• Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.uk
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    10 days ago

    Every instance of a hobbit being ‘good at fighting’ is a case of highly contextualised, highly circumstantial violence that involved more determination and luck than skill or aggression. They’re written as unlikely heroes, and it’s at best disingenuous to reframe that as their having any particular facility with combat.

    • TheSlad@sh.itjust.works
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      10 days ago

      Tolkein is very explicit in that you should not fuck with a hobbit who’s got a rock and a sling.

    • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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      10 days ago

      Reminder that the hobbits won the Shire from the goblins through battle and mettle while inventing the game of Golf for Middle Earth.

      • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.uk
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        10 days ago

        That was just Bullroarer setting the standard for Tookishness, an unpleasant chore that couldn’t be avoided under the circumstances. I’m sure after the battle he was back to eating soft cheeses and twitching his curtains at the neighbours like a normal hobbit.

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      10 days ago

      Yeah, that’s probably part of why D&D halflings get luck bonuses. But still, they get results!

    • mindbleach@sh.itjust.works
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      10 days ago

      Reminded of Sean Aston being told he’s too little to show off how good he was at stunt combat training - and I always figure, they should’ve had him 1v1 the biggest motherfucker on set. Grab a foam sword and see what he can do against one of the 7’8" orc actors that John Rhys-Davies kept smacking.