A small problem with small weapons [Archive] - Wizards Community

A small problem with small weapons [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
triss_erventine
03-01-07, 01:46 AM Okay so I ran my first session in about 6 or more months last sunday (starting the savage tide) its a big freakin hit everyone loved it and had an awsome time. We will be playing this sunday again i'm very pumped :)

Here is a problem that I'm currently facing two of my players are using small sized creatures I'm not against it at all don't get me wrong it adds a lot of flavor to the game. One is playing a halfling wizard and the other is a Gripplie (small humanoid tree frog) ranger. What do you do about getting them magic weapons and armor and stuff. Do you do something like with rings and boots its magic so it conforms to fit the character are becomes a size small weapon. My concern is that I have yet to see how the rest of the savage tide plays out and what happens if their or giants or demons wielding size large weapons can they also be used by medium creatures. I guess what I'm trying to ask is how would you go about handling this situation? The wizards no big deal but the ranger how is going to get his hands on any magic weapons and armor that fit a person of his small stature?

Any advise, tips, and past experiance would be of such help :D

Thanks
triss_erventine
Vaalingrade Ashland
03-01-07, 01:59 AM First, make magic weapons and armor resize up to one size. It used to do this in 3e and there's no reasons to stop that.

Second, I suggest just not using weapon sizing. The golbin longsword they picked up is a human short sword and no one gets any unfair negative to hit. Its just easier this way and makes more sense than the idea that someone out there is making Small orc double axes and small greatswords.
triss_erventine
03-01-07, 02:07 AM hey thanks that was what i was thinking about doing. I also was curious anyone out there runing the savage tide what do you think so far and how far have you gotten?

triss
Dragonsblood
03-01-07, 02:15 AM You don't have to worry about placing weapons and armor the players are going to use. Just give them enough money (either raw gold/gems or loot they sell), and they can go to town and commission the local smith to make their stuff. If there's a market for small weapons/armor, the smith would probably already have what they're looking for. Then they can upgrade it with a high enough level caster with the craft magic weapon/armor feat by paying the difference (so to make their +1 sword a +2 sword they pay 6k instead of the full 8k+). If you want to avoid the magic mart feel, make them quest to get the wizard's services or to even find the wizard.
Dei
03-01-07, 02:57 AM One thing I did in these situations was allow them to take weapons that were too large and have them resized by a blacksmith (shorten the hilt, reforge the blade, etc) The cost was 10% of the base item for one size, 25% for two sizes and anything more than two sizes couldn't be done. So a +2 magical rapier could be turned into a small equivalent for 800gp or a large rapier could be made small for 1600. Of course you had to be more than your friendly, local, horseshoe maker to do this as it would be rare that a smith would have the experience and facilities needed to properly alter magical equipment.

It worked out quite well and for the most part the party remained on a more or less equal footing as far as wealth levels go as long as I was careful with what I dolled out and when.
Mitchell
03-01-07, 03:00 AM Weapon equivalency, as Val mentioned, is one option. Another is to just change the occasional NPC that you feel has gear that would interest one of the two PCs in question into a small-sized NPC, who would then be using the proper sized gear for them.
It really only matters if there is no time or place where they can get their own new gear with their $$$. As long as they can do that, then they can go get their small-sized stuff themselves. :cool:
calronmoonflower
03-01-07, 03:03 AM If I remember correctlt there are two weapon special abilities that allow you to weild larger weapons without penality. One of them is called Horned and I cannot remember the other.

The monkey grip feat from the Complete Warrior also lets you weild larger weapons than you normally can with a slight penality.
Mitchell
03-01-07, 03:10 AM Well, that was certianly different. A double-post with a post in between. :cool:
triss_erventine
03-01-07, 03:24 AM hey thanks a million guys you've given me a couple good ideas that i'm going to work with until sunday that way i will be prepared. You guys really are the best.

Thanks again!

So on a more curiouity note than anything else any thoughts and opinions on the savage tide :)
drdobson
03-01-07, 09:55 AM I'm running Savage Tide, about halfway through the 5th chapter. It's been great, a lot of variety in the adventures. Already we've had some urban adventures, great NPCs, a perilous three month journey at sea, a quest for survival across a monster-infested jungle, and now a two-month long prepraration for a seaborne invasion of a fledgling colony. Savage Tide has been a blast (but warning, there are some tough encounters here. We have a party of four, and so far we have buried 2 animal companions, a cohort, and 5 pcs (3 of them in one encounter). Enjoy!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
triss_erventine 03-01-07, 01:46 AM	Okay so I ran my first session in about 6 or more months last sunday (starting the savage tide) its a big freakin hit everyone loved it and had an awsome time. We will be playing this sunday again i'm very pumped :) Here is a problem that I'm currently facing two of my players are using small sized creatures I'm not against it at all don't get me wrong it adds a lot of flavor to the game. One is playing a halfling wizard and the other is a Gripplie (small humanoid tree frog) ranger. What do you do about getting them magic weapons and armor and stuff. Do you do something like with rings and boots its magic so it conforms to fit the character are becomes a size small weapon. My concern is that I have yet to see how the rest of the savage tide plays out and what happens if their or giants or demons wielding size large weapons can they also be used by medium creatures. I guess what I'm trying to ask is how would you go about handling this situation? The wizards no big deal but the ranger how is going to get his hands on any magic weapons and armor that fit a person of his small stature? Any advise, tips, and past experiance would be of such help :D Thanks triss_erventine
Vaalingrade Ashland 03-01-07, 01:59 AM	First, make magic weapons and armor resize up to one size. It used to do this in 3e and there's no reasons to stop that. Second, I suggest just not using weapon sizing. The golbin longsword they picked up is a human short sword and no one gets any unfair negative to hit. Its just easier this way and makes more sense than the idea that someone out there is making Small orc double axes and small greatswords.
triss_erventine 03-01-07, 02:07 AM	hey thanks that was what i was thinking about doing. I also was curious anyone out there runing the savage tide what do you think so far and how far have you gotten? triss
Dragonsblood 03-01-07, 02:15 AM	You don't have to worry about placing weapons and armor the players are going to use. Just give them enough money (either raw gold/gems or loot they sell), and they can go to town and commission the local smith to make their stuff. If there's a market for small weapons/armor, the smith would probably already have what they're looking for. Then they can upgrade it with a high enough level caster with the craft magic weapon/armor feat by paying the difference (so to make their +1 sword a +2 sword they pay 6k instead of the full 8k+). If you want to avoid the magic mart feel, make them quest to get the wizard's services or to even find the wizard.
Dei 03-01-07, 02:57 AM	One thing I did in these situations was allow them to take weapons that were too large and have them resized by a blacksmith (shorten the hilt, reforge the blade, etc) The cost was 10% of the base item for one size, 25% for two sizes and anything more than two sizes couldn't be done. So a +2 magical rapier could be turned into a small equivalent for 800gp or a large rapier could be made small for 1600. Of course you had to be more than your friendly, local, horseshoe maker to do this as it would be rare that a smith would have the experience and facilities needed to properly alter magical equipment. It worked out quite well and for the most part the party remained on a more or less equal footing as far as wealth levels go as long as I was careful with what I dolled out and when.
Mitchell 03-01-07, 03:00 AM	Weapon equivalency, as Val mentioned, is one option. Another is to just change the occasional NPC that you feel has gear that would interest one of the two PCs in question into a small-sized NPC, who would then be using the proper sized gear for them. It really only matters if there is no time or place where they can get their own new gear with their $$$. As long as they can do that, then they can go get their small-sized stuff themselves. :cool:
calronmoonflower 03-01-07, 03:03 AM	If I remember correctlt there are two weapon special abilities that allow you to weild larger weapons without penality. One of them is called Horned and I cannot remember the other. The monkey grip feat from the Complete Warrior also lets you weild larger weapons than you normally can with a slight penality.
Mitchell 03-01-07, 03:10 AM	Well, that was certianly different. A double-post with a post in between. :cool:
triss_erventine 03-01-07, 03:24 AM	hey thanks a million guys you've given me a couple good ideas that i'm going to work with until sunday that way i will be prepared. You guys really are the best. Thanks again! So on a more curiouity note than anything else any thoughts and opinions on the savage tide :)
drdobson 03-01-07, 09:55 AM	I'm running Savage Tide, about halfway through the 5th chapter. It's been great, a lot of variety in the adventures. Already we've had some urban adventures, great NPCs, a perilous three month journey at sea, a quest for survival across a monster-infested jungle, and now a two-month long prepraration for a seaborne invasion of a fledgling colony. Savage Tide has been a blast (but warning, there are some tough encounters here. We have a party of four, and so far we have buried 2 animal companions, a cohort, and 5 pcs (3 of them in one encounter). Enjoy!