Extra Player and Weapon Sizes (5e Variant Rule)
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Extra Player and Weapon Sizes
This rule is to aid in player character creation, as well as add persistent effects and item properties to facilitate the use, of creatures with the Large and Tiny size categories. Please consider these things when/if a player decides to use a homebrew race that is larger than Medium size or smaller than Small size. Included below are suggested changes to rules such as cover, sustenance, use of ability scores, as well as customizing existing weapons for use by a larger or smaller character.
Large Player Characters
Large sized monsters receive a slew of benefits, and going beyond that can create even more imposing threats - but a player needs to be able to stand side-by-size with their fellows, in story and in combat. For this reason, the following considerations should be made for Large-size characters.
- Large creatures have double the carrying capacity (PHB p. 176).
- Large creatures require four times the food and water of Medium creatures (DMG p. 111).
- Large creatures need much bigger objects to hide behind for cover (PHB p. 196).
- Large player characters have a harder time moving aside for a Dexterity saving throw to avoid an effect (-1 for each extra space they occupy in an effect that causes the saving throw).
- Large player characters have an easier time pushing, pulling, lifting, and breaking objects (add the character's proficiency to these checks if they do not already do so as a result of a class feature, for example).
- Large weapons (DMG p. 278) should not apply to player characters. Please see the below weapon properties for an alternative.
- Large player characters do not have innate reach; they must wield a weapon with the Reach property as normal.
- Large player characters can be mounted by other creatures of Medium size or smaller, if they are willing.
- As size increases by 10 times, mass increases by 100 times. Large player characters' weight should be accounted for, and they have vulnerability to falling damage.
Tiny Player Characters
Tiny sized monsters are generally less imposing, but harder to notice and have the option to travel through smaller spaces. Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of their ability to travel long distances without help, as well as their ability to damage significantly larger foes. The following considerations should be made for Tiny-size characters.
- Tiny creatures have half the usual carrying capacity.
- Tiny creatures require 1/4 the food and water of Medium creatures (DMG p. 111).
- Tiny creatures find cover easier (PHB p. 196), and can share the space of another creature.
- Tiny player characters have an easier time moving aside for Dexterity saving throws to avoid an effect (+1 for each space between them and the epicenter).
- Tiny player characters have a harder time pushing, pulling, lifting, and breaking objects (subtract half the character's proficiency for these checks).
- Tiny weapons (DMG p. 278) should not apply to player characters. Please see the below weapon properties for an alternative.
- Tiny player characters must share the space of a creature to execute melee attacks against them, unless using a weapon with the Reach property, as listed below.
- Tiny player characters can use creatures that are Small or larger as a mount, though the creature must still be tamed or willing.
- As size decreases, mass decreases. Tiny player characters' weight should be accounted for, and they have resistance to falling damage.
Weapon Properties
The following weapon property modifications should be considered for player characters outside the normal size range.
- Finesse
- Heavy
- Light
- Range
Weapon size will not only affect the cost of ammunition, but may affect range as well. Heavier projectiles don't travel as far, and a smaller launcher has less force to transfer to a projectile, even if it is lighter.
- Player characters using Enlarged or Reduced weapons (properties below) will have reduced range. Divide the optimal and long range of a weapon by 2 for the new values.
- Enlarged or Reduced weapons require specialized ammunition, which may have a price, adjusted by the DM, or rarity assigned.
- Reach
- Special
- Thrown
- Two-Handed
- Versatile
New Properties
The following two properties are added by this variant rule:
- Enlarged
- Reduced
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