Penalty Skill Levels versus the Size Modifier

[bigbywolfe]

Well, sort of a rules question anyway.

I was working on the idea for a performing sharp shooter/trick shot kind of character and had an idea I’d like to run by everyone. Has anyone ever allowed PSL versus the size penalty instead of the range penalty? I like the idea, but what do you all think? Would there be anything unbalanced about allowing PSLs to be purchased for size? At first I thought that it might be a problem since small characters actually purchase their DCV to represent being small rather than actually having the size penalty attributed to the attacker, but I don’t really don’t think it would be unbalanced/unfair.

I know I could build this with heavily limited CSLs, but I don’t have a clue what the limitation value should be. Suggestions?

Note that I’m currently working in 5ER, but answers in regards to how this might work in 6E are welcome as well.

[prestidigitator]

Sounds good to me. Incidentally, I know it may not be technically correct, but I have small characters apply Persistent to their additional DCV and allow them to add it after any halving (or multiplying by zero) of DCV. Allowing Penalty Skill Levels to apply against it seems like a nice way of balancing that benefit (in addition to the minor extra cost).

[dmjalund]

it does seem that there is no explicit way to do that in the RAW (which I think is a significant oversight)

[Lucius]

Well, sort of a rules question anyway.

I was working on the idea for a performing sharp shooter/trick shot kind of character and had an idea I’d like to run by everyone. Has anyone ever allowed PSL versus the size penalty instead of the range penalty? I like the idea, but what do you all think? Would there be anything unbalanced about allowing PSLs to be purchased for size? At first I thought that it might be a problem since small characters actually purchase their DCV to represent being small rather than actually having the size penalty attributed to the attacker, but I don’t really don’t think it would be unbalanced/unfair.
I know I could build this with heavily limited CSLs, but I don’t have a clue what the limitation value should be. Suggestions?
Note that I’m currently working in 5ER, but answers in regards to how this might work in 6E are welcome as well.

Not only do I not see a problem with it, I think it's an excellent thing to add to small creatures or shrinking characters at small size, to represent the idea to that to a mouse another mouse IS "normal sized."

Lucius Alexander

Normal palindromedary

[dmjalund]

a small animal is only as easy to hit by another small animal if they are correspondingly closer to each other.

[Rapier]

I think I could easily be convinced of that. I once had a sniper that was point blank accurate out to a mile. He also had enough PSLs to counter a full on head shot. So head shots at a mile out were at -0! :) But he once had to shoot a rope and had lots of issues because the PSLs didn't apply.

Instead of allowing PSLs vs Size, I would be more inclined to just expand the definition of Called Shots to allow targetting of smaller than human sized targets.

[ghost-angel]

I wouldn't see any issue with it; I would use the Size Modifiers as a guideline to how many you would need to offset just for the size of the target (5ER p382 chart p375).

[Chimera 12]

a small animal is only as easy to hit by another small animal if they are correspondingly closer to each other.

Yes, but that's already covered by their reduced reach (part of the Physical Complication for their relevant size template).

[bigbywolfe]

Thanks for all the imput everyone. I think I'll go with this, and see how it works. If, however, in the future I want to build this ability and make sure it's RAW, what level of Limitation would you apply to CSLs?

[ajackson]

Thanks for all the imput everyone. I think I'll go with this, and see how it works. If, however, in the future I want to build this ability and make sure it's RAW, what level of Limitation would you apply to CSLs?
Well, it's 5 point OCV levels (in 6e, it's +OCV, same cost), Only to negate size modifier. Value depends on the game, I'd probably typically give a value of -1/2, or maybe -1/4 if you're using hit locations and figure they count as size modifiers.