The "Size Discount for ST -- Why?" Discussion

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Seems like a dumb idea to have large creatures with insufficient strength to move their great bulk around. If the system discourages silly builds then that is a plus, not a negative.

So humans of under St 10 are silly too? Since most realistic people fit that, why should I be penalized for making a realistic larger than man creature?

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

So humans of under St 10 are silly too? Since most realistic people fit that, why should I be penalized for making a realistic larger than man creature?

How far below average?

I think it is a bad idea for adventurers to have below average strength. For my Vietnam-American War campaign the lowest strength was 11. Any lower than that and you would be heavily encumbered just carrying your standard equipment (where equipment issued is based on historic accounts of what they actually used).

I enforce encumbrance rules, the lowest strength anyone has ever tried in my games is 9 and they frequently encountered problems with a stat that low, which was only fair when they have 10 more points than everyone else to spend elsewhere.