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

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

Grabbing her would still be (ahem) child's play and there's pretty much bugger all she could do about it.

I don't have kids, but years of 'America's Funniest Home Videos' has taught me that that's the quick way to get punched in the crotch

There are some disadvantages to being Size M with a Size S opponent that d20 doesn't model too well.

 

[Dr Simon]

Hussar - exactly my point,

Rodrigo - if you're talking getting punched in the crotch, well that's kind of a critical hit in D&D terms. One could perhaps argue for an increased threat range against larger creatures (I guess this was what those 1st edition variable damage codes were all about) since the vulnerable spots are proportionally larger and thus easier to locate. I sense a can of worms getting opened with that option, however.

 

[Thanee]

I like size modifiers and don't see them as complicated in any way.

For grapples... size isn't really well-implemented there, being large isn't just an advantage.
For attack/AC... I like how it is done there, not too big an effect, but it does have influence.

In general, I think ability modifiers (especially strength) are way too tame for size changes. But that's D&D where a horse just isn't as strong as a fighter.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Glyfair]

But, think about this for a second. My two year old daughter is 3 feet tall. That's halfling sized. How much effort would it really take me to grab and pin her?

While not completely off, this can be misleading. A 3 foot tall child is not the same as a 3 foot tall adult. This was discussed a bit ago in another thread (someone was comparing their 3 foot tall child to a halfling). The child doesn't have an adult's muscle structure, and that's very important.

 

[The_Gneech]

Size modifiers are just fine. There are much more broken things in D&D than this little guy!

Like, the grapple rules for instance. Cripes, the grapple rules. Ow.

As for giants, they are crazy powerful these days, yes ... but I think the main problem with them is the natural AC bonus. Even the lowly hill giant randomly has +9 natural AC! What is that about? I've got no problem with giants being able to put a world of hurt on whoever they can grab -- they are giants after all -- but they've got 12d8+48 hit points, that makes them plenty durable enough! There's no reason to make them nigh-invulnerable as well.

-The Gneech

 

[Klaus]

I like 'em, but I'd go one step further:

I'd have size modifiers also affect initiative, in the same way it affects attack rolls and AC. Big creatures tend to be far slower than small creatures, but that isn't usually reflected in the rules.

 

[Shade]

I like 'em, and wished they'd given larger "5-foot adjustments" for really big creatures, too.

 

[Mercule]

Size modifiers are good.

 

[Particle_Man]

I like how C&C handles size modifiers for grapples:

There are three sizes (S, M, L). S is -2 on grapples; L is +2 on grapples.

I have run a game of Iron Heroes where there are no "get out of grapple free" magics, and I had to stop using grapple as a tactic as the party was just getting OWNED by the monsters. It makes the game less fun for the players. So, I say reduce or eliminate the size modifier for grapple checks, realism be damned!

Outside of grapples, I don't have strong opinions one way or the other about size modifiers.

 

[heirodule]

There needs to be a grapple modfier for a small creature who wants to hold on to a bigger creature, but doesn't care if he impedes the larger creature.