Hobbits: Difference between revisions

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Essentially, short people, usually [[Muggles]], native to a fantastic world. It is easy to assume hobbits are [[Audience Surrogate|stand-ins for humans]], since they lack magic or other flashy gimmicks. Paradoxically, this can make them seem more like "modern" humans than the humans in their settings.

They are usually a small, "innocent" version of people who only want to enjoy life without big plans or complications. They just get thrown into the world rather suddenly and have to survive on their wits and luck. They occasionally are the ones to get the [[Golden Snitch]].

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* David Weber's ''[[The War Gods|WarGod]]'' series plays up the thieving, cowardly image for its version of Halflings. Except the Marfang Islander halflings who are brilliant sailors and brave to what the other races consider reckless insanity. They've all got small horns on their foreheads as well to set them apart physically.

* The Fiia of Ursula K. LeGuin's ''Rocannon's World'' fit this trope to a T, being a small child-like race that just wants to enjoy a simple communal life free of care and fear.

* The Athsheans of ''The Word for World is Forest'' are also something like this (they are assumed to look rather like Ewoks, only green). They're a peaceful bunch until [[Humans Are Bastards|humans]] turn up.

* Jody Lynn Nye's ''An Unexpected Apprentice'' features the race of "smallfolk", who are Tolkien's hobbits in all but name. The sole difference that This Troper can see is that instead of having large, hairy feet, the smallfolk have no toes.

* Subverted by Michael de Larrabeti in his ''[[The Borribles|Borribles]]'' novels, in which the eponymous human-offshoots are urbanized, adventurous, scruffy, and tough; they live in a world much like ours, but with fantastical elements. They share stereotypical hobbits' small size, stealthiness, distaste for authorities, compassion for animals, and tendency to steal whatever's not nailed down.

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== Video Games ==

* ''[[Final Fantasy]]''

** Two subversions in the metaseries. In ''XI'', the tiny Tarutaru are actually the game's best spellcasters, while in ''Crystal Chronicles'', Lilties are hardcore fighters who nearly took over the land in ages past.

** Moogles from the ''Ivalice Alliance'' count, too.

** ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'' has the Lalafell, who are an [[Expy]] of the Tarutaru. Though, race has no mechanical effect in ''XIV''.

* Grunts of ''[[Halo (series)|Halo]]'' can generally be thought of this way. They're shorter than all the others, standing at a mere five feet, and are mostly for comic relief and they suck at fighting.

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== Web Comics ==

* Wombats in ''[[Digger]]'' are sensible, practical, and [[Nay Theist]], very much different from every other race introduced. The protagonist gets lost and finds herself in a world full of magic and gods: [[Culture Clash]] ensues.

* There's a side in ''[[Erfworld]]'' called "Hobbit™". It's unknown what type of units it has, or if Tolkien Enterprises will be undeterred by the [[~~Tradesnark~~]] and press charges.

* There's a side in ''[[Erfworld]]'' called "Hobbit™". It's unknown what type of units it has, or if Tolkien Enterprises will be undeterred by the [[Tradesnark™]] and press charges.

* ''[[The Order of the Stick]]'' subverts nearly all Hobbit tropes with Belkar, the textbook [[Heroic Comedic Sociopath]] and [[Token Evil Teammate|only evil protagonist]]. He still uses Halfling racial abilities to his advantage, though. Except for the [[Freud Was Right|weapons shrinkage]] *snicker*. Played relatively more straight with Hank or Serini, though.

{{quote|'''Belkar's (former) Shoulder Angel:''' He's a halfling. He's supposed to be jolly...