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Combatant Prestige Class
	Halfling Scrapper

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Written by David Paul Guzmán

ullow was wandering through the woods when he heard shouting through the trees. Crouching low, the halfling parted the branches to see a halfling monk beset by five half-orc bandits. Wullow was about to leave his spot in order to help the stranger, when he became mesmerized by the monk’s fighting style.

Slipping around, between and through the half-orcs, each one of them outweighing him at least twice over, the monk struck and dodged and struck again. His blocks were like nothing Wullow had seen. Instead of knocking the blows aside, the monk reached out to intercept and redirect every fist, claw, and blade that came his way. Many blows that should have split the monk in two landed just a few inches short, or to one side or the other. And his strikes! In moments, each of the bandits lay in a heap on the side of the road, and the monk, without breaking stride, continued on his way.

The young halfling bolted from his hiding spot and flew down the hill like an eager dog. “Elder one!” The traveler stopped and turned, waiting along the roadside for the speechless halfling to speak. When Wullow’s wits finally found him, he piped, “Teach me!”

The monk simply stared. Then, slowly raising his hand to his mouth, started to cough. At least at first, Wullow thought it was a cough. Only it wasn’t. He was laughing, a dry grating sound, like wind through dead grass. The little monk’s wheezing laugh finally stilled, and he gazed long and hard at the halfling before him, then asked “What is stronger… water or stone?”

Wullow started to answer the obvious, when his eyes fell upon the creek bed running alongside the road. The creek’s edge was made of bleached white stone, hard like granite and yet… over time the little rivulet had cut through that stone forming a deep channel, unstoppable on its journey. “Water,” he said. “Water is stronger than stone!” he piped, stating it like he had just awoken from a dream.

The old man smiled, turned, and started walking down the road. Wullow ran after the old monk. “Does this mean you will teach me?” he asked. “Where are we going?… Should we report those bandits?” He scurried after the figure in gray, finding it hard to keep up with the elder.

“You talk too much…” The old man scowled. “And you walk too slow… So hurry up!” The old monk grumbled and then quickened his step. The eager young halfling followed close behind.

Midget. Runt. Shorty. Halflings listen to derogative comments like these every day of their lives. Most just learn to deal with it, accepting their station as the “little people” of the world. There are some, however, that strive to beat the stereotypes and will openly challenge anyone who attempts to belittle them simply because of their stature. These little powder kegs are collectively known as halfling scrappers (though their ranks are just as readily filled with gnomes and, in some odd cases, goblins), both for their readiness to pick a fight and for their ability to back up their tempers.

In order to become a halfling scrapper, a character must gain the attention of one who is already trained in the techniques. Usually, this is accomplished inadvertently. A trained scrapper often follows the trail of halflings reputed for stirring up the right kind of troubles. Local rumors of halflings starting bar brawls are the most common “resume”. Once a scrapper finds a prospective student, they are approached and befriended. Learning comes quickly thereafter, as most pupils are eager to learn the teachings they are being offered.

While the training involved in becoming a halfling scrapper certainly appeals to fighters, including barbarians and especially monks, many others find it advantageous as well. Rogues are particularly well-suited to take advantage of the acrobatic abilities. Spellcasters of all types benefit from the leverage techniques, being better able to avoid foes that would grapple them. And being able to shrug off damage, even in small amounts, is invaluable no matter what profession one chooses.

Hit Dice: d10.

Requirements

To qualify to become a halfling scrapper, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.

Race: Any size smaller than Medium, typically Halflings and Gnomes.
Base Attack Bonus: +4
Bluff: 5 ranks
Intimidate: 5 ranks
Feats: Combat Reflexes, Toughness.

Class Skills

The halfling scrapper’s class skills (and the key ability for each skill) are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), Swim (Str), and Tumble (Dex). See Chapter 4: Skills in the Player’s Handbook for skill descriptions.

Skill Points at Each Level: 4 + Int modifier.

“Halfling Scrapper” by Tom Babbey

Class Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special
1st	+1	+2	+0	+0	Big Feet, Leverage Techniques (+1)
2nd	+2	+3	+0	+0	Big Hands, Leverage Techniques (+2)
3rd	+3	+3	+1	+1	Big Legs, Leverage Techniques (+3)
4th	+4	+4	+1	+1	Big Fists, Leverage Techniques (+4)
5th	+5	+4	+1	+1	Take a Beating, Leverage Techniques (+5)

Class Features

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Halfling scrappers gain no proficiency with any weapon or armor. However, all of their abilities can be used in conjunction with weapon and armor proficiencies gained through other classes.

Big Feet (Ex): A halfling scrapper gains a bonus of +10 to his base movement.

Leverage Techniques (Ex): In order to be more effective in combat, a halfling scrapper trains himself in advanced leverage techniques that allow him to overcome the disadvantages of his size. At 1st level, he gains a +1 bonus to his Strength checks in any situation where he would gain a penalty because of his size. This bonus increases each level thereafter until, as a 4th level halfling scrapper, his bonuses effectively negate all size penalties when facing a medium-sized opponent. By the time he reaches 5th level, his advanced understanding of these techniques actually afford him an advantage over many opponents who are larger than him.
Because this ability requires the halfling scrapper to be able to leverage himself — using a combination of balance, center of gravity, inertia, and positioning — any situation that would cause him to lose his Dexterity bonus to AC also causes him to temporarily lose this ability.

Big Hands (Ex): Beginning at 2nd level, the halfling scrapper gains the Monkey Grip feat for a single weapon in which he is proficient, regardless of whether or not he fulfills the normal prerequisites.

Big Legs (Ex): At 3rd level, a halfling scrapper learns to be mobile and quick on his feet, gaining a +10 competence bonus to Balance, Jump, and Tumble checks. In addition, a halfling scrapper can always choose to take 10 on a Balance, Jump, or Tumble check, even when circumstances would normally prevent him from doing so.

Big Fists (Ex): At 4th level, halfling scrappers inflict unarmed damage as if they were one size larger. Therefore, a Small halfling scrapper with levels in the monk class would use the damage progression for a Medium-sized creature, rather than his standard Small-sized progression.

Take a Beating (Ex): Upon reaching 5th level, the halfling scrapper’s training in fighting techniques (and the numerous fights he has inevitably been in along the way) allows him to take more physical punishment than most. Subtract 1 point from the damage the halfling scrapper takes each time he is dealt damage. This ability is equivalent to Damage Reduction 1/—.

Multiclass Note: Monk characters can freely multiclass with this class. In other words, you can give your monk PC a halfling scrapper level, then return to the monk class for your next level, take a halfling scrapper level after that, and so on.

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This page was last updated on January 23, 2006 .