Size increase and movement

[Ryan Symes]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place. First time posting.

I have a question for your rule givers....

If a creature is enlarged in size (say, adding the Giant template to a medium cat like a Leopard), does its speed increase, too?

I've checked, and EVERY cat-type quadruped I've found of large size has movement of 40ft. Leopards, due to being smaller at Medium, have 30ft.

So, basically, if the Leopard goes to Large size, with added stride length and strength, would its speed go up to the standard 40ft for large cats?

I would appreciate replies by tomorrow, as I am GM'ing Friday, and this might become relevant very fast.

Regards

[Claxon]

The template provides exactly what it says it does, without looking at the template to confirm. No, it doesn't grant a speed increase.

Edit:

Quote:

Giant Creature (+1)

Creatures with the giant template are larger and stronger than their normal-sized kin. This template cannot be applied to creatures that are Colossal.

Quick Rules: +2 to all rolls based on Str or Con, +2 hp/HD, –1 penalty on all rolls based on Dex.

Rebuild Rules: Size increase by one category; AC increase natural armor by +3; Attacks increase dice rolled by 1 step; Ability Scores +4 size bonus to Str and Con, –2 Dex.

No mention of speed increase, so it doesn't get one.

[Ryan Symes]

I am aware of what the book says (I'm not an idiot, I do research first).

What I wanted to know, from the DEVELOPERS/RULES TEAM, is if this is something to be considered, as a possible omission, that can be put in (Since it DOES make sense, especially for quadrupeds), or if this is one of those doesn't-make-sense-but-hardwired-in rules...

[Claxon]

You're not going to get a response from the developers or rule team, at least not before tomorrow. Probably not ever, unless you can get people to hit FAQ. Even then, it's not a frequently asked question and how it functions is clearly laid out and not misunderstood. I don't think that anyone would consider it an omission or oversight either.

What you really meant to ask is whether or not other people agree that a size increase should provide a movement bonus. I still think no.

All the same, you're the GM. You can make whatever changes you want to a monster. Those templates are just guidelines for what bonuses to give and how they adjust CR. If you want to give it +10 movement and give it the giant template I would still only increase the CR by 1.

In short, no, but you can do it anyway.

[Power Flower]

Yes, in the Bestiary larger creatures usually move faster than their smaller cousins, but no, upgrading a creature usually does not make it faster even if it increases in size. Well, apart from dragons aging, but that is not what you're after, I guess.

Spells like Enlarge Person, Animal Growth and Righteous Might all say explicitly that speed is unchanged.

The exeption is the transmutation[polymorph] school; as it says in the school description (CRB p. 211 & 212), "your base speed changes to match that of the form you assume".

Off the top of my head I can't think of a single non-polymorph size increase that improves speed. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but... It's been this way since 3.x, chances are good it's a feature, not a bug. But I will admit I have always found it counterintuitive and slightly annoying.