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<blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 1092982" data-attributes="member: 99">If you look at the various animals that are smaller than humans in &quot;real life&quot; you'll notice that most are disproportionately strong for their size.&nbsp; Take a chimpanzee for instance.&nbsp; Despite the fact that they are quite a bit shorter than humans, they are in most cases as strong or stronger than their human handlers.My understanding is that this is largely a function of the square/cube law and a result of the fact that less bone mass and muscle mass needs to be devoted to supporting their own frame.&nbsp; Therefore a halfling long-spear may well be bigger in proportion to his frame than a human long-spear is to a human.&nbsp; But he would still have no problems weilding it.Also note that this disproportionate strength to size ratio is supported by the rules.&nbsp; Small gear (such as armor) weighs half as much for small creatures but their carrying capacity is 3/4 that of a Medium sized creature.&nbsp; This is the most compelling reason that I've come up with for the -2 penalty for using a weapon not designed for your size (though I'm still not fond of the rule).Lastly, I'll just say that, from a game mechanics standpoint, the small races are plenty screwed as it is without robbing them of the ability to use a reach weapon.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Rel, post: 1092982, member: 99"] If you look at the various animals that are smaller than humans in "real life" you'll notice that most are disproportionately strong for their size. Take a chimpanzee for instance. Despite the fact that they are quite a bit shorter than humans, they are in most cases as strong or stronger than their human handlers. My understanding is that this is largely a function of the square/cube law and a result of the fact that less bone mass and muscle mass needs to be devoted to supporting their own frame. Therefore a halfling long-spear may well be bigger in proportion to his frame than a human long-spear is to a human. But he would still have no problems weilding it. Also note that this disproportionate strength to size ratio is supported by the rules. Small gear (such as armor) weighs half as much for small creatures but their carrying capacity is 3/4 that of a Medium sized creature. This is the most compelling reason that I've come up with for the -2 penalty for using a weapon not designed for your size (though I'm still not fond of the rule). Lastly, I'll just say that, from a game mechanics standpoint, the small races are plenty screwed as it is without robbing them of the ability to use a reach weapon. [/QUOTE]

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