So I'm working on a campaign setting and I thought it would be interesting if dwarves were actually not small but really big. Like about as tall as a human but with the same dwarven proportions.
So I thought about how to implement this, but in a way i can still use the statblocks of dwarves in the NPC codex and other NPC resources. Some people who have been playing since at least 3.5 might remember the goliaths. Who used weapons one size category larger. I thought I would use that same rule.
So dwarves would gain the ability to use weapons one size category larger than their own (they are still medium), but don't gain any other large size benefits (CMB bonus, reach etc.) or penalties.
In exchange they would lose defensive trainng, hatred and weapon familiarity.
This way the only effective change i have to remember when using a premade dwarf statblock is to up the weapon damage dice by one category and ignore the bonuses against specific races.
Does this seem like a fair trade? I know there is a popular opinion that larger weapons are somewhat of a balance problem, which is why paizo for example did not bring the monkey grip feat into any of their books.
You might want to look up the "Mul" from the Dark Sun setting. These hybrids of human and dwarf are pretty much what you are describing, as they have the build of a dwarf scaled up to the height of a human.
I actually converted my old 3.5E dwarven subrace into Pathfinder a ways back, and it's similar to what you are looking to do.
On rare occasions, dwarven children are born with a peculiar abnormality. Just as humans can be stricken by the genetic maladies of gigantism, dwarves can contract a form of gigantism. Those born with this condition, affectionately called bigitis by the dwarves, grow to enormous size, increasing in both mass and girth well beyond that which is normal for their race. By the time they reach maturity, this change results in a tremendous increase in the dwarf’s physical strength, a stature of 6 to 6½ feet, and weight of nearly 500 pounds. However, this increase in size also hinders the dwarf’s agility. A giant dwarf has the same racial traits as a normal dwarf, except as noted below.
Ability Scores: Giant dwarves are much like other dwarves, but are stronger and less agile than others of their kind. They gain +4 Strength and –2 Dexterity, in addition to the normal dwarven ability scores.
Base Speed: (Steady) Giant dwarves have a base speed of 30 feet due to their size increase, but their speed is never modified by armor or encumbrance as normal.
Powerful Build: The physical stature of giant dwarves lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a giant dwarf is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for a Combat Maneuver Bonus or Combat Maneuver Defense (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the giant dwarf is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A giant dwarf is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A giant dwarf can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
Improved Poison Resistance: Giant dwarves are more resilient to poisons than normal. Their bonus to saving throws against poison granted by the Hardy racial trait increases to +4.
Reduced Defensive Training: Giant dwarves gain only a +2 dodge bonus to AC against monsters of the giant type. This replaces the Defensive Training racial trait.
These types of dwarves, though often included in their normal society, are just as often shunned (often unwittingly), and therefore will leave their homes to find a place to fit in, usually within the human societies.
Well the idea is that i have to retool as little as possible from existing stat blocks, basically not have to recalculate anything, that isn't very easy to switch out.
For example as soon as i have a change in strength i have to add to attack bonuses and check if two handed damage goes up by 1 or 2.
You know, I have an NPC codex, and I like the convenience of it, and going with changes that require recalculation would just detract from that.
Then all you really want to do then is instead of the 4-foot dwarves, make them 6-foot dwarves, and give them the Powerful Build racial trait. Nothing else really needs to change, as that is still within the realm of the Medium size creature.
My "giant dwarves" are a racial anomaly with magical repercussions, and much more complex than what you're looking for.
Mountain Men?