Enlarge vs reduce person consistency?


Rules Questions

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I scanned through the forums, and searched every thread I could while taking care of a 4 year old and I couldn't find an answer. I know it is probably there, but RL restrictions preclude me from taking the time to find it.

I found a discrepancy in how enlarge person works in comparison to reduce person. I can understand why it might be left this way to minimize power-gaming.

Enlarge person states "Any enlarged item that leaves an enlarged creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown and projectile weapons deal their normal damage."

This is contradictory compared to reduce person which states "Any reduced item that leaves the reduced creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage (projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them)."

To me by common sense the enlarged bow should deal more damage than the normal bow if the reduced bow deals less damage. It takes more force to launch an enlarged arrow, even if it shrinks after it leaves the bow.

The rule of "(projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them)" from reduce person SHOULD hold true both ways for consistency.

And yes, I DO understand consistency is not always consistent in PFS. I just wanted to get some clarification as I both use Enlarged Titan Fighters and Reduced small casters.

Thanks for your time and consideration in your answers.


You are absolutely right about the inconsistency. It is there purely for reasons of game balance, to keep either spell from being too powerful, and has nothing to do with realism or common sense.

(Whether game balance actually requires it... is another can of worms.)

Dark Archive

Ok, I thought that was the case. ahh well. Thanks you very much for the quick response.

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