Size issues

[ogre]

I have been working on a slot system for a PA game and have run into a quandry.
The size of weapons doesn't match the size of 'objects'. Take a Large sword or rifle, this is the same size as a Large car for instance. It seems the weapon sizes are really one size smaller than the D&D size they were given. A Medium long sword is actually a Small object, or a Large rifle, is actually a Medium object, comparing them to a Medium-size human.
So, when I try and 'slot' a Medium robot, it can and should be able to house a Medium-size weapon, but if you're trying to slot objects equally, a Medium weapon should in effect have the same 'slots' as any other Medium object.
Anyway, has anyone taken the drastic step of re-sizing weapons to be the actual size they are? I'm thinking that just decreasing their size one catagory would do it. Would this confuse the players too much? Escpecially those engrained with D&D or d20 modern?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I have been working on a slot system for a PA game and have run into a quandry.
The size of weapons doesn't match the size of 'objects'. Take a Large sword or rifle, this is the same size as a Large car for instance. It seems the weapon sizes are really one size smaller than the D&D size they were given. A Medium long sword is actually a Small object, or a Large rifle, is actually a Medium object, comparing them to a Medium-size human.
So, when I try and 'slot' a Medium robot, it can and should be able to house a Medium-size weapon, but if you're trying to slot objects equally, a Medium weapon should in effect have the same 'slots' as any other Medium object.
Anyway, has anyone taken the drastic step of re-sizing weapons to be the actual size they are? I'm thinking that just decreasing their size one catagory would do it. Would this confuse the players too much? Escpecially those engrained with D&D or d20 modern?

You could say "it can slot a medium weapon or small object", I would think, since a medium weapon is actually Small.

 

[solkan_uk]

There's only 1 size system in Spycraft 2. IIRC it wouldn't be that easy in Modern, as you'd have to go through each weapon.

 

[Morgan Keyes]

<SNIP>

Anyway, has anyone taken the drastic step of re-sizing weapons to be the actual size they are? I'm thinking that just decreasing their size one catagory would do it. Would this confuse the players too much? Escpecially those engrained with D&D or d20 modern?

Actually that is exactly how it is done. Weapon sizes on the tables do not refer to the physical sizes like they do with creatures, vehicles, or other objects. It refers to what size creature it is configured for. See pg. 97 of the D20 Modern rulebook. The D&D Players Handbook is more expansive on the topic which states the object-size of a weapon is one less then it's listed weapon-size (pg. 113).

 

[ogre]

ahhh thanks you all for pointing that out, I hadn't realized it was already specified that weapons are objects one size smaller. Silly me!
And thanks for the page quotes Morgan, appreciated.

 

[solkan_uk]

Ahh, I'm misremembering to D&D, Modern uses D&D 3 sizes rather than D&D3.5.

I'm pretty sure it would have to be more than 1 size catagory though? I'm not sure I'd put a sword in the same size catagory as a 10yr old?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Ahh, I'm misremembering to D&D, Modern uses D&D 3 sizes rather than D&D3.5.

I'm pretty sure it would have to be more than 1 size catagory though? I'm not sure I'd put a sword in the same size catagory as a 10yr old?

But they're about the same length, aren't they? (I would think the 10 year old is taller than a longsword, but I haven't been to school in years and years.)

Things get silly if you've got Improvised Weapons Proficiency or Fight with Anything; you could wield a 10-year old as a melee weapon without a -4 penalty and deal 1d4 damage with each strike. Melee Smash would apply. A troll could get the benefits of Streetfighting using such a "weapon". A troll soldier could even specialize, but that's so ridiculous.

D20 Critical Locations has specific rules about wielding very heavy objects, like bowling balls, as weapons. There's an additional -2 penalty that doesn't go away.

 

[HeapThaumaturgist]

I would.

Remember, this is a game. The "size" and "weight" of an object isn't just a dimensional measurement. It's also a measurement of "encumbrance", which is how difficult it is to effectively carry with other objects on one's person.

Which is, honestly, more realistic than pure dimension/weight measurements, as some things are pretty awkward to carry -effectively-. A sword may only weight 2lbs and be 3 feet long, but strapping it to one's person in a safe and accessible manner involves some skill.

--fje

 

[Aussiegamer]

great sword, or 2 handed sword, is actually about 6' long. So more medium than small.

The weapons are in relation to a medium creature, thus yes they are really I size smaller than they say.