Pathfinder 1E RESIZING GEAR: Suck it up and deal with it?

[Fauchard1520]

While most magic items resize, weapons and armor are a notable exception. That rule is a prime candidate for handwaving, and many GMs will go so far to take a wish list from their player in order to sprinkle “the right gear” into treasure piles. But if you like to randomly generate your own loot, then the size charts are an open question. After all, there’s nothing worse than finding the fabled Sword of Extra Damage only to realize it was designed for a friggin’ giant.

So here's my question for the board: Have you ever found arms or armor that you couldn’t use due to size / race restrictions? Did you give it up? Did you go through extreme measures to make it fit? Or should players suck it up and understand it's part of the cost of doing business for small/large heroes?

(Comic for illustrative purposes.)

 

[billd91]

I very rarely found stuff I couldn't use - mostly because in the various 3.5/PF games I've played, it's either been organized play and I could purchase the size I wanted/needed, or I was playing a medium character who had no trouble finding medium-sized loot.
But this really is the most annoying element of the 3.0 to 3.5/PF shift in the rules. I understand why they did it, but I still think it was ill-considered given literally every other edition avoided doing the same thing.

As DM in PF, when I had a group of PCs that were 3/4 small (2 halflings and a gnome), I made sure to include small armors and weapons and side plots that involved small foes to provide that loot.

 

[grankless]

It's one of those 1e rules that adds nothing but annoyance for the GM and players. Just throw them out, the game has no need for it.

 

[Grogg of the North]

It can definitely be a problem and feels like you're unduly punishing small characters. What I've allowed small characters to do is use weapon equivalency. I know there was a chart in 3.5 but I don't know if it made it into PF1E. For example, a medium dagger would be a small short sword.

Armor is a bit trickier. In the past, I've allowed characters with Craft Magic Arms and Armor to "reforge" the armor down or up a size while retaining its magical properties. I usually charge the PC something like 10% of the market cost to do this.

 

[thullgrim]

One of the adventures in the Giantslayer AP involve pairing and hammer and anvil specifically so that you can re size all the giant arms and armor that are available. They turned the rule into one of the conceits of the AP.

 

[Fauchard1520]

One of the adventures in the Giantslayer AP involve pairing and hammer and anvil specifically so that you can re size all the giant arms and armor that are available. They turned the rule into one of the conceits of the AP.

Found it!

Minderhal's Forge - Artifacts - Magic Equipment - Archives of Nethys: Pathfinder RPG Database

<i>Minderhal’s Forge</i> appears to be a giant stone blacksmithing forge and huge iron anvil set atop a basalt platform that rises from a pit of slag. First and foremost, <i>Minderhal’s Forge</i> functions as an <i>altar of Minderhal</i> (see page 246 of <i>Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Inner Sea...

aonprd.com

I do love how all these niggling little rules represent design space. Nice solution for, "Why can't my human wield all the huge-size weapons we loot off of giant enemies."