Attention Hobbit & Gnome Lovers!

[Tequila Sunrise]

My current fix for my Small race (right now I'm only dealing with one) is:

1. It has shorter reach and a shorter "safe step" than other races, and therefore provokes OAs from larger opponents so long as the larger opponent can safe step away. (Safe Step = 5' step or 1 square shift.)
2. Small and smaller creatures can flank because they don't actually have zero reach.
3. The tumble mechanic is equally available to characters of all classes, so any Small PC can use it to avoid OAs with a reasonable chance of success.
4. This Small PC race has a free feat; if they successfully avoid an OA, their opponent loses their mark on the Small guy. (Marking is something that everyone does in my RPG, and is a very important mechanic. It indicates where your attention is focussed, so losing a mark on your opponent basically means that you just don't know where they are and therefore can't effectively defend yourself.)

So with this fix, melee PCs of this Small race have to be aggressive and focus on Dex which I think makes sense.

All you really need to do to kill someone is the right amount (and kind) of damage in the right place- a cut a few mm deep can kill if its done right...but no one would argue that a scalpel is equally dangerous to a Zweihander in melee combat.

Would they?

To play devil's advocate, it could be argued that bigger weapons make it easier to strike a crippling/killing blow than smaller weapons. Yeah a scalpel to a vital organ is lethal, but it'll still take a bit of time to bleed out. Meanwhile a big honkin' sword can take a head right off.

But whatever, more base damage is just a simple way to make bigger weapons more appealing to players.

TS

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

To play devil's advocate, it could be argued that bigger weapons make it easier to strike a crippling/killing blow than smaller weapons. Yeah a scalpel to a vital organ is lethal, but it'll still take a bit of time to bleed out. Meanwhile a big honkin' sword can take a head right off.
TS

Essentially my point!

 

[Raven Crowking]

Thanks everyone! It looks like #1 is the most popular option.

TS

When I dealt with this issue for RCFG, I made Small characters take a penalty to Prowess saves, as well as gaining a bonus to Reflex saves.

RC

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

When I dealt with this issue for RCFG, I made Small characters take a penalty to Prowess saves, as well as gaining a bonus to Reflex saves.

RC

I do that too!

TS

 

[Raven Crowking]

I do that too!

TS

Well, the RCFG previews so far are over 90% OGC, and you are free to use any of the OGC content you want (obviously), so if Great Minds Think Alike you might find some other things there that you like & want to use.

Of course, it is also true that Fools Seldom Differ.

RC

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

"What is RCFG?" TS asks, belatedly.

 

[chronoplasm]

I like playing smaller characters as long as it allows me to use the terrain to my advantage. Being able to squeeze through tight places and fit through small holes is nice.
Also, never pick a fight with a guy who's teeth are level with your groin!

You might consider giving small characters special combat powers, like slashing the tendons in the opponent's ankles or something.

 

[WayneLigon]

Well I'm writing a moderately simulationist game, but with more of an eye toward simplicity and balance than 3e.

If you want simulationist, you could always go a third route: make being a Small race a decided disadvantage with no particular upswing to it. The only reason Hobbits probably survived at all is that almost everyone forgot they even existed, and they were never seen as a threat.

Magic would be about the only equalizer they'd have.

 

[Raven Crowking]

"What is RCFG?" TS asks, belatedly.

RCFG = Raven Crowking's Fantasy Game. If you follow the link to my website, you can download the Race & Class Preview for free. (Eventually, the whole game will be free.) It is on the "RPG Design" page.

There is also a thread about it on EN World that I started, here: http://www.enworld.org/forum/general-rpg-rules-discussion/242571-rcfg-announcement.html .


RC

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Well, the RCFG previews so far are over 90% OGC, and you are free to use any of the OGC content you want (obviously), so if Great Minds Think Alike you might find some other things there that you like & want to use.

Of course, it is also true that Fools Seldom Differ.

I don't think we're in any danger of thinking too much alike. The only thing that really looked similar in your pdf is your level scheme; I divided levels into "Potential Hero" (1-5), "Known Hero" (6-10) and Legendary Hero (11+).

If you want simulationist, you could always go a third route: make being a Small race a decided disadvantage with no particular upswing to it. The only reason Hobbits probably survived at all is that almost everyone forgot they even existed, and they were never seen as a threat.

Yes, I could do that. But what works well for novels doesn't always work well for rpgs; I'd get an occasional hobbit caster, but players would mostly steer clear of the little folk without some kind of compensating advantage.

TS