Discussion:Size re-calculation justified?

Size re-calculation justified?

TribalJack 11:30, 30 August 2009 (MDT)

In researching for my new Druid heading to Chult soon, I noticed that there has been some recalculations on the size categories of some of the dinosaurs. An example is the Megaraptor going from Huge to Large SRD:megaraptor. I was wondering if such changes/recalculations are backed up by official reference material, if so, can I get pointer toward that? Much appreciation for this wonderful resource of game information!

Ghostwheel 21:22, 30 August 2009 (MDT)

While creatures "in the wild" gain size categories depending on how many HD they gain, the animal companions of druids do not do so. (See page 14 of the FAQ for the clarification.)

TribalJack 22:30, 30 August 2009 (MDT)

Thanks for the quick response! However, I was not looking for the animal companion's gaining in size, but at the starting size of the creatures. The Megaraptor was listed as a "huge" in the Monster's manual, and by re-calculating it to "large", it makes it available to wild shape without having the ability to morph into huge animals. So at a standard 8HD, would a megaraptor be a huge or a large becomes a question of 7 levels of druid difference. Again, thanks for the response, I look forward to any help.

Ghostwheel 23:22, 30 August 2009 (MDT)

The size of your animal companions isn't decided by what size animals you can morph into, so no, you couldn't do that without specific house rules by the DM.

Jota 23:49, 30 August 2009 (MDT)

I think he means could he wild shape into the megaraptor at level 8 (since the modified version is Large) rather than at level 15 (if it were Huge). I would be inclined to yes (if that's what you're asking), although it all comes down to your DM, I suppose.

TribalJack 11:50, 31 August 2009 (MDT)

Thanks Jota, that is indeed what I meant. I am looking for the sources behind that re-calculation so when I approach my DM on this topic, I can be certain that my resources are reliable enough to make this argument, that the megaraptor is actually a "large" and not a "huge". So far, I have been unable to find anything that justifies this re-calculation.

Ghostwheel 12:58, 31 August 2009 (MDT)

To make the megaraptor Large instead of Huge, you might want to use this table. So a Large Megaraptor would have -8 str, +2 dex, -4 con, -1 natural armor, and an extra +1 to size and attack from its size modifier.

TheWarforgedArtificer 13:03, 31 August 2009 (MDT)

Oh! I see what's going on here! I can clear this up quick.

The 3.5e Monster Manual does indeed list the Megaraptor as a Huge Animal. However, when looking at this site's SRD, anytime you see something crossed out and something highlighted in green, what you are looking at is the incorporation of the Wizard's official "errata', or "them-fixing-some-mistake-in-the-published-material". This page lists all the errata material that Wizards released for 3.5e. If you open up the Monster Manual errata and scroll down to find the Megaraptor, you will indeed find that it has been altered to Large (among other things).

So, it all comes down to whether or not your DM wants to stick to the old published material, or incorporate errata (since many small-time DnD players never visit the wizard's website, they obviously don't use errata, and that's not necessarily wrong). Both are 100% official, it's only that one is more recent than the other.

TribalJack 12:30, 31 August 2009 (MDT)

Perfect! Thanks for the clarification, you guys are awesome!

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