Hi guys,
I have started thinking about modifying the rules related to size categories.
What I do not like about the current rules is that size does not influence hit points. That is, a 30th level fighter and a 30HD gargantuan dragon will both end up having about the same number of hit points.
The second thing I do not like is the way damage scales with size. How is that a 400 ton colossal dragon landing on the top of your head deals only 4d8 points of damage? Compare that to the damage that a 1 ton block would do.
Seeing as a monster of size x is, on average, eight times bigger than a monster of size x - 1, I would expect the bigger monster:
to have eight times more strength,
to have eight times more hit points (including any Con bonuses),
to deal eight times more damage.
For example, if a first level human cleric, on average:
has the strength score of 10,
has 4 hit points,
deals 4 points of damage with a heavy mace,
then I would expect a hill giant, on average:
to have the strength score of 20,
to have 32 hit points (including any Con bonuses),
to deal 32 points of damage with a heavy mace.
However, under these rules, colossal creatures become really scary. For example, a colossal silver great wyrm would, on average:
have the strength score of 50,
have 16384 hit points (including any Con bonuses),
deal 16384 points of damage with a bite.
The problem with my version is that it would be almost impossible for players to fight 'big creatures'. Basically, an army would be needed to defeat a colossal dragon.
Is there any reasonable way to balance my version, while still retaining the flavour? What are your thoughts?
Thanx in advance.
I have started thinking about modifying the rules related to size categories.
What I do not like about the current rules is that size does not influence hit points. That is, a 30th level fighter and a 30HD gargantuan dragon will both end up having about the same number of hit points.
The second thing I do not like is the way damage scales with size. How is that a 400 ton colossal dragon landing on the top of your head deals only 4d8 points of damage? Compare that to the damage that a 1 ton block would do.
Seeing as a monster of size x is, on average, eight times bigger than a monster of size x - 1, I would expect the bigger monster:
to have eight times more strength,
to have eight times more hit points (including any Con bonuses),
to deal eight times more damage.
For example, if a first level human cleric, on average:
has the strength score of 10,
has 4 hit points,
deals 4 points of damage with a heavy mace,
then I would expect a hill giant, on average:
to have the strength score of 20,
to have 32 hit points (including any Con bonuses),
to deal 32 points of damage with a heavy mace.
However, under these rules, colossal creatures become really scary. For example, a colossal silver great wyrm would, on average:
have the strength score of 50,
have 16384 hit points (including any Con bonuses),
deal 16384 points of damage with a bite.
The problem with my version is that it would be almost impossible for players to fight 'big creatures'. Basically, an army would be needed to defeat a colossal dragon.
Is there any reasonable way to balance my version, while still retaining the flavour? What are your thoughts?
Thanx in advance.
