D&D General Helping Small Characters Feel Small

[Quickleaf]

Trap triggers is another one. Sometimes pressure plates won't trigger on creatures under 30, 40, or 50 pounds (13.6 kg, 18 kg, or 22.6 kg respectively). Or sometimes scything blades swing out at human chest height.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

How do you help small characters feel small?

You insult them, of course. Probably by making fun of their height. What are they going to do, attack you? You can run away, and they will never catch you on their short, stubby legs.

 

[MarkB]

Make sure your adventure locales include plenty of treasure kept on high shelves. Impose disadvantage on visual perception checks made in crowded streets. Have NPCs in human lands constantly mistake them for children, with comments like "Is he yours? Aww, he's adorable", directed to one of the taller party members.

 

[Immoralkickass]

Get a tiny monster to grapple them, like a regular scorpion or something. Then point to the grappling rules that its legit.

 

[Coroc]

Well my NPCs often say things like:

"What is the child doing here?"

Or: "Pssst, do not interrupt discussions of the grown ups!"

Complaining (in character) by said characters that they are in fact no children but gnomes or halflings get ignored afterwards.

 

[Tonguez]

I ran an entire adventure that took place underneath the floor of a series of warehouses.

to balance it I require small characters to make climb checks to reach the counter top in a tavern or store - often guards and Innkeepers will fail to see the gnome or halfling until specifically called to look down.

And Gnomes get critical hits on male characters by punching up

 

[Fauchard1520]

Get a tiny monster to grapple them, like a regular scorpion or something. Then point to the grappling rules that its legit.

I love this a lot. Nothing more embarrassing than losing a wrestling match to a squirrel.

 

[lall]

My forest gnome never gets a horse, he just rides with someone else. He can hide more easily. And he can be thrown over walls if needed.

 

[Fenris-77]

I love this a lot. Nothing more embarrassing than losing a wrestling match to a squirrel.

Little squirrel Luchadors in tiny gold masks and underoos? With capes?! Awesome.

 

[Tonguez]

My forest gnome never gets a horse, he just rides with someone else. He can hide more easily. And he can be thrown over walls if needed.

My gnomes first adventure was due to him hitching a ride in the satchel of an NPC ‘foreign ambassador’, later when that NPC started flying, said gnome learnt that NPC was a transformed silver dragon (“with the wind rushing around his face Orbril screamed, the realisation that they were no longer on the ground overcoming his instinct to hide!!”). Luckily the dragon forgave Orbrils indiscretions and Orbril became part of the ambassadors escort.

Anyway I agree - not needing a horse is good, I also allow small characters to get easier cover and concealment by hiding in nooks and crannies and allow them to sleep in such places too (especially gnomes since they are natural burrowers) which saves on accomodation cost