Improved/Greater Combat Reflexes from Dungeon #100

Brown Jenkin · Jun 3, 2003

Hypersmurf said:
Enlarge doesn't change your Size category, so you don't gain Reach.

You want Polymorph Other or Righteous Might.

-Hyp.

So a 6 foot tall person who is increased 50% to 9' is not large while a Hill giant at 10 1/2 feet is. The spell doesn't say one way or the other, it seems more like a judgement call based on the new height.

Hypersmurf · Jun 3, 2003

So a 6 foot tall person who is increased 50% to 9' is not large while a Hill giant at 10 1/2 feet is. The spell doesn't say one way or the other, it seems more like a judgement call based on the new height.

It doesn't say you change size category.

Given the fact that a spell that specifically increases your size category is 5th level, and Enlarge is 1st, there's a balance issue.

dcollins has something to say on the topic.

The bonus from Enlarge is an increase in height, and an Enlargement bonus to Strength.

Note that the spell specifically says there is no change to your AC - if you go from Medium to Large, you take a -1 Size penalty to AC. Therefore, you aren't going from Medium to Large.

Enlarge on a person is good for Strength, jumping distances, and retrieving objects from high shelves.

-Hyp.

Brown Jenkin · Jun 3, 2003

Hypersmurf said:
It doesn't say you change size category.

Given the fact that a spell that specifically increases your size category is 5th level, and Enlarge is 1st, there's a balance issue.

dcollins has something to say on the topic.

The bonus from Enlarge is an increase in height, and an Enlargement bonus to Strength.

Note that the spell specifically says there is no change to your AC - if you go from Medium to Large, you take a -1 Size penalty to AC. Therefore, you aren't going from Medium to Large.

Enlarge on a person is good for Strength, jumping distances, and retrieving objects from high shelves.

-Hyp.

I read the article but I am even more convinced of the need to interpret individually and rationally. His example of a 3'10" creature increased by 10% would move from small to medium is correct and probably shouldn't change size catagories. However the same 3'10" creature Enlarged by 50% comes to 5'9". While I can rationalize a 4'2" creature as still being small, there is no way I am bying a 5'9" creature as being small.

the Jester · Jun 3, 2003

Rumor has it that enlarge 3.5 does actually increase your size category, but we'll see- I can't recall where I read that.

Felon · Jun 3, 2003

The Enlarge spell does not state one way or the other whether it changes a creature's size category. That certainly does leave a certain amount of room open to interpretation.

On the one hand, it is reasonable to believe that a character over six feet tall whose since is increased by 50% becomes large, since there are large creatures suchs as ogres that the MM describes as only being nine feet tall (which contradicts dcollins' remarks that a size category constitutes a doubling of height from the previous category).

On the other hand, it is also reasonable to believe that a 1st-level spell should not convey the considerable benefits of a size increase.

I wrote the sage on this one and never got an answer. I'm suprised it never made its way into the FAQ.

Hypersmurf · Jun 3, 2003

I'm suprised it never made its way into the FAQ.

But it did.

If a dragon casts enlarge on itself and it grows enough
to qualify for the next size category, does it get the
damage ratings for that size? What about other dragon
powers?
An enlarge spell cast on a dragon works like an enlarge
spell cast on any other creature. The dragon gets a +1 bonus
to Strength for every 20% of enlargement. It gets no other
benefits from the spell.

Odd thing is, that entry isn't in the current version of the FAQ

Edit - Ah, here we go - it's shifted across to the Monsters FAQ, p4.

-Hyp.