[PnP] Weights and HP

[Thomas O. Magann Jr.]

Actually, it's worse than you think, and that might be why it's possible for a human sized sort to kill a giant: They are, relatively speaking, too weak to stand up easily.


Yes, the weight giant from a height increased is the cube of the base increase, but the strength and surface areas increase by the square. It's called the cube square ration, I believe, and used to explain why HG Wells' giant insects are impossible.

Double the height, you've multiplied the surface area by 4. This is ability to dissipate heat, and base strength of the muscles. But the weight, and heat generation have gone up by a factor of 8. He's able to dissipate heat form exercise at half the rate a normal sized individual can, and weighs twice, relative to strength. Most of his muscle is going into standing up Much like a normal human carrying another normal human and trying to act normally in the process.

For your 18' giant, this is 27 times the weight and heat, 9 times the surface area and muscle. 3 times the heat build up, and two extra people on his shoulder.

And it works going the other way, too. This is why ants can carry several times their body weight: the muscle to mass ratio is so favorable. They aren't strong, they are just small.

Basically, the larger giants should be slower and clumsier. If that helps you resolve the issues you have with combating giants?

I can't help you with the hit point issue. But we are talking about a game where two 200 pound humans can have widely different hit point totals based on stamina and constitution, so.. I ignore it.


-----Original Message-----
>From: David Sanders <dasandersx at comcast.net>
>Sent: Jul 22, 2015 7:35 PM
>To: "pnp at list.powersandperils.org" <pnp at list.powersandperils.org>
>Subject: [PnP] Weights and HP
>
>I've been bothered by something (well, several something's you will discover) in the game and I thought I would research it and let you know the results.  Yes...I am totally geeking out on this.
>
>The weights of creatures like the Giants has never made sense to me.  I work in the Engineering world.  I think the giant weights are WAY off.  Here's why...
>
>Assume a 6' human weighs 200 pounds.  This is not out of the question since I am less than 6' and weigh more.  Sure, it's not all muscle, but let's not quibble. Stop laughing.
>
>Anyway, if a giant is twice the height of a man, he is going to be twice the height, twice the width, and twice the depth.  Instead of simply doubling the human's weight, it should go up by the cube of the height multiplier...in other words...two to the third power...or eight, in this case.  For the others, multiply the ratio of giant height to 6', and multiply that result by itself, then again by the same amount.
>
>To make it easier...here's some pre-done calcs.
>
>6' guy - 200#
>9' guyant...er...giant...675#
>10' giant - 925#
>12' giant - 1600#
>16' giant - 3800# (forest giant, earth giant)
>18' giant - 5400# (this is the size of a small SUV!)(hill giant, storm, fire)
>20' giant - 7400# (frost giant)
>22' giant - 9400# (mountain giant)
>24' giant - 12,800#
>30' giant - 25,000#!!!
>
>Now, all of this assumes the giant creatures proportions are equal to a human's...some of the Giants, like ogres, are going to be proportionately larger...so their weight should go up.
>
>Now...think about what this means when a punk-a$$ character is trying to kill a giant.
>
>Think about an 18-footer and how thick his bones are...are you thinking you are gonna chop his leg off?  Really?  His ankle is going to be about a foot thick...and his leg twice that. Minimum.
>
>Also...does this make the HP of some of the creatures seem underwhelming?  If a 30' giant is 25,000#, how much does a dragon weigh...and how many HP does 25k pounds mean?
>
>Dave Sanders...a guy with just a bit too much free time on his hands lately...stop laughing...
>
>Sent from my iPad
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