparative rapidity with which they changed . It should be noted that halflings usually found insults directed at them to be amusing rather than insulting . History . Halfling history was , by and large , like the race , unremarkable . With the exception of the Strongheart nation of Luiren , halflings did not even have a unified culture to call their own . Records and evidence seemed to indicate that halflings , as a race , only appeared fairly recently , and after the appearance of the creator race s , around the same time as dwarves , elves , and giants . The original homeland of halflings is uncertain , though it may have been within the area south of the Shaar and few were seen in the north until after the Hin Ghostwars , a tragic event that split the halflings into their current three breeds . Homelands . The halfling race had many traditional homelands , though as a whole the race was typically nomadic . Many halflings who did not wander lived primarily within human - dominated states . The center of halfling culture was , until relatively recently , the kingdom of Luiren . The land was devastated by the Spellplague , however , as were other halfling homelands such as Arnock and the Chondalwood . Since then the halflings became more displaced than before , though as a result they also came together in unity even more tightly than they were before . Since then , halflings were found in their greatest concentrations within the nation of Amn . Though formerly met with prejudice , halflings earned acceptance through their skill as merchants and business partners . Halflings could also be commonly found along the Sea of Fallen Stars , particularly human - dominated cities . In fact , human cities were often the most common place to find halflings , who frequently found ways to exploit the ever - changing climate of human societies , although dwarven cities were also accommodating . Subraces . There were several subraces of halflings , as follows :