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<blockquote data-quote="Lamoni" data-source="post: 1606679" data-attributes="member: 12680">I understand your point... however, I think that it is balanced out considering the difference in mass and velocity (the larger creature often has a longer arm to give it more velocity).&nbsp; There is a difference between the two weapons based on area, BUT it isn't that pronounced.&nbsp; A 'large' longsword is most likely just as sharp as a 'medium' or 'small' longsword.&nbsp; The difference in area is negligable.&nbsp; If you take a whack at someone's side, the sword is connecting with as much area as the target is thick.&nbsp; Irregardless of what size sword you are using.&nbsp; And since we established that they are all just as sharp, we can't really compare very different surface areas.&nbsp; Stabbing would be the same.&nbsp; Now, there would be a large difference in surface area if we took a different weapon like a warhammer.&nbsp; Each warhammer would be progressively heavier as it increased in size though.&nbsp; Let's modify your example...Take two thick metal plates, one with 4 times the surface area (and 4 times the weight).&nbsp; Lay on your back, drop one plate on your stomach and then the other.&nbsp; Which one hurt more?&nbsp; Actually they may hurt about the same since the larger one was spread out over more area.What does this conclude?&nbsp; There is no difference in damage done due to being larger or by having a larger weapon.&nbsp; But using a larger damage die STILL DOES make sense.&nbsp; Why? Because their strengths are NOT equal.&nbsp; One of the best ways to determine how strong someone is by having them lift as much weight as they can.&nbsp; If you go by the carrying and lifting tables, then you find that a halfling with a strength ov 16 is about equivalent to a human with a strength of 14.&nbsp; Since they are about equal in strength, you would expect about equal damage... and voila! that is what you get.&nbsp; The halfling would do 1D6+3 damage (average 6.5) and the human would do 1D8+2 damage (average 6.5).I am sure there are other ways of looking at it, and you can make it as complicated as you would like.&nbsp; If you look at any rule hard enough you can find ways where it doesn't line up exactly with reality.&nbsp; However, most do a fairly good job by coming close and are very playable.&nbsp; That is good enough for me.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lamoni, post: 1606679, member: 12680"] I understand your point... however, I think that it is balanced out considering the difference in mass and velocity (the larger creature often has a longer arm to give it more velocity). There is a difference between the two weapons based on area, BUT it isn't that pronounced. A 'large' longsword is most likely just as sharp as a 'medium' or 'small' longsword. The difference in area is negligable. If you take a whack at someone's side, the sword is connecting with as much area as the target is thick. Irregardless of what size sword you are using. And since we established that they are all just as sharp, we can't really compare very different surface areas. Stabbing would be the same. Now, there would be a large difference in surface area if we took a different weapon like a warhammer. Each warhammer would be progressively heavier as it increased in size though. Let's modify your example... Take two thick metal plates, one with 4 times the surface area (and 4 times the weight). Lay on your back, drop one plate on your stomach and then the other. Which one hurt more? Actually they may hurt about the same since the larger one was spread out over more area. What does this conclude? There is no difference in damage done due to being larger or by having a larger weapon. But using a larger damage die STILL DOES make sense. Why? Because their strengths are NOT equal. One of the best ways to determine how strong someone is by having them lift as much weight as they can. If you go by the carrying and lifting tables, then you find that a halfling with a strength ov 16 is about equivalent to a human with a strength of 14. Since they are about equal in strength, you would expect about equal damage... and voila! that is what you get. The halfling would do 1D6+3 damage (average 6.5) and the human would do 1D8+2 damage (average 6.5). I am sure there are other ways of looking at it, and you can make it as complicated as you would like. If you look at any rule hard enough you can find ways where it doesn't line up exactly with reality. However, most do a fairly good job by coming close and are very playable. That is good enough for me. [/QUOTE]

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