D&D General Helping Small Characters Feel Small

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Fauchard1520

Adventurer

• May 13, 2020

• #1

Part of the appeal of playing gnomes and halflings lies in feeling like the world is too big for you. When all of your enemies are larger than life, it becomes that much more heroic when you go toe-to-toe with 'em anyway. In practice, however, I think that tends to get lost at the tabletop. There just aren't that many mechanical differences between a medium and small creature, and so all of the fun details tend to get glossed: halfling-sized rooms at the inn, specially-built stools at the bar, or small passageways that only a kobold could fit through in the dungeon.

My question to the board is this: Do you guys think that size differences could stand a little extra emphasis in your games? And if so, what are some good ways to help the small characters feel small?

(Comic related.)

 

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Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens

Supporter

• May 13, 2020

• #2

I have a couple of toddler sized chairs. Those are great for making people feel like they are short at the gaming table.

 

iserith

Magic Wordsmith

• May 13, 2020

• #3

In every adventure I write, I include pathways that only Small-sized characters can use. This will often be a shortcut around a dangerous area, a way to get at some treasure, or a way for the Small character to scout out and preview threats in other parts of the adventure location.

 

aco175

Legend

• May 13, 2020

• #4

I too have some areas where there may be collapsed tunnels and narrow or short areas where other medium PCs are slowed or at disadvantage when fighting. This is mostly true in goblin dens and such, but I try to not penalize too much. Mostly the goblins may be in a old dwarf hold and modify a few places.

There is always suspense when the PCs are crawling through a place thinking they will be attacked in the narrow areas. This can also work when the PCs are able to lure the giant or dragon into a narrower area.

 

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Shiroiken

Legend

• May 13, 2020

• #5

Whenever we do get a small character who enviably gets put in the middle or back of the party lineup, I comment about how little they can see... except for the butt of the person in front of them.

 

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Fauchard1520

Adventurer

• May 14, 2020

• #6

aco175 said:

I too have some areas where there may be collapsed tunnels and narrow or short areas where other medium PCs are slowed or at disadvantage when fighting. This is mostly true in goblin dens and such, but I try to not penalize too much. Mostly the goblins may be in a old dwarf hold and modify a few places.

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I feel like this is the common one, and it works well. I just ran a Starfinder module where air duct + small creature was baked into the adventure too. It makes me wonder what other situations could work. Maybe undersized hands are the only ones that can reach the complicated lock? Weight-sensitive pressure plates or frayed ropes?

 

Minigiant

Legend

Supporter

• May 14, 2020

• #7

I have a signature enemy i use.

A tiny sized fey roguish monster. I always describe him as rolling under the legs of the Medium sized PCs and slashing up their legs and groin Sonic the Hedgehog style. Hits immoblilize or stun the target. The small characters are immune and are the ones forced to catch or kill it.

 

Fenris-77

Small God of the Dozens

Supporter

• May 14, 2020

• #8

 

jgsugden

Legend

• May 14, 2020

• #9

A lot of what you're looking for doesn't need mechanics - it needs description. Providing descriptions of what they see, with their lower perspective in mind, achieves a lot - especially if you describe what they see, then reveal what else the taller people see if they see more - or start with the big folks and then describe what additional things the little folks see by having a lower angle of view.

Beyond that, things I allow small characters to do that I do not allow large PCs to do:

• Walk under a table.
• Climb through smaller holes.
• Eat less (less required, but halflings often hobbit it).
• I give them advantage on acrobatics rolls to escape versus some large and huge opponents.
• Sometimes they automatically make perception checks as something is not hidden from their vantage point but might be hidden from the tall ones due to angles.
• I have reduced armor and equipment costs for them.

I also make sure that I do not stick small monsters in medium monster dens. Kobold and goblin dens tend to be rough passage for medium creatures. Not so for small creatures.

 

doctorbadwolf

Heretic of The Seventh Circle

• May 14, 2020

• #10

I also like to remind small PC players that it’s easier for them to get cover and concealment.