Is the SIZE modifier more trouble than it's worth?

[Vegepygmy]

I'd like to see it gone altogether. I don't think what it adds is significant enough for it to stay. The more important feature of size - that being reach and base size- should remain, of course.

Sorry, Merric, but you can count me in with the "size modifiers should stay" crowd.

 

[Fishbone]

I think size modifiers have to stay. A 20 by 20 by 10 creature weighing thousands of pounds should get a bonus on things like trip and bullrush. Think about, shouldn't a huge or gargantuan creature be hard to grapple or move? Secondly, its hard to hide when you're really friggin' big. Creatures in D&D are routinely larger than even the largest land based creatures in real life. And those creatures and not super dee dooper hiders, by and large.

 

[reanjr]

Dependent on their relative strengths, not sizes - as size already affects strength.

Larger things have higher strengths, true. But no matter the strength, a hill giant sitting on you is much more effective than a halfling sitting on you. It's Weight's role in a grapple that is being represented with the size mod. And it is significant.

 

[TheNovaLord]

its jsut the intital attempt i dont like, if u get grabbed then mr halfling is in trouble from mr giant, it just seems to easy to do. I am infintely bigger than my rabbit but have to shoo it into her shed at night as even with a good attack she stills either doesnt get grabbed or wiggles free or bites me!
Then the bit were u can pin and gag someone as well. If i am a spikey naturally armoured humanoid beastie with a toothy maw, but not overly strong or dextrous i seem too grapplable able by a slightly smaller strong and dextrous wood elf for example

I think is just the melee rules are nice an simple, but all the combat options look very complex which is why i dont like them in my games. Maybe monsters should use thier INT modifer not STR to initially grab? cave troll v frodo in a certain movie....or does that just make mindflayers even more terrifying!!

Jiohn

 

[Geron Raveneye]

I am infintely bigger than my rabbit but have to shoo it into her shed at night as even with a good attack she stills either doesnt get grabbed or wiggles free or bites me!

a) Rabbits have a racial bonus to AC vs. medium and larger humanoids, as well as the Dodge feat Squirrels are even worse.
b) Most smaller mammals are damn good in the Escape Artist skill.
c) The bite is that dreaded Attack of Opportunity hitting home, as most humans don't have Improved Unarmed Strike, especially not vs. smaller rodents.

And if you think a bunny is hard to grapple if it doesn't want to, try a sour cat.

 

[reanjr]

its jsut the intital attempt i dont like, if u get grabbed then mr halfling is in trouble from mr giant, it just seems to easy to do.

As I said earlier, apply the opposite of the creature's grapple size mod to the initial attempt. Also, remove the Str mod.

Halfling Fighter 7 Str 14 (initial +11, maintain +5)
Hill Giant (initial +5, maintain +20).

So, it's fairly difficult for a giant to catch a halfling and start a grapple, but once it's there, that halfling is in big trouble.

 

[Particle_Man]

I think size modifiers have to stay. A 20 by 20 by 10 creature weighing thousands of pounds should get a bonus on things like trip and bullrush. Think about, shouldn't a huge or gargantuan creature be hard to grapple or move?

Wow you are my opposite. I remember a Dragon magazine cover where an ordinary human pulled a Giant to the ground by his nose ring (effectively a trip, I guess). I remember thinking how awesome that was. That is the kind of dramatic coolness I would want in my game, realism be damned.

 

[frankthedm]

It does seem a little weird, however, that a creature that receives an enlarge person spell receives different benefits than a creature advanced one size category.

The 3.5 enlarge person is incredably strong for a first circle spell. As for why the effect does grant more, picture it as being a balloning effect.

A 4th or 5th level version that does all benefits of size might be balanced; see the druid Animal growth spell.