Newbie with a lot of questions

[Dan True]

Well, its me again... this time with a question about the "Size" characteristic: does it relates one on one with the size of a creature? I mean, does, for example, "size" 6 equals to a humanoid with 1,60m, or an animal with the size of a large dog, while "size" 16 equals to an humanoid with 1,80 or an animal the size of a cow? There is some kind of table where I can find it? Thanks!

Nope, not really. There is a rough scale of 1 SIZ = 5 kg, but it is very rough and mostly only applicable to items. SIZ represents a combination of mass, size and "density".

For instance, a cow may weigh 240 kg = 3 times that of the average male. If SIZ directly proportioned to mass, this would give the cow a SIZ of ~ 3 * 13 = 39... which is obviously too much, as that would revert to a shitload of HP .. and if you've evern been near a cow, you know they're basically heads, legs and a large flappy baloon with organs (not worth many HP).

So, a dwarf may be small, but have a human SIZ (or more) because he is packed with muscle, have hard bones etc. while a cow may have a much higher mass than a human, but have no muscles (or lack the ability to use its size in offense or defense) to validate a high SIZ.

- Dan

 

[rust]

Ah ... do not underestimate cows, we have a couple of badly wounded
or even killed tourists each year, people from urban environments who
go hiking in the Alps, do not know that a cow with a young calf can be
surprisingly aggressive and dangerous, and decide to take a "shortcut"
across a pasture ... :wink:

 

[Dan True]

Ah ... do not underestimate cows, we have a couple of badly wounded
or even killed tourists each year, people from urban environments who
go hiking in the Alps, do not know that a cow with a young calf can be
surprisingly aggressive and dangerous, and decide to take a "shortcut"
across a pasture ... :wink:

Well, tourists from urban environments are lowest in the foodchain right below harmless fungi.

Elitism aside, then yeah they can be dangerous. But that still doesn't mean that they'll handle it well if you thrust a dagger or shortsword into their belly. They are rather squishy -
But they charge a mean bunch yeah.

- Dan

 

[DamonJynx]

The BGB for BRP has a an approximate "SIZ" to Height/Weight chart. This chart is basically for critters and humanoids, there is another further along in the book for objects.

Though as Dan says, the concept of SIZ is pretty abstract.

 

[juca]

So, then what does size represents? General resilience is represented by Constitution, while physical prowess is represented by strength

 

[rust]

So, then what does size represents? General resilience is represented by Constitution, while physical prowess is represented by strength

It represents body mass, although in a somewhat vague way.

 

[DamonJynx]

So, then what does size represents? General resilience is represented by Constitution, while physical prowess is represented by strength

NFI. Primarily it used to be used in determining reach and also HP.

 

[soltakss]

So, then what does size represents? General resilience is represented by Constitution, while physical prowess is represented by strength

How big you are?

 

[alex_greene]

One thing I have never seen in an RPG but which you'd think would crop up all the time - a SIZ test to determine whether someone can fit through a narrow duct such as a ventilation shaft.

How many Adventurers here have had to face the prospect of having to crawl through a spiderweb-filled, dusty air vent or crawlway simple because they had the smallest SIZ of the party?

Apart from Adventurers of the dwarf species, I mean ...

 

[hanszurcher]

One thing I have never seen in an RPG but which you'd think would crop up all the time - a SIZ test to determine whether someone can fit through a narrow duct such as a ventilation shaft.

How many Adventurers here have had to face the prospect of having to crawl through a spiderweb-filled, dusty air vent or crawlway simple because they had the smallest SIZ of the party?

Apart from Adventurers of the dwarf species, I mean ...

Sending the little guy crawling through the cramped creepy passage is a common occurrence in Call of Cthulhu. Usually with some sort of handheld transceiver so I can fit a variation of “You fool, Warren is DEAD!” into the game.

 

[soltakss]

One thing I have never seen in an RPG but which you'd think would crop up all the time - a SIZ test to determine whether someone can fit through a narrow duct such as a ventilation shaft.

How many Adventurers here have had to face the prospect of having to crawl through a spiderweb-filled, dusty air vent or crawlway simple because they had the smallest SIZ of the party?

Apart from Adventurers of the dwarf species, I mean ...

This was included in a couple of RQ scenarios many years ago. The solution was to set narrow tunnels a Squeeze score and ask ask for a SIZ vs Squeeze roll. It was a bit backwards, but the upshot was if you failed you got through. So, two PCs, one SIZ 12 the other SIZ 15 going through a Squeeze 10 would have to fail a 12vs10 (60%) roll and a 15vs10 (75%) roll. I've have said succeed in a 10vs12 (40%) and 10vs15 (25%) roll as that makes more sense to me. Anyone with SIZ under the Squeeze gets through wothout a roll.

In Legend, you would have a Squeeze score vs a SIZx10% as an opposed roll.

So, a narrow shaft might have Squeeze 50%, and the above PCs would have to roll 50% vs 60% and 75% respectively to get through.

 

[hanszurcher]

...The solution was to set narrow tunnels a Squeeze score and ask ask for a SIZ vs Squeeze roll. ...

That's a little complex for me. Usually I'd just go with a "The entrance is fairly small and only an investigator of SIZ 12 or less would be able to squeeze through it".

But that method (SIZ vs Squeeze) would be cool if the PC is trying to evade a big CHUD by ducking into a smaller side passage. Adds a bit of uncertainty to the proceedings.

 

[soltakss]

That's a little complex for me. Usually I'd just go with a "The entrance is fairly small and only an investigator of SIZ 12 or less would be able to squeeze through it".

That's fine, but it reduces the tension. If you know up front that you can't get through then there's no point trying.

Also, if someone is SIZ 13 then they are only a bit bigger than SIZ 12, so it is reasonable to argue that with a bit of squeezing around you can get through.

But that method (SIZ vs Squeeze) would be cool if the PC is trying to evade a big CHUD by ducking into a smaller side passage. Adds a bit of uncertainty to the proceedings.

Uncertainty is the big factor. We also played that if you fumbled the roll then you got stuck - not great if you are in a cave being chased by broos.

 

[hanszurcher]

That's a little complex for me. Usually I'd just go with a "The entrance is fairly small and only an investigator of SIZ 12 or less would be able to squeeze through it".

That's fine, but it reduces the tension. If you know up front that you can't get through then there's no point trying.

Also, if someone is SIZ 13 then they are only a bit bigger than SIZ 12, so it is reasonable to argue that with a bit of squeezing around you can get through.
...

In play I'd certainly phrase it a bit differently depending on the players queries concerning the orifice in question. Not giving out the mechanical SIZ 12 requirement for creepy passage traversal restores tension and doesn't give any potential rules lawyer a mechanic or number to latch on to.

SIZ 12 is already a squeeze so SIZ 13 is out. My rulings are final. Says so right on the back of my Kiss the GM t-shirt.

 

[DamonJynx]

My rulings are final. Says so right on the back of my Kiss the GM t-shirt.

+1 :lol: