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Old Screeds


Sized Up [10 Dec 04]

Wemics in D&D are large in size; so are most of the other, more generic liontaurs I have seen (although there are exceptions). Some people say that being large is a significant advantage -- that any large size character race should be considered as having a level advantage over standard races. That is, a second level, two hit dice medium-sized character is as powerful as a first level, one hit die large-sized character.

Well, before we get to the pros and cons, let's get straight what you get out of being large in Dungeons and Dragons:

  • AC: -1
  • To Hit: -1
  • Skills: Hide -4, Intimidate +4
  • Grapple, Disarm, Overrun, etc: See PHB, but generally a +4 size bonus is given.
  • Squeezing: Large creatures incur squeezing penalties in spaces that are five feet wide.
  • Carrying capacity is tripled for large quadrupeds (like centaurs and liontaurs)
  • Armor: Large creatures cannot wear medium armor. Large armor weighs double, and the base cost for large quadrupeds is quadruple, compared with medium bipeds.
  • Weapons: Large creatures incur a -2 penalty using a weapon sized for a medium creature. Large weapons weigh double, and base cost is doubled.
  • Weapon Damage: Large creatures use large sized weapons, which do more damage as follows:
    Medium Weapon Damage...Large Weapon Damage...Average Added Damage
    ..........1d2...................1d3..................+0.5
    ..........1d3...................1d4..................+0.5
    ..........1d4...................1d6..................+1.0
    ..........1d6...................1d8..................+1.0
    ..........1d8...................2d6..................+2.5
    ..........1d10..................2d8..................+3.5
    ..........1d12..................3d6..................+4.0
    ..........2d4...................2d6..................+2.0
    ..........2d6...................3d6..................+3.5

So there are advantages and disadvantages to being large. Do the advantages add up to a whole level worth of plusses? In my opinion, it depends on whether a character is optimized to do so.

For example, all large creatures will suffer the -1 AC/attack penalty. All will also do more damage with larger weapons. But not all will gain the bonuses on special attacks, like grapple, or on intimidate. A liontaur wizard, using relatively low damage weapons, not using special attacks, with no ranks in Intimidate, does not gain all that much. A liontaur fighter, with access to the best weapons, feats for special attacks, and intimidate as a class skill, is formidable indeed!

So there is no denying that the large PCs can be powerful. With some ingenuity, a clever DM can make the balance work without a level adjustment. Here are some ideas:

  • Realistically limit access to arms and armor, especially magical varieties. Magic armor shaped for large quadrupeds is extremely rare indeed!
  • Keep in mind that a large PC makes a realistic target for focused fire in battle. "Get that big guy first!"
  • Use the squeezing rules (PHB p148) both in narrow passages, in buildings designed for medium creatures, in doorways, etc.
  • Emphasize the role play problems associated with running a large PC in a medium-sized world. Kids gawk, innkeepers only let you stay in the stables, etc.

If you are going to use these as balancers, make sure your player know it before he or she decides on a liontaur. But if these size complications are on the table from the get go, there is no reason to impose a level penalty. On the other hand, if you do not want to stress these limitations, imposing the level penalty is a quick, dirty, and fair approach.


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