Tome of Secrets: Drawbacks; Short

[Brian Kovich]

Quote:

SHORT

You are unusually small for your race.
Detriment: Humans, elves, and half-elves are
treated as Halflings for purposes of tactical
speed and reach. Short half-orcs are treated as
dwarves. Short dwarves have a tactical speed
of 15 ft. and a natural reach of 0. Short gnomes
and halflings have a tactical speed of 15 ft. (or 10
ft. when wearing medium or heavy armor) and a
natural reach of 0.

Is a halfling with short considered a tiny creature? If a halfling is under 2' and has a reach of 0, wouldn't it be a tiny creature? What about a human, elf, half elf? Are they considered a small creatures if short?

Or does this only affect speed and reach #'s?

Brian

[Lathiira]

As written, this says nothing about changing the size. So I'd stick with effects on tactical movement and reach and not go reading into it.

[Shisumo]

Being Tiny comes with several bonuses as well as additional penalties, all of which are outside the scope of the drawback as written. I would be extremely careful about bringing them in, lest you turn something that is intended as a penalty into an advantage instead.

[Walt Ciechanowski]

It wasn't my intent to change size, otherwise that discription would have been a lot simpler. "Short: You are one size category smaller than a typical member of your race."

Also, as has been said, going that route would have provided beneficial trade-offs, making this not much of a drawback at all.

[James Risner]

Lathiira wrote:

As written, this says nothing about changing the size. So I'd stick with effects on tactical movement and reach and not go reading into it.

+1