Do your Front line characters refuse Enlarge Person?

[Wild Gazebo]

I rarely see this spell come up as a simple combat modifier. There is usually some roleplay or obstacle motive behind it. It has happened--just very rarely.

 

[ThoughtBubble]

Never had it refused, though it doesn't make nearly as much of a showing as Haste or GMW. Most of the time we've used it to even the odds a little more on large grappling creatures. Though there was the time we needed to get the giant fish over a wall. That was handy. Never underestimate the out of combat uses of being huge.

 

[Zappo]

We use it all the time. Sure, you get -2 to AC, but you get from +3 to +6 average damage, depending on what weapon you use. Going from 20 to 22 STR using a greataxe, you get a +6 net average. If used in the right place, that's a good deal right there.

Plus, you get a +5 total to grapple checks, and our group (DM & players) is pretty grapple-happy. Finally, there's the reach, and you can make a good use of it with some tactics (especially if you already had a reach weapon to begin with).

 

[Kae'Yoss]

My chainfighter would accept it in a heartbeat. Even more reach and even better chances to trip and disarm people? Bring it on.

Unfortunately, he's on less-than-friendly terms with the party wizard, a hypocrite and self-righteous pest of the worst sort

 

[Starglim]

It seems like a good idea. The last time we used it, though, the fighter got held in the first round and stood there as a 10 foot wide obstacle for the rest of the combat, with quite a few adjacent bad guys considering a coup de grace.

 

[Flyspeck23]

Most of my players love it, if only for the feel... the dwarf seems to get the most joy out of it

Personally, I think it's a pretty good spell, but not as straight-forward as (for example) bull's strength, obviously. Nothing wrong with it, if you know how to take advantage of it.

 

[Thanee]

We have basically two characters, which could qualify for being a tank. One of those can cast Enlarge Person himself (Barbarian/Dragon Disciple), the other would certainly refuse it for various reasons (Halfling Paladin, mounted).

Bye
Thanee

 

[Psychic Warrior]

Every combat enlarge person makes multiple appearances. The party wizard even made a wand of enlarge person.

 

[diaglo]

Weird. Now that I think about it, I've never actually seen anyone use it. Or in fact, ever seen anyone even consider taking it as one of their spells.

in the new editions... ditto.

never even come up in the last 5 years.

 

[CRGreathouse]

You exachage a -2 to AC for a net 0 to hit, and a +1 to damage, and a size increase. While getting the free AoO on anything smaller then you coming into melee range is nice, it's a dubious bonus. Against anythng with magic or range, it's more harm then good.

A fighter using his fists deals +1.5 damage on average (1d3 -> 1d4+1). A fighter with a greatsword and an odd Strength modifier deals +5.5 damage on average (2d6 -> 3d6+2).

The read advantage, though, isn't the damage bonus; it's the reach. This functions defensively as well as offensively, and it's pretty good. Also, for those with Improved Trip it's great.