Re: Planetary Size under 3rdEd?

I like sizes cause they look good on a standardized sheet. It gives you a
sense of range.

I mean yes, its easy to describe a color as reflecting at 663 THz but no one
knows what that means. You could also say that a color is about the same
color as the sky on a clear day. Its much simpler to just say Color: Blue.
Sure its inexact and covers a range.. but it works

Similarly you could say that earth is 12,745 (approx) km in diameter.. but
if you say that Medium sized planets are 11,000 - 13,000 (as an example
range) are medium sized planets it makes for better comparison on a quick
reference. You don't have to call it 'About the same size as earth'.. its
just Size: Medium

And yeah, I like the Fine -> Medium -> Colossal range because they're known
quantities in 3e. They don't mean the same thing when compared to creatures
or weapons.. but players at least understand the range and how they interact
relatively.


On 6/3/06, Nils Jeppe <nils@???????????.de> wrote:
>
> On Sat, 3 Jun 2006, Night_Druid wrote:
>
> >> Of course Dragonstar didn't have the option for things like flat and
> torus
> >> shaped planets either.
> >
> > And don't forget that SJ uses the same scale to classify suns and
> nebulas as
> > well. :)
>
> Personally, I don't see what's wrong with just using kilometers (or miles,
> for the backwards-compatible). In what case could you possibly need a size
> category for a planet? You want to ram it? It's not like you'll be missing
> it if you really try.
>
> Miles / Kilometers are something everybody can relate to. Whatever would
> be a "Small planet"? And how does that relate to a "Large Moon"?
> Descriptors simply break down if you use such categories for things that
> aren't really in the same league. Likewise, what's a "size b asteroid"?
> Does it orbit a "type m planet"?
>
> Sounds silly to me.
>
> If you really want to make things easier to relate for players, compare
> stuff to the real world. "This planet is about the size of Jupiter" might
> be a bit immersion breaking, but I'd say most gamers know enough about
> space flight / astronomy to know this is one big whopping planet.
>
> Don't press into strange game mechanics what doesn't have to be squeezed
> into them.
>
>
> - Nils
>
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