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

[Wolfwood2]

I'm playing a gnome wizard with a strength of 5.

I've played him for two adventures so far and haven't been seriously hurt by the -3 strength penalty + small size yet. Still, it does make one a bit nervous. He at least has a constitution of 16 for a fair hitpoint cushion.

 

[brendan candries]

good luck hitting on human bar wenches with your halfling/gnome sorcerer. size does matter.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

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

Pro Evil much? That's probably the best 1st-level spell in the game besides Magic Missile...

Also, carrying capacity doesn't mean squat. All your gear weighs half as much! That's actually a net advantage unless you're talking about hauling treasure or something in which case get a haversack like all adventuring str-dump wizards. Plus like Hong said, get that high-str character to carry your supplies. Like he's going to care or even notice the extra 5 or 10 pounds of adventuring gear.

 

[Nail]

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.

You're reaching a bit here.

IME (not meant as "everyone games as I do"), when a monster grapples, even the Ftr has a hard time avoiding it. The Wiz is just toast, and had better hope for outside help or a good concentration check + memorized DD.

Now, if the Wiz is actually a Psion, then he's got nothin' ta worry 'bout. Blast away, while in grapples!

 

[Nail]

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.

Let's "run the numbers"!

Bracers (negligible weight)
Amulet (negligible weight)
Dagger (1/2 lb)
Lt. Crossbow (2 lbs)
Quiver and 10 bolts (1/2 lb)
Scrolls (negligible weight)
Potions (negligible weight)

Total: 3 lbs!

He's got four-fifths of his light carrying capacity left! That's hardly "near capacity".

 

[Slaved]

Let's "run the numbers"!

Bracers (negligible weight)
Amulet (negligible weight)
Dagger (1/2 lb)
Lt. Crossbow (2 lbs)
Quiver and 10 bolts (1/2 lb)
Scrolls (negligible weight)
Potions (negligible weight)

Total: 3 lbs!

He's got four-fifths of his light carrying capacity left! That's hardly "near capacity".

When I was looking it over I got some different numbers.

Bracers of ___ all weigh 1 lb. I do not know if these are reduced in weight for size but if they are then they are 1/2 lb for a small character.
Amulet = same, negligible weight
Dagger = same, 1/2 lb.
Lt. Crossbow = same, 2 lbs.
10 bolts = same, 1/2 lb.
Bolt case = unknown, 1 lb sounds good though which is then reduced to 1/2 lb.
Scrolls = weight not listed so assumed to be negligible
Scroll case = 1/2 lb (each scroll comes in one of these and this weight is not reduced for size apparently)
Potion = weight not listed so assumed to be negligible

For the extra part that was not listed I assumed these:
Explorers outfit = 4 lbs
Backpack = 1/2 lb
2 water skins = 2 lbs
Bedroll = 1 1/4 lbs
1 day rations = 1/4 lbs
2 torches = 2 lbs
25' silk rope = 2 1/2 lbs
and so on

Without any scrolls and with nothing in the and so on part it is up to 16 1/2 lbs already. Time to buy a mule!

Without a lot of the extras being carried around all of the time this character still looks to be in the 8 - 10 lbs range. If he wants armor as well even the lightest armor, padded, puts him up to the 13 - 15 lbs range.

 

[Old Gumphrey]

Explorers outfit = 4 lbs

The set of clothing you wear has no weight. -4 lbs

2 water skins = 2 lbs

Just use one and have the cleric create water in it each morning. -1 lb

Bedroll = 1 1/4 lbs

Nobody said the adventuring life had to be comfortable. -1 1/4 lbs

1 day rations = 1/4 lbs

Eat the barbarian's food. -1/4 lbs

Have the barbarian carry all the rest of your gear

Priceless.

Even if you like to play Equipments & Accountants, you can still easily keep it under 15 lbs. And why would he want armor? This thread is about small sized arcane casters.

 

[hong]

I'm "creating water" in your waterskin RIGHT NOW, if you know what I mean.

 

[Felix]

Time to buy a mule!

I believe the Half-orc barbarian has been mentioned.

Without a lot of the extras being carried around all of the time this character still looks to be in the 8 - 10 lbs range. If he wants armor as well even the lightest armor, padded, puts him up to the 13 - 15 lbs range.

Though the OP did say "for full casters", he did single out Wizards and Sorcs; I had been assuming he was not talking about armored casters.

---

Regarding carrying capacity, Small characters can carry more appropriately sized stuff than a Medium character with the same strength. If a Medium character's light load is 100, and they're carrying 150lbs of stuff, they're into their medium load. A small character with the same strength carries the same (small sized) items and is still carrying a light load: 75 and 75.

Now, they get a -2 to Strength, so this changes things slightly. A Medium character's light load of 100 would become a Small character's light load of 76 x 3/4: 57. Other strengths have similar relationships; each reduction of Str by 2 reduces carrying capacity by ~25%. But this still leaves the Small character with a net gain on the transaction. The medium character with a full light load of 100 made small will leave the Small character 7 extra pounds.

Not that anyone is all that anal retentive about how much undershirts weigh...

 

[Old Gumphrey]

I'm "creating water" in your waterskin RIGHT NOW, if you know what I mean.

"Tordek, I didn't know you could cast Create Water!"

*zip* "Yeah, I picked up a level of cleric last time. Here ya go."

"Thanks!" *chuff* "Hmm, this tastes kind of funny. Kind of like ale."

"All dwarven gods have ale-tasting water. Trust me."