A monster can be Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan. The Size Categories table shows how much space a creature of a particular size controls in combat. See the Movement and Position section for more information on creature size and space.
The specific creature sizes in each size category varies.
Just look at medium humanoids. They range from 4 to 8 feet tall. Meanwhile some large beasts may have a shoulder height under 4 feet when on all fours.
That's what I was afraid of. Anyone know of a 3rd party list where someone has figured out a more specific size for various creatures? Especially since Small & Medium are both 5x5? Is that an error that hasn't been fixed?
That's what I was afraid of. Anyone know of a 3rd party list where someone has figured out a more specific size for various creatures? Especially since Small & Medium are both 5x5? Is that an error that hasn't been fixed?
No, that's intentional. Battle is typically done on a grid of 5' x 5' squares. There are other things that are affected by creature size (such as Small creatures having disadvantage with Heavy weapons,) thus the need for the distinction between Small and Medium despite them both being 5' x 5'. Tiny (2.5' x 2.5') creatures also have some special rules that affect them, but mostly they have a different size to allow them to fit through spaces too small for other creatures at full speed. Don't forget that creatures can squeeze to fit through spaces one size smaller than them, although this halves their movement speed and gives them disadvantage on attack rolls and Dex saves. Medium creatures can't squeeze to shrink their size, since Small is one size below them and is still 5' x 5'. Small creatures can squeeze through Tiny spaces; 2.5' x 2.5'.
I'm curious as to why you need specific sizes? Calling them by their size category and saying they fill an X' x X' amount of space should be enough for most everything. If you simply want to describe it for flavor, just ballpark it.
I want to know how to describe them to characters. Like describing a cockatrice: "It looks like this bat/chicken/lizard thing that's [the size of a chicken, up to the humans' knees, up to their waste, etc.]" Or the next encounter they'll have is with giant rats & a giant weasel. A giant rat the size of a cat is scary. A giant rat that's up to your waste is terrifying.
Keep in mind that because you as the DM are free to adjust the HD of the monster up or down from the listed stat block, you can also adjust the description for your players accordingly. So it's not a bug, it's a feature. :)
I would say google is your friend with something like this. Do a couple of searches on the creatures you are trying to run, and see what they have to say. look at the art in the books, and figure out a few averages and go from there. And worse case scenario just make that stuff up.
How do I know how big a monster is? There's the general category, but descriptions don't give actual sizes beyond that. Am I missing something?
Dale
Helping you make lives better through TTRPGs
A monster can be Tiny, Small, Medium, Large, Huge, or Gargantuan. The Size Categories table shows how much space a creature of a particular size controls in combat. See the Movement and Position section for more information on creature size and space.
Size Categories
That’s really all we have to go on. I think anything more specific than that is flavor.
The specific creature sizes in each size category varies.
Just look at medium humanoids. They range from 4 to 8 feet tall. Meanwhile some large beasts may have a shoulder height under 4 feet when on all fours.
DMs have to use their discretion.
Doesn’t it say on a monsters stat block the size?
The size category, but not the height or length as a number.
That's what I was afraid of. Anyone know of a 3rd party list where someone has figured out a more specific size for various creatures? Especially since Small & Medium are both 5x5? Is that an error that hasn't been fixed?
Dale
Helping you make lives better through TTRPGs
The size area/volume are the space the creature threatens - not the space they take up - basically. So there's no error there with small/medium.
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No, that's intentional. Battle is typically done on a grid of 5' x 5' squares. There are other things that are affected by creature size (such as Small creatures having disadvantage with Heavy weapons,) thus the need for the distinction between Small and Medium despite them both being 5' x 5'. Tiny (2.5' x 2.5') creatures also have some special rules that affect them, but mostly they have a different size to allow them to fit through spaces too small for other creatures at full speed. Don't forget that creatures can squeeze to fit through spaces one size smaller than them, although this halves their movement speed and gives them disadvantage on attack rolls and Dex saves. Medium creatures can't squeeze to shrink their size, since Small is one size below them and is still 5' x 5'. Small creatures can squeeze through Tiny spaces; 2.5' x 2.5'.
I'm curious as to why you need specific sizes? Calling them by their size category and saying they fill an X' x X' amount of space should be enough for most everything. If you simply want to describe it for flavor, just ballpark it.
I want to know how to describe them to characters. Like describing a cockatrice: "It looks like this bat/chicken/lizard thing that's [the size of a chicken, up to the humans' knees, up to their waste, etc.]" Or the next encounter they'll have is with giant rats & a giant weasel. A giant rat the size of a cat is scary. A giant rat that's up to your waste is terrifying.
Dale
Helping you make lives better through TTRPGs
All DMs do that, you don't need a premade list or anything. Just describe them how you imagine them in the moment.
Keep in mind that because you as the DM are free to adjust the HD of the monster up or down from the listed stat block, you can also adjust the description for your players accordingly. So it's not a bug, it's a feature. :)
I would say google is your friend with something like this. Do a couple of searches on the creatures you are trying to run, and see what they have to say. look at the art in the books, and figure out a few averages and go from there. And worse case scenario just make that stuff up.
if your bigger than 20 ft, I thought that was colossal
Colossal was in D&D Miniature game if i remember, the largest Creature Size & Space is Gargantuan in 5E.
Something i notice in the revision of the Player's Handbook is they removed 20 by 20 ft.
or largerfrom it.