In developing your characters' heights and weights...

[Kidd]

I found this site that helps a lot for character development.

Screw Googling BMI for an accurate weight. Use photos of real people, organized by height, weight, and body type:

For males
For females

For example, I typically know how tall my characters are. But I often have trouble deciding on a weight. So I search a height, guess a weight, and repeat until I find a body type that matches my character's. Then I use those measurements.

[Dervish]

I've never worried about a character's weight, since I typically write a paragraph or two regarding character appearance, including body type. While I can appreciate going for accuracy, specific weight is one of those things that probably won't really help someone get an accurate guage for visualizing a character as opposed to saying "They have a thin athlete body" or "They're slightly overweight" or "This creature of a slob makes Jabba the Hutt look like a Jenny Craig spokesperson"... you get the idea.

I mean, when you play a game or watch a movie or show, you rarely are told specific measurements of a character. It's in reality a small detail. In books, honestly in a lot of them I've seen less print devoted to describing a character than a lot of character sheets on this site. A part of the fun is imagining.

[Brovo]

I usually just keep it memorized what the average height and weight of a person is based on what their task is and what era it is.

ex: In Medieval times, human beings were about a foot shorter on average than they are today.

ex 2: Muscle weighs more than fat. So if you have a 180 pound character at about 5'11", but they're depicted in a role that is highly physically demanding (being a knight, a blacksmith, etc) then the extra weight is appropriate.

Then again, so long as it doesn't go off into outlandish bizarroland territory, I don't tend to mind much what weight and height people make their characters at. Especially if they're non-humans.

[Kidd]

Dervish said
I've never worried about a character's weight, since I typically write a paragraph or two regarding character appearance, including body type. While I can appreciate going for accuracy, specific weight is one of those things that probably won't really help someone get an accurate guage for visualizing a character as opposed to saying "They have a thin athlete body" or "They're slightly overweight" or "This creature of a slob makes Jabba the Hutt look like a Jenny Craig spokesperson"... you get the idea.I mean, when you play a game or watch a movie or show, you rarely are told specific measurements of a character. It's in reality a small detail. In books, honestly in a lot of them I've seen less print devoted to describing a character than a lot of character sheets on this site. A part of the fun is imagining.

I don't disagree, but some people like to establish heights and weights for their characters (I personally only bother when a CS asks for it). And even if you don't use a specific height / weight, the site can still help because it shows you visuals. That can help with description. If you can't think of another way to describe a pear shaped body, browse the pear shaped bodies until something clicks.

There are lots of way to use the resources around you--don't just take my suggestions, haha.

[Seravee]

I normally avoid weights, even if the CS asks for it. I'll add it if the GM insists, but I prefer just describing body type.

But thank you for the resource. Its a good one.

[DamageOverTime]

I like the concept of nit-picking. So I'll try it. xD

[Kidd]

Glad you'll give it a shot :D