Depends on the context. Are we talking: 'You'll have to toss me...' from the Battle of Helm's Deep? Or are we throwing a halfling out of a window, or off a bridge, or into some other precarious situation?
If it's a simple: 'I want to pick up this gnome and throw him as far as I can', then I'd probably rule a simple Strength check - maybe disadvantage if they're not willing.
If it's more of an attack, then consider the Shove rules.
If it's helping an ally across a chasm, then maybe a joint 'Help Action' could give the one crossing the gap advantage on an Athletics check?
Finally, remember that while a Gnome and Halfling are Small, a Dwarf is medium.
If you have being thrown cause fall damage for the distance of the throw, then there's kind of already concentration rules baked right in for taking damage while concentrating. Even if you don't have the throw cause damage, a DC 10 concentration save would not be out of place.
An athletics check with a size modifier (let's say +5 for two sizes smaller, +0 for one size smaller, -5 for same size, can't throw larger), the result of which equals feet thrown, would be pretty straightforward to calculate at the table. A willing creature being thrown can use their reaction to help or hinder being thrown, giving advantage or disadvantage, while an unconscious or conscious creature not using reaction is thrown with a normal roll. A level 1 medium barbarian with 17 strength would end up being able to throw a halfling anywhere between 0 and 25 feet, while a 20th level barbarian with 24 strength would throw the same halfling anywhere between 8 and 33 feet (or with expertise in athletics, 14 to 39 feet). Trying to use weight to modify the throw instead of size might sound more 'realistic,' but would be a mistake because many players won't be accurately tracking their weight, let alone NPCs and monsters, while size is a stat that is readily determinable. This distance range seems to me like it strikes a good sweet spot of doing roughly what you'll want it to in-game (right from level 1, you've got a chance of being able to toss small friends across chasms, but also a good chance of failure... and at level 20 you aren't breaking physics, just performing similar feats with more reliability), while also kind of approximating real world benchmarks (world record shot putters are able to throw 16 lb. aerodynamic Tiny objects about 75 feet... throwing a live, wriggling Tiny creature with clothes and arms and whatnot about half that distance in a best case scenario sounds about right).
Another option would be to just try to remix the long jump rules. Maybe... you can throw any target you've grappled up to a number of feet equal to half your strength, or full strength if you've moved at least 10 feet before throwing? That is even more straightforward and simple, only considering size to the extent that it controls who you can grapple in the first place. Throw distances will be static predictable numbers, and be a little more reliable at low levels than the above method but less epic at high levels.
Thank you, and do you think a spellcaster would be able to retain concentration when thrown?
I had a troll pick up a dwarf and throw him across a room into a wall. The dwarf took a single point of damage and fell prone. The single point of damage was meant to cause a concentration check. It seemed reasonable and modest.
Thank you, and do you think a spellcaster would be able to retain concentration when thrown?
If I were DMing, I think I'd make the spellcaster roll an acrobatics check to see if he sticks the landing. If he sticks the landing, great no problem.
If no, then a concentration check, perhaps at disadvantage.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
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My friend asked because he is GMing right now.
I would imagine it’s a strength check.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
athletics?
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Haven’t used this account in forever. Still a big fan of crawling claws.
maybe add a dexterity check for where the midget lands?
Depends on the context. Are we talking: 'You'll have to toss me...' from the Battle of Helm's Deep? Or are we throwing a halfling out of a window, or off a bridge, or into some other precarious situation?
If it's a simple: 'I want to pick up this gnome and throw him as far as I can', then I'd probably rule a simple Strength check - maybe disadvantage if they're not willing.
If it's more of an attack, then consider the Shove rules.
If it's helping an ally across a chasm, then maybe a joint 'Help Action' could give the one crossing the gap advantage on an Athletics check?
Finally, remember that while a Gnome and Halfling are Small, a Dwarf is medium.
Thank you, and do you think a spellcaster would be able to retain concentration when thrown?
If you have being thrown cause fall damage for the distance of the throw, then there's kind of already concentration rules baked right in for taking damage while concentrating. Even if you don't have the throw cause damage, a DC 10 concentration save would not be out of place.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Thanks and there's no real ruling on how far you can throw a small creature, any ideas?
An athletics check with a size modifier (let's say +5 for two sizes smaller, +0 for one size smaller, -5 for same size, can't throw larger), the result of which equals feet thrown, would be pretty straightforward to calculate at the table. A willing creature being thrown can use their reaction to help or hinder being thrown, giving advantage or disadvantage, while an unconscious or conscious creature not using reaction is thrown with a normal roll. A level 1 medium barbarian with 17 strength would end up being able to throw a halfling anywhere between 0 and 25 feet, while a 20th level barbarian with 24 strength would throw the same halfling anywhere between 8 and 33 feet (or with expertise in athletics, 14 to 39 feet). Trying to use weight to modify the throw instead of size might sound more 'realistic,' but would be a mistake because many players won't be accurately tracking their weight, let alone NPCs and monsters, while size is a stat that is readily determinable. This distance range seems to me like it strikes a good sweet spot of doing roughly what you'll want it to in-game (right from level 1, you've got a chance of being able to toss small friends across chasms, but also a good chance of failure... and at level 20 you aren't breaking physics, just performing similar feats with more reliability), while also kind of approximating real world benchmarks (world record shot putters are able to throw 16 lb. aerodynamic Tiny objects about 75 feet... throwing a live, wriggling Tiny creature with clothes and arms and whatnot about half that distance in a best case scenario sounds about right).
Another option would be to just try to remix the long jump rules. Maybe... you can throw any target you've grappled up to a number of feet equal to half your strength, or full strength if you've moved at least 10 feet before throwing? That is even more straightforward and simple, only considering size to the extent that it controls who you can grapple in the first place. Throw distances will be static predictable numbers, and be a little more reliable at low levels than the above method but less epic at high levels.
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
I had a troll pick up a dwarf and throw him across a room into a wall. The dwarf took a single point of damage and fell prone. The single point of damage was meant to cause a concentration check. It seemed reasonable and modest.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
If I were DMing, I think I'd make the spellcaster roll an acrobatics check to see if he sticks the landing. If he sticks the landing, great no problem.
If no, then a concentration check, perhaps at disadvantage.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha