Height And Weight References

The core rules for ACKS don't include tables for generating either height or weight values, although these fields appear on the standard character sheets. The value of height isn't particularly important, and you can pick whatever you like. The weight of a player character, however, has important implications for the encumbrance of any horse.

The table below gives base weight values for each race, and (if desired) a representative random range for heights. I've adapted it from Dan Proctor's Advanced Edition Companion. Weights are given in "stone", a medieval unit equal to roughly 10 pounds.

Feel free to modify the heights within reason; for example, it's fine if you want to play a Tolkien-esque tall elf sub-race ("high elf") instead of a shorter classic D&D elf. You can still be magically light in weight (e.g., Legolas walking over the fallen snow at Caradhras.)

Each point of strength bonus or penalty should modify the weight (and height) by the same amount. So a human with a -2 STR adjustment would have a weight of 18-2=16.

Race	Weight (st)	Height	F Adj
Human	18	5'6"+2d6"	-4
Elf	10	4'8"+2d4"	-3
Dwarf	15	3'8"+1d6"	-2
Gnome	8	3'4"+1d4"	-1
Saurian	25	6'0"+2d6"	0

Notes:

1. Dwarves and gnomes aren't naturally suited to riding horses, and usually prefer other mounts. Dwarves ride sturdy but slow mules, and gnomes ride oversize burrowing animals (giant badgers, ferrets, or weasels). With the Riding proficiency, however, they can also adapt to handling horses.


2. Saurians (i.e., "Thrassian gladiators") are generally poor riders and few horses will accept them. They typically ride in carts. With the Riding proficiency they can also ride on heavy horses, although they should probably only be able to ride on a particular horse that has been acclimated to them.


3. The final "F Adj" table is for a more idealized model of female body proportions of the sort you see in (*ahem*) certain fantasy art. If this modifier is applied to weight and height, however, it should also be applied to the Strength attribute, down to a minimum of 3 (which might in turn change the bonus/penalty and further reduce weight!) For fighter classes, I'd just ignore it entirely; trained female body-builders aren't skinny waifs. For other classes it's reasonable but entirely optional, due to being a serious penalty to melee abilities.