Disproportionate Growth

August 3, 2022
Limitless Heroics Cover: As our heroes fight the hydra, we see just some of the variety of symptoms represented in this book. The paladin has a prosthetic arm to assist with their amputation. The barbarian rages from their wheelchair, providing mobility for their paralyzed legs. The ranger, whose body is more accustomed to an aquatic environment just as someone in the real world may be more comfortable in a quieter or darker sensory environment, finds ways to compensate and keep fighting. The wizard’s vitiligo may not be thought of as a disability, nor should it be, yet many in the real world experience severe discrimination due to unusual skin pigment — how many celebrities, corporate executives, or politicians do you know with visibly irregular skin?

1d4 areas of your body are (IE) × 20 percent smaller than their typical proportion for your ancestry. Choose or roll on the following table. This smaller stature allows you to hide more easily, giving you a +(IE) bonus on Dexterity (Stealth) checks.

d20 Shortened Area
1–4 Trunk
5–7 Arms & Hands
8–10 Legs & Feet
11–13 Arms
14–16 Legs
17–20 Head
  • Trunk. Because most of your internal organs are in your trunk, some are underdeveloped, causing a −(IE) penalty on Constitution saving throws.
  • Arms & Hands. You can’t use 2-handed weapons effectively. Because you have less leverage, you have a −(IE) penalty on contested Strength checks.
  • Legs & Feet. Your movement speed is reduced by (IE) × 5 feet. You also have a −(IE) penalty on Dexterity checks to balance.
  • Arms. Your arms are shorter, but your hands are average size. Because you have less leverage, you have a −(IE) penalty on contested Strength checks.
  • Legs. Your legs are shorter, but your feet are average size. Your movement speed is reduced by (IE) × 5 feet.
  • Head. The reduced size of your head causes (IE) other traits according to the following table, each with its own IE.
    d6 Trait
    1 Seizures
    2 Intellectual Disability
    3 −(IE) on Dexterity checks to balance
    4 Swallowing Difficulties
    5 Hearing Loss
    6 Refractory Issues
Real-world Examples

Achondroplasia, Turner Syndrome, Growth Hormone Deficiency, Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita, Microcephaly

Assistive Options

Wheelchairs and other mobility devices can be helpful to assist with some of the penalties associated with these traits.

Magical Assistance

Magic items that give magical strength such as a Girdle of Giant Strength can assist with the Strength penalties of some of these.