Large Player Characters
General Rules for Large Characters
Ability Score Maximums
Large creatures, on a whole, tend to be stronger than medium or smaller creatures; however, as a result they are not nearly as deft.
Their ability score maximum for Strength is increased by 2, and for Dexterity is decreased by 2.
Dexterity Ability Checks
Large creatures are as a whole less agile creatures, while this is represented by a lower possible Dexterity score, it is however still troubling to do a task with any sort of finesse unless time and effort is put in to do so.
Large creatures have disadvantage on all ability checks made with Dexterity, except initiative, unless they are proficient in the skill using it.
Lifting and Carrying
As mentioned in Chapter 5 of the Player's Handbook, larger creatures can carry more. The following terms define what you can lift or carry.
Carrying Capacity. Your carrying capacity is your Strength score multiplied by 30. This is the weight (in pounds) that you can carry, which is high enough that most characters don’t usually have to worry about it.
Push, Drag, or Lift. You can push, drag, or lift a weight in pounds up to twice your carrying capacity (or 60 times your Strength score). While pushing or dragging weight in excess of your carrying capacity, your speed drops to 5 feet.
Weapon Properties for Large Creatures
The weapons listed in the Player's Handbook have distinct properties, however these properties were defined with small and medium races in mind; what if you're large.
Heavy. For a large creature, heavy weapons are decidedly not so. A large creature can treat a heavy melee weapon with the versatile property instead.
Weapons that deal 1d10 damage gain Versatile (1d12), and weapons that deal 1d12 or 2d6 damage gain Versatile (2d8).
Light. Large creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with light weapons. A light's weapon's diminutive size makes it hard for a large creature to hold properly.
Massive. For a large creature, massive weapons are still somewhat impractical, but easier to weild due to their impressive strength. The creature's Strength is considered 4 higher for the purposes of being able to attack with the weapon.
Two-Handed. While a melee weapon with this property or a ranged weapon with this and the loading property, require two hands for a smaller creature to use, you can easily hold it in one hand.
Versatile. When wielded by a large creature, versatile weapons deal their two-handed damage when wielded in one hand.
One-Handed Weapons
And while one-handed isn't strictly a weapon property, defining it here is useful.
One-handed weapons without the versatile property are small enough for use when fighting with two weapons. See the rules for two-weapon fighting in chapter 9 in the Player's Handbook.
Oversized Weapons
As opposed to having double dice as mentioned in Chapter 9 of the Dungeon Master's Guide; Weapons specifically designed for large players deal an additional 1d4 points of damage as per the enlarge/reduce spell.
This may seem somewhat cumbersome, so an alternative is to increase the size damage die for each weapon. As shown below:
1>1d4 > 1d6 > 1d8 > 1d10 > 1d12 > 2d8 > 2d10
2d6 > 2d8
Example Race: Ogre
Ability Score Increase. Your Strength score increases by 4, your Constitution score increases by 2, and your Dexterity score decreases by 2.
Age. Freakishly hardy, ogres develop faster than most other creatures, maturing at only 6 years of age.
Alignment. Ogres are notorious for their quick tempers, and murdering anyone for "treasure." They tend towards Chaotic Evil.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.
Size. Ogres are 9 and 10 feet tall and weigh around 600 lbs. Your size is large.
Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Giant.
Credits
Designed by d'Artagnan on DMs Guild, /u/dArtagnanDnD on reddit, or dArtagnanDnD on patreon and dArtagnanDnD on Twitter.
- Made with "GM Binder".
- Made with reference and for use with Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, created by Wizards of the Coast.