Level Adjust for size changing

[Phasics]

Just a quick opinion.

A race with no other noteworthy benefits apart from the ability to change size from (medium to small) or (medium to large) supernatural ability (i.e. can be stacked with other size changing effects). The change is considered permanent (for the purposes of not being able to dispel etc) and becomes their new base size until the user wants to change size again.
Small <==> Medium <==> Large , this is the limit without magic or other means

What LA would you think that deserves ?

Also if the same ability took
1) 24hrs
2) 1hr
3) Full round action
4) Quick Action

Would you assign a higher or lower or same LA ?

 

[Arkhandus]

Depends on whether or not they get the standard adjustments for the size changes. Also, whether or not they can become Large, which is more useful than Small size or Medium size, usually.

The standard adjustments mean, for instance, getting a big Strength boost from growing to Large size, as well as 10 feet of natural reach when Large, or getting a Dexterity boost and Strength penalty from shrinking to Small size.

The spells that change size typically involve only minor adjustments of these sorts, limited in scope, rather than the standard size adjustments. And even so, Enlarge Person is still a very strong 1st-level spell in 3.5 (the old, 3.0 version of Enlarge was far weaker, though not limited to just affecting humanoids).

So, depending on the parameters, I'd figure anywhere from a +0 to a +2 Level Adjustment, probably.

 

[Phasics]

Depends on whether or not they get the standard adjustments for the size changes. Also, whether or not they can become Large, which is more useful than Small size or Medium size, usually.

The standard adjustments mean, for instance, getting a big Strength boost from growing to Large size, as well as 10 feet of natural reach when Large, or getting a Dexterity boost and Strength penalty from shrinking to Small size.

The spells that change size typically involve only minor adjustments of these sorts, limited in scope, rather than the standard size adjustments. And even so, Enlarge Person is still a very strong 1st-level spell in 3.5 (the old, 3.0 version of Enlarge was far weaker, though not limited to just affecting humanoids).

So, depending on the parameters, I'd figure anywhere from a +0 to a +2 Level Adjustment, probably.

Attribute increases with size class I'd lean towards no at this point, perhaps something more in line with enlarge reduce effects but classed as an ability not classed as a spell (i.e. cant be dispelled). However I'd say that a reduce/enlarge could be used to counter to return this race to a normal size.

I'd also have to say it CANT be stacked with magical effects, so you can go Med->Large racial, Large->Huge enlarge person at first level, as this screams abuse.

However I say yes on 10" reach and yes on Large attributes like grapple bonus and yes on higher unarmed damage and equipment does NOT scale up or down.



I can see with race as a potential buff tool for the Druid PHB II variant so you get the flexibility to have a range of sizes for each form, i.e. Large Predator form, Small Arial form etc just a matter of working in the LA so its not too overpowered early on but not gimped at later levels which the Druid PHB II suffers from already.

 

[Phasics]

I'd also say that this ability is not a magical effect as such equipment does not scale with the character. So you either you need to carry a few different sizes of armor and weapons. This would reduce flexibility on some classes so it couldn't simply be taken as free "go large dmg" or "go small for AC".

 

[Arkhandus]

Well, that wouldn't stop the character from carrying around a Huge Greatsword and always shifting into Large size to wield it whenever a fight breaks out (or just staying that way most of the time, if the transformation takes a while). When they need to go scouting, they hide the big sword and carry a Small Short Sword until they get back.