Its fairly simple of a question, but I can't seem to find the answer in the rulebook.
In d&d there was a paragraph that said that your size was determined by you the player when you build the PC. But in pathfinder it seems to be built in to the race its self. Is there a way to make, for instance, a small human or elf? Obviously gm fiat is the simplest answer, but I'm looking for raw.
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You misunderstand. Even in D&D (at least 3rd Edition), the size of a race was set. However, there is a limited variation within any race's size and weight range. Humans, for instance, can range from about 4'-7', however, this cannot alter their size enough to change their size classification and thus, any associated mechanical alterations. Rules for customizing your height and weight are buried somewhere in the Core Rulebook, near age rules and carrying capacity.
In the absence of DM house rules or obscure 3rd-party material (for instance, Atlas Games' Nyambe: African Adventures 3.0 setting made it possible to play a pygmy human), a PC-age member of a given race is the size the race's rules say they are, and always have been, as far as I'm aware.
Sorry, but as far as RAW is concerned, you can't be Peter Dinkelage.
Alas, you mis-remember.
In pre-PF days, D&D likewise maintained size category as the component of the race. Gnomes were always Small, Humans were always Medium, Ogres were always Large; what you're (most likely) thinking of is normal size variance within a race - i.e. Human normal height variance would be something like 5' - 7', all within Medium size template.
One solution that may be available to you would be GM permission to apply a different Size trait to your character - i.e. if you're playing a Human, your GM may allow you to make him Small rather than Medium, along with the following modifiers:
Size: Small creatures a +1 size bonus to their AC, a +1 size bonus on attack rolls, a –1 penalty to their Combat Maneuver Bonus and Combat Maneuver Defense, and a +4 size bonus on Stealth checks.
(This, of course, would be a house rule and not acceptable in PFS etc.)
Alternately, you can always for sake of RP claim your Orc is 4' tall, but still treat him as Medium-sized for all rules governing size (As long as you don't try to milk that for odd situational benefits.) and I reckon any GM worth his salt out there would chuckle at it and let it be.
<Edit : Durned Ninjas :) >
Says who?
I see two choices. Firstly, you can have a Permanent Reduce Person cast upon yourself. You'll need to get the DM's approval of course. Secondly, ask him if you can apply the Young template to your character; it reduces your size (and messes with your stats a little)
Ask your GM about both but that's the best I can imagine.
No. By RAW, there is nothing save a few templates (Young for example) and spells that can make your character anything other than the size listed in the racial stat block.
A house rule or GM approval is the only way to get what you want within the confines of a 1st-level character's limited resources - approval to use one of those templates, have a permanent spell effect on you, or simply to be naturally Small despite playing a normally-Medium race.
Sorry, but as far as RAW is concerned, you can't be Peter Dinkelage.
Actually you can. Peter Dinklage is 4'5" tall -- on the tall side (albeit a bit skinny) for a D&D dwarf.
Thanks guys. And yes, the size variance from 3.0 was exactly what I was referring to. But I was under the assumption that in that rule set if a character was smaller/larger then x feet tall it adjusted their size. That was my understanding anyway. Ohh well. I was trying to make my new witch a small human or elf so that I could benefit from the + to ac, but I guess I will just stick with ratfolk. I just don't like the idea of her being so hideous of a race.
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Actually you can. Peter Dinklage is 4'5" tall -- on the tall side (albeit a bit skinny) for a D&D dwarf.
Ah, careful there. D&D Dwarves aren't Humans with a congenital anomaly, they're their own species and culture. I read that Dinkelage actually had grievances with the fantasy genre for their portrayal of Dwarves - guy didn't quite appreciate the distinction made between people like him called and the mythical Dwarven RACE.
As for OP: If you don't want to be a Ratfolk, might I suggest an alternative: Wayangs. They have the same ability bonuses as Elves and Ratfolk, are Small, and are only "hideous" if you don't like wacky Indonesian shadow puppets. Gods know I do!
Or you could be a Human and take the dodge feat.
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In this case, GM Fiat is the only RAW you'll find. You're going to have to ask for a GM boon on this if you're looking for RAW text to force a yes, you're not going to find any. Keep in mind this means you take all of the negatives as well... reduced movement rate and encumbrance, lowered weapon damage dice, etc. etc.
Granted, it's been well-demonstrated in other threads that as far as encumbrance from one's own equipment goes, Small characters actually come out ahead since Small equipment weighs so much less. On that note, permit me to mention something else about Wayangs: They're a Small race, but they DON'T take a Strength penalty.
That said, rashiakas is right: If all you really want is the AC advantage, be a Human or Elf and take the Dodge feat.
Now, Tieflings, and Aasimar can be small, or medium.
Neither of those races can be made small according to RAW. It does say that they "come in all shapes and sizes", but their size is still always medium.
Now, Tieflings, and Aasimar can be small, or medium.Neither of those races can be made small according to RAW. It does say that they "come in all shapes and sizes", but their size is still always medium.
Incorrect. See the sidebar for non-human Tieflings.
The creatures of the depths of the Outer Planes do not limit their foul miscegenation to humanity. Elves, dwarves, halflings, and gnomes all have tales of tieflings in their histories, and those who appear among them now often suffer even greater stigma than those born to humans.
Other humanoids see tieflings in their midst as well. Many of the monstrous races of the world have demonic origins—most notably gnolls, who still thank the Mother of Monsters for their birth. Ogres, orcs, half-orcs, goblins, and other creatures that call upon the powers of the evil Outer Planes are equally likely to see tieflings living among them, but unless a given race holds to a code of racial purity, tieflings are far less likely to be shunned by such populations
It should be noted that while any monster or animal that breeds with a fiend may give birth to half-fiend offspring, only humanoids may give birth to tieflings. Thus, while it’s possible to encounter a half-fiend dragon, bear, or otyugh, any children of such creatures would be either half-fiends or normal members of their race. (And just as often, these less conventional half-fiends are simply sterile.) When discussing half-fiends and tieflings, it’s important to distinguish them from both true fiends (devils, demons, etc.) and simple fiendish creatures (creatures with the fiendish template, which are themselves denizens of the evil Outer Planes but similar in many ways to their Material Plane counterparts).
In game terms, the difference between non-human tieflings and human tieflings is purely a matter of size. Unless they have specific tiefling-related size modifiers, the tieflings of each of these races are the same size as their non-fiendish ancestors. They gain any of the bonuses or penalties related to that size, but gain no racial bonuses except those of the tiefling; beyond size, their humanoid ancestry is purely cosmetic.
Tieflings: Variant 44, Unnaturally Short: Gives the benefits (and drawbacks) of being small.
Actually you can. Peter Dinklage is 4'5" tall -- on the tall side (albeit a bit skinny) for a D&D dwarf.
Ah, careful there. D&D Dwarves aren't Humans with a congenital anomaly, they're their own species and culture. I read that Dinkelage actually had grievances with the fantasy genre for their portrayal of Dwarves - guy didn't quite appreciate the distinction made between people like him called and the mythical Dwarven RACE.
I was just meaning to compare his height and weight with that of a D&D dwarf, not say that he is a D&D dwarf. The PRD gives 4'5" as the maximum height of a D&D dwarf -- and according to IMDB, that is exactly Peter Dinklage's height. I have no figure for his weight, but I am sure from looking at him that he weighs much less than 206 pounds (the appropriate weight for a D&D dwarf of his height). But I would not be surprised if his weight is within the range for a considerably taller elf.
But the main point I was making is that Peter Dinklage actually qualifies as size Medium rather than Small, since he is several inches over 4' tall. For size Small, you should go with Herve Villechaize (barely under 4' tall) or Verne Troyer (who is actually smaller than a halfling).
Thank you very much uber nerd. This is exactly what I was looking for. Tie fling was a race I was thinking about anyway, so the ability to make it smell is just icing on the cake. Too bad I can't have elf racial traits, but ohh well...