Reduce Person

[Shadow145]

From SRD:

Reduce Person
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One humanoid creature
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell causes instant diminution of a humanoid creature, halving its height, length, and width and dividing its weight by 8. This decrease changes the creature’s size category to the next smaller one. The target gains a +2 size bonus to Dexterity, a –2 size penalty to Strength (to a minimum of 1), and a +1 bonus on attack rolls and AC due to its reduced size.

A Small humanoid creature whose size decreases to Tiny has a space of 2-1/2 feet and a natural reach of 0 feet (meaning that it must enter an opponent’s square to attack). A Large humanoid creature whose size decreases to Medium has a space of 5 feet and a natural reach of 5 feet. This spell doesn’t change the target’s speed.

All equipment worn or carried by a creature is similarly reduced by the spell.

Melee and projectile weapons deal less damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this spell. Any reduced item that leaves the reduced creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them).

Multiple magical effects that reduce size do not stack.
Reduce person counters and dispels enlarge person.
Reduce person can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material Component: A pinch of powdered iron."

Quick Question,
PC has been Reduced. Is new equipment picked up reduced as well? So if they throw their throwing axe (which goes to normal size when thrown) and then pick it up, will it be reduced again, or are they holding a normal sized throwing axe?

Evidence for Axe not reducing: Spell description says it returns to normal when thrown, spell says no where specifically that new equipment is reduced, term "instant diminution" in description.

Evidence for axe reducing again: Spell has a duration of 1/min per level, line that says all equipment worn or carried is reduced.

 

[MerakSpielman]

I'd interpret it as saying "Equipment worn or carried at the time the spell is cast is reduced. Any reduced item that leaves the reduced creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. Items picked up after the initial casting of the spell do not reduce in size."

This is just my opinion, though, and what makes sense to me. The spell, as you have noticed, does not directly address this point.

 

[Shadow145]

Thanks for the reply. That's how I'd played it before, and never thought of the other interpretation until someone else brought it up. The rules were ambiguous enough to encourage me to post here and see what others thought.

A result of this interpretation is that if a PC is permanently reduced, any sized equipment would have to be replaced, since once they put it down it returns to normal size. This result is what started the discussion.

Anyone else want to chime in with an opinion? Anyone play it the other way?

 

[shilsen]

I play it the way MerakSpielman and you do.