DR/Size?

[Quartz]

Is DR based on size appropriate? Would you allow, for instance, a Colossal creature to have DR 50/Size Huge? Simply to represent the fact that almost no matter how powerful the blow, its physical size means it's simply a pinprick and the wielder can't reach anywhere important?

 

[Len]

No, I don't think it's appropriate. The pin-prick-ness of the blow is represented by the large number of hit points the creature has. It doesn't matter which part of the creature is damaged, it still hurts. (There are exceptions, such as sneak attack, that explicitly say you have to reach a vital organ.)

 

[Brother MacLaren]

I saw use of this in the Witchlight Marauder conversion -- DR X/- seems to fit better with 3.5 mechanics than DR X/Huge, although I'd cap it at 15/- (like the elemental monoliths have).

 

[Stalker0]

Yeah, when you have 500 hp, and a sword does 8 damage, the creature just doesn't notice. That's the effect of being so large. Also, the large amount of natural armor they have means most blows just won't hurt them unless you have an amazing strength, which most big creatures have.

 

[DreamChaser]

I believe the the Grim and Gritty system (which ditches hit points and makes combat more dangerous) has a mechanic that is basically this: the larger the creature, the higher its Soak rating; and the smaller the creature, the lower its damage rating. Thus small creatures are less likely to significantly injure large creatures.

This, as others have said, is account for by increased hit points, since larger creatures tend to have more hit dice.

DC

 

[Sejs]

Is DR based on size appropriate? Would you allow, for instance, a Colossal creature to have DR 50/Size Huge? Simply to represent the fact that almost no matter how powerful the blow, its physical size means it's simply a pinprick and the wielder can't reach anywhere important?

Give it DR/- and higher HD/con instead.