Size Small Caster--Benefit, Detriment, or Neutral?

[pawsplay]

I think we'd both agree that an archmage who takes as his strategy "I'll just grapple the little guy, unbuffed" is looking for a loss.

Not if the little guy is another mage. My point, perhaps obliquely stated, is that not everything you end up grappling is a Large beastie with improved grab. If you are completely worthless at grappling, other opponents become a serious threat who wouldn't otherwise be.

 

[pawsplay]

Carrying capacity? Just get the half-orc barbarian to carry your stuff! It's not like you're weighed down with armour and a golfbag of weapons.

Have you ever run the numbers? Somoene with a Str in the 4-6 range is near to capacity with bracers, an amulet, a dagger, a crossbow, a few scrolls and potions, and so forth. Str 6 and Small gives you a light load of 15 pounds.

 

[hong]

Have you ever run the numbers? Somoene with a Str in the 4-6 range is near to capacity with bracers, an amulet, a dagger, a crossbow, a few scrolls and potions, and so forth. Str 6 and Small gives you a light load of 15 pounds.

Nothing demands a size S character have Str 6, any more than a size M character must have Str 18. Besides, by the time you're rich enough to carry bracers, amulet, crossbow, scrolls and potions, you're also rich enough to get a +2 Str item if it matters.

 

[pawsplay]

True, but gnome wizards have more to worry about from summoned fiendish wolves than does a human.

 

[was]

i'd say there is a small number of advantages

 

[Roger]

Carrying capacity? Just get the half-orc barbarian to carry your stuff!

Just get the half-orc barbarian to carry you.

Seriously though, mounts are the way to go for Small characters, in my opinion.


Cheers,
Roger

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

In one campaign I have a Gnome Wizard, with a Halfling Cleric. Our mount is the large Half-dragon Barbarian. In combat movement is a non issue, and extra combat movement is taken care of by teleports, DDoors, and Shadow Walks. Small size isn't a big advantage or disadvantage for us, its just flavor.

 

[Dracandross]

I'd understand this question as: 'if after all modifications you could be either small or medium which one you'd pick'. That means stats forexample should stay same.

Therefore it would only give 20ft mv, +1 hit, +1 ac, 3/4 carrying and -5 grapple, +4 hide and did i forget something.

For +1 to hit with rays and +1 with hide +4 are not much of a bonus for most of casters as movement is always nice to have. Of course move can be gotten elsewhere but it takes either item or spell and after that you still go 10ft slower.

But it depends if you are ray focused or mage/rogue it might be ok. And in the end campaing matters alot. We're going WLD which is all about movement anyway! And usually its whole package not just size.

=> Slight disadvantage

-Dracandross

 

[frankthedm]

Hurts PHB2 shapeshifter durids.
Hurts Melee clerics
Hurts bards since they arcane lost casting power for their BAB, weapon selection and light armor casting.
Evens out for caster clerics
Helps Wizards & sorcerers significantly though costs polymorph options.
Really good for PHB druids since small sizes does not affect wildshape at all and an ignore their actual race after 8th level by wildshaping and natural spell..

 

[Votan]

I'd rate +1 AC above +10 foot movement. Narrowly, but it's a minor plus.

In terms of the Half-Orc archmage grappler, one does have to hope that the str 6 gnome does not have a contingency against grapple (and, with craft contingency as a feat and grapple as a known weakness, that might be a bad assumption). That a desperation tactic might work in an odd case does not mean that it is not desperate when a high level wizard is even considering grappling as a good idea.