House Rules for big and small fighers

[KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads]

The following rules are not tested nor very thought about; in fact, they were made in the bath tube, so take them as a mere idea. Some help from Dungeons Fantasy:Adventurers was used.

- There is no more a discount to purchase Strength or Hit Points for positive SM characters.
- Big Fighters Only: A big fighter’s weapons have boosted damage. For weapons with a damage penalty (ie. a swung large knife) the bonus equals half the penalty, rounded up, per +1 to SM; weapons with a damage bonus (ie. a broadsword) have it increased by half, rounding down (minimum +1), per +1 to the intended wielder’s Size Modifier. Weapons with no bonus or penalty get a +1 at SM +1, then follow the aforementioned rules. Therefore, a “SM +1” thrusting greatsword deals thr+4 imp or sw+4 cut, while a “SM +1” large knife deals thr+1 imp or sw cut. A "SM+2" greatsword would deal thr+6 or sw+6.
- Big Fighters Only: A big fighter’s weapons weight more. Increase weight and minimum ST by 1.5 per +1 to SM; that is, a “SM +1” greatsword weights 10.5 lbs and requires a minimum ST of 18!
- Small Fighters Only: A small fighter’s weapons have reduced damage. For weapons with a damage bonus, the bonus is halved per -1 to SM, rounding up (minimum -1); weapons with a damage penalty have it increased by half, rounded down, per -1 to SM. Weapons with no bonus or penalty get a-1 at SM -1, then follow the aforementioned rules. Therefore, a “SM -1” thrusting greatsword deals thr+2 imp or sw+2 cut, while a “SM -1” large knife deals thr-1 imp or sw-2 cut. A "SM -2" greatsword would deal thr+1 or sw+1.
- Small Fighters Only: A small fighter’s weapons weight less. Reduce weight and minimum ST by 0.25 per -1 to SM: that is, a “SM -1” greatsword weights 5.25 lbs and requires a minimum ST of 9.
- Natural weapons follow the same rules of crafter weapons. So, a SM +1 character deals thr+1 crush with a kick and thr crush with a punch, while a SM -1 character deals thr-1 crush and thr-2 crush respectively.

Comments? Ideas? Insults?
Thanks for your attention.

[demonsbane]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

Comments? Ideas? Insults?
Thanks for your attention.

Sorry, I only can do now a quick comment:

I think rules as these are very needed for GURPS doing Dungeon Fantasy well.

Perhaps they can be adressed in a official way in the next DF book (the third?). I really hope it...

So we can equip, at last, from pixies, hobbits, to giant humanoids, from SM+1 Dungeon Fantasy ogres, to SM+3 frost giants or whatever... At last!

I would be happy with at least Q&D official rules about this.

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by demonsbane

I would be happy with at least Q&D official rules about this.

The first DF book already has the rule of thumb for SM +1 creatures. Klaus is extending that rule in a way that I suspect will dovetail with anything official.

The weight part matches the "equipment for different SM races" box in Ultratech, and I think the extension of the DF damage bonus for SM+1 to other size modifiers is logical and good.

This is basically what I was going to use in my campaign :D

[KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads]

Originally Posted by Bruno

The first DF book already has the rule of thumb for SM +1 creatures. Klaus is extending that rule in a way that I suspect will dovetail with anything official.

Could you define "dovetail", so I may know if it's a comment or an insult? :-P

[Bruno]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

Could you define "dovetail", so I may know if it's a comment or an insult? :-P

Mesh well with, come together with, etc.

The saying comes from woodworking, where a "dovetail joint" is a kind of joint that holds together without nails or glue because the two pieces being joined are perfectly cut to fit each other.

[KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads]

Originally Posted by Bruno

Mesh well with, come together with, etc.

The saying comes from woodworking, where a "dovetail joint" is a kind of joint that holds together without nails or glue because the two pieces being joined are perfectly cut to fit each other.

Thank you. I feel much better now. ;-)

[demonsbane]

Originally Posted by Bruno

The first DF book already has the rule of thumb for SM +1 creatures. Klaus is extending that rule in a way that I suspect will dovetail with anything official.

My purpose was to mean, "lacking of anything official about scaling for Size Modifiers different of 0 (Basic Set) and 1 (Dungeon Fantasy)".

Originally Posted by Bruno

The weight part matches the "equipment for different SM races" box in Ultratech, and I think the extension of the DF damage bonus for SM+1 to other size modifiers is logical and good.

This is basically what I was going to use in my campaign :D

Great!

If these rules (extrapolated from Dungeon Fantasy regarding SM 1 characters and, as you say, matching with Ultratech weights) really make sense, I think it would be great to put something as this (or about this) in a single box, for easy reference and because it is needed, and then publish it. And the box could be a full page or less in extension, so it should be feasible.

Regarding the possible objection about part of its content as being "repeated info" (for instance the DF rule about weapons for SM 1 characters, or Ultratech SM weights), I think it is suitable, at least as much as the Heroic Archer advantage we have in Dungeon Fantasy: Adventurers directly reprinted from G4e Martial Arts.

Cheers

[demonsbane]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

The following rules are not tested nor very thought about; in fact, they were made in the bath tube, so take them as a mere idea. Some help from Dungeons Fantasy:Adventurers was used.

At first glance, and lacking of anything official about this, I believe they are good rules of thumb.

On the other hand, this is a good example showing a Q&D treatment of this subject can be officially done and published filling only from 1/2 page to a full page.

[umbros]

Originally Posted by KlausPrinceOfTheUndeads

they were made in the bath tube,

You've got a bath tube!?!? Those things are clean-tacular!

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by umbros

You've got a bath tube!?!? Those things are clean-tacular!

But.... how do you keep the water from just falling out? Ahhhh, maybe a quickly solidifying cleaning foam?... Breathing is for wimps!