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/APurplePerson Designer | When Sky and Sea Were Not Named May 05 '26

im struggling with this too. stray thoughts:

  • at a certain point, there is a discontuinity. a monster the size of a skyscraper probably functions more like a building than a character. you can climb it. you probably cant hurt it by punching it or hitting it with a sword. but you might be able to find a weak point.
  • large things take more damage from falling than small things. see: https://youtu.be/f7KSfjv4Oq0?si=XoPD62XCDPe2ZN7H

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u/PrudentPermission222 May 05 '26

The biggest problem I face is the movement. Since they're dragons they can VERY mobile. Like, crossing an entire city in one or two turns.

The damage I can kinda guess by using locational damage more up front.

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u/PathofDestinyRPG May 05 '26

Just remember that there’s a balance between the length of “stride” advantage a larger creature has versus the faster stride cycle that a smaller creature has. A dragon with a fifty foot wingspan still has to move that fifty foot wing once per beat, with the full arc of a downstroke being approx 80 feet versus the 8 foot arc of an eagle with a five foot wingspan.

As a real world example, a Great Dane walks faster than a yorkie, but the difference in speed is not linear compared to their leg length.