Size Small Caster--Benefit, Detriment, or Neutral?

[Rystil Arden]

For a full caster, like a Wizard or Sorcerer, would you say that, all else being completely equal, changing from Size Medium to Size Small (with everything it entails, including smaller weapons, 20 foot movement, etc--no Whisper Gnomes or crazy races that ignore some of the penalties) is overall an advantage, a disadvantage, or neither?

 

[Whimsical]

I normally select small races for arcane/psion casters. Last one was a kobold beguiler. Before that a kobold sorcerer.

Hm, I sense a pattern....

 

[starwed]

20 foot movement

This isn't an intrinsic part of being small; it's just something that both the small PHB races happen to have in common. I wouldn't call goblin (or kobold) a crazy race just because they get 30' movement.

 

[Rystil Arden]

This isn't an intrinsic part of being small; it's just something that both the small PHB races happen to have in common. I wouldn't call goblin (or kobold) a crazy race just because they get 30' movement.

Goblins are nonstandard for it, though. 20' is the standard. If you look at PC small races, the vast majority move 20', across supplements and even going into variants like AU/AE.

 

[FireLance]

A wizard can mitigate the disadvantages of a Small race with his spells:

Low speed -> fly
Low grapple -> grease
Low weapon damage -> attack spells

He still retains his bonus to Hide checks, attack rolls and AC.

Overall, I'd say a small advantage.

 

[WhatGravitas]

Small advantages - the traits on their own are roughly balanced, but if you make a character, you can naturally use the strengths of the traits, while minimizing the disadvantages, making it a small benefit.

 

[hong]

Put it this way, if you were a small guy, would it be better to be a caster, or not? I'd say it's better to be a caster.

 

[Scharlata]

Hi!

If you focus on ray spells, that makes a +1 to hit for being Small.

Kind regards

 

[Old Gumphrey]

The penalties one gets for being small aren't penalties at all when you're a caster.

-4 grapple? You've already got the worst grapple in the party and you have a plethora of spells to avoid grapples altogether, including your +1 AC making you harder to grab in the first place.

-2 strength? oh noes. I guess that hurts your touch spells...wait no it doesn't, you get +1 to hit.

3/4 carrying capacity? That's actually an advantage since all your gear weighs half as much.

20' speed? Expeditious Retreat, Longstrider, Fly, Overland Flight, etc.

 

[Stalker0]

Being small is definitely an advantage for a caster. If a caster is having to run away on foot he's dead. If he's in a grapple he's likely dead so all the penalties don't matter.

But you get a +1 to AC and attack rolls which is nice. For the standard races, +2 dex or +2 con is a very nice benefit. And the cost of a -2 str, bah who cares.