Hobbit rangers start with a crossbow instead of a bow, quest artifact is the Crossbow of Carl.

Why? Because hobbits are technically just as small or smaller than
gnomes. Too small for longbows at any rate. Should have done this when
I first made the hobbit player race. Better late than never.

Author: k21971

doc/evilhack-changelog.md

@@ -3352,4 +3352,6 @@ The following changes to date are:
 - Fix: Peaceful demon lords won't follow you across levels
 - Add regular bracers as a forge recipe
 - Ammo created by the Ranger quest artifact is fully identified
+- Hobbit rangers start with a crossbow instead of a bow, quest artifact is
+  the Crossbow of Carl
 

src/artifact.c

@@ -1147,8 +1147,9 @@ struct monst *mon;
             return 0;
     }
     if (oart == &artilist[ART_CROSSBOW_OF_CARL]) {
-        if (yours ? Role_if(PM_RANGER) && Race_if(PM_GNOME)
-                  : racial_gnome(mon))
+        if (yours ? Role_if(PM_RANGER) && (Race_if(PM_GNOME)
+                                           || Race_if(PM_HOBBIT))
+                  : (racial_gnome(mon) || racial_hobbit(mon)))
             obj->owt = 24; /* Magically lightened,
                               same weight as the Longbow of Diana */
     }
@@ -3153,7 +3154,6 @@ struct obj *obj;
                 goto nothing_special;
             otmp->blessed = obj->blessed;
             otmp->cursed = obj->cursed;
-            otmp->bknown = obj->bknown;
             otmp->oeroded = otmp->oeroded2 = 0;
             if (obj->blessed) {
                 if (otmp->spe < 0)

src/makemon.c

@@ -2419,7 +2419,7 @@ register struct monst *mtmp;
         break;
     case S_SPIDER:
         if (ptr == &mons[PM_SCORPIUS]) {
-            if (Race_if(PM_GNOME)) {
+            if (Race_if(PM_GNOME) || Race_if(PM_HOBBIT)) {
                 otmp = mksobj(CROSSBOW, FALSE, FALSE);
                 otmp = oname(otmp, artiname(ART_CROSSBOW_OF_CARL));
                 bless(otmp);

src/role.c

@@ -779,7 +779,7 @@ const struct Role align_roles[] = {
     { { 0, 0 } }
 };
 
-/* Gnomish Ranger */
+/* Gnomish/Hobbit Ranger */
 const struct Role race_roles[] = {
     { { "Ranger", 0 },
       {
@@ -2527,7 +2527,8 @@ role_init()
         urole = align_roles[0];
     }
 
-    if (Race_if(PM_GNOME) && Role_if(PM_RANGER)) {
+    if ((Race_if(PM_GNOME) || Race_if(PM_HOBBIT))
+        && Role_if(PM_RANGER)) {
         urole = race_roles[0];
     }
 

src/u_init.c

@@ -332,8 +332,8 @@ struct inv_sub {
     { PM_HOBBIT, DAGGER, ELVEN_DAGGER },
     { PM_HOBBIT, SPEAR, ELVEN_SPEAR },
     { PM_HOBBIT, SHORT_SWORD, ELVEN_SHORT_SWORD },
-    { PM_HOBBIT, BOW, ELVEN_BOW },
-    { PM_HOBBIT, ARROW, ELVEN_ARROW },
+    { PM_HOBBIT, BOW, CROSSBOW }, /* Ranger */
+    { PM_HOBBIT, ARROW, CROSSBOW_BOLT }, /* Ranger */
     { PM_HOBBIT, HELMET, ELVEN_HELM },
     { PM_HOBBIT, CLOAK, ELVEN_CLOAK },
     { PM_HOBBIT, CLOAK_OF_DISPLACEMENT, ELVEN_CLOAK },