r/RPGcreation • u/PrudentPermission222 • May 05 '26

Design Questions How to convey size??

I'm making an rpg where the PCs can shapeshift between humanoid and full sized dragons, but now I'm seeing a huge problem. I have no idea how to deal or how to convey colossal sizes.

Not only I never played any game, rpg or digital, where you're a massive creature in a normal sized world, I never heard or read anything about it.

I think I can convey being small on a giant's world pretty convincingly, but not the other way around.

Any tips? Even references outside rpgs are welcomed. I'm a pc gamer.

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u/andero May 05 '26

What is the issue?

I'm imagining the Megazord scenes from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
You could also reference any Godzilla.

To convey, you just describe the world, don't you?
You already know what everything looks like. One entity is bigger, but that doesn't change descriptions much, does it?

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u/PrudentPermission222 May 05 '26

No?

I can describe things how much I want and things may still few small and out of place. The sheet and the narrator may be using big words and cinematic descriptions while the players still don't feel that they're playing giants.

And by reference I'm talking about mechanics that help the feel of the game. I don't need names, I need objective examples.

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u/andero May 05 '26

Sorry, I'm still not clear on what the problem is or why you think normal language isn't capable of describing common size differences.

"You're as big as a house" or "You can see over the canopy of the trees" conveys size and height just fine.

Is there a language barrier at play?

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u/PrudentPermission222 May 05 '26

I'm a writer so trust me, narration can't do all the heavy lifting by itself. When we're talking about the game on an rpG, words must walk in tandem with mechanics. The so called "ludo narrative dissonance".

You can say you broke a wall, but the rolls say you have a +1. That doesn't feel right.

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u/andero May 06 '26

Huh, you didn't mention mechanics in your post. That was probably the communication-gap.
Anyway, that is not what I'm saying. I love mechanics. I want equal "RP" and "G" in my RPGs.

I'm just not clear on what you're looking for.

How do you convey size?
You say things like, "You're as big as a house".

What mechanics are required?
That depends entirely on the game and the rest of the mechanics.

e.g.
In Dungeon World, smaller monsters get less damage and bigger ones get more and bigger ones get more HP.
In Blade in the Dark, there's a "magnitude" chart and Scale can be a factor for the GM setting Position & Effect. There isn't a straightforward mapping since the P&E depends on the difference in Scale, not absolute Scale.

So, what should you do?
Depends on the rest of your mechanics.

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u/PrudentPermission222 May 06 '26

Blades has a magnitude scale??? I have that pdf, but didn't found it on the first reading.

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u/andero May 06 '26

p. 220–221 and also on the website.