====== L* (Length) ======
Given the enormous possible variation in size between different species, it's good to have at least a rough idea of what size each participant in an interaction is, lest the puny body that gets crushed be your own. This tag allows for two different methods of stating this: one in general, one might say comparative, terms; and one using specific units.

The guidance for defining length states: "Measurements are nose to tail for quadrupeds, snakes, serpents, etc. and are full standing height for bipeds (and others that stand upright). If you are not sure how to measure yourself, take the length from nose to tail tip."

===== Standard length =====
For obvious reasons, the Dragon Code defines the magnitude of general size in relation to dragons, who are presumed, on average, to be somewhat larger than humans. The ancient sagas are silent on the precise definition of the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_System_of_Units|SI standard dragon]].

As indicated by the traditional descriptions, which are included in italics, these shouldn't be taken too literally or seriously, but I've tried to give an idea of what sort of quantitative sizes these might correspond to.

==== L+++! (Celestial) ====
//I hate it when planets get in my mouth when I yawn!//: Comparable to or bigger than a major celestial body in length, on the order of thousands of kilometers.

==== L+++ (Mistaken for mountain ranges) ====
//Sorry Mr Battleship, I didn't see you!//: Comparable to major geographical features, probably hundreds of kilometers in length.

==== L++ (Can't see own tail on a foggy day) ====
//Can you say "jungle gym"?//: Presumably kilometers to tens of kilometers in length.

==== L+ (Godzilla-sized) ====
//They look up to me. Literally.//: On the order of hundreds of meters in length. The depiction of Godzilla's size has varied considerably over the years, but 100 meters is a rough median.

==== L (Draco-sized) ====
//About as normal as dragons get.//: Somewhere near tens of meters in length. "Draco" is a reference to the dragon character of the movie //Dragonheart//, who was [[https://monsterlegacy.net/2014/11/14/draco-dragonheart/|apparently 43 feet/13.1 meters long]].

==== L- (Human-sized) ====
//Please, don't step on the tail...//: Most humans are between 1-2 meters tall. I'd guess 5 meters or so would be a good boundary between this and the previous category.

==== L-- (Dog-sized) ====
//Please, don't step on// me...: As with dragons, I'm not sure how the SI standard dog is defined. Somewhere down near 25-30 cm would probably be a good lower end.

==== L--- (Pocket Dragon-sized or below) ====
//Please, don't sneeze...//: Smaller than the previous category, but still visible.

==== L---! (Microscopic) ====
//Honey, I shrunk the dragon!//: Extremely smol. If not literally microscopic, then certainly in the sub-centimeter range where someone could get misplaced behind a bit of pocket fluff. 

==== L~ (Variable) ====
//I change size on a whim!//: The individual is not bound to a defined length.

Though the sources don't say so specifically, by analogy with the [[dc2:species#~ (Shapechangers)|equivalent shapechanger indicator for species]] it might be possible to use this as a modifier to say things like **L+~** for "in my preferred form I'm Draco-sized but sometimes I change to others" or **L~+** for "I can change length at will but am currently Draco-sized". As applied to shapechangers with distinct forms, it seems to be more usual to separate out tags for each form as discussed in that section, but possibly this way could apply to someone who //just// changes size...

==== L^ (One-Dragon-Sized) ====
//I am just long enough to reach the ground!//: Sometimes the answer to "What size are you?" is simply "The right one."

===== Quantitative method =====
It's also possible to specify a length in units, using the form **L[number][unit abbreviation]**.

  * **L[number]i** (inches): For example, **L480i** indicates "I am about 480 inches long."
  * **L[number]f** (feet): For example, **L40f** indicates "I am about 40 feet long."
  * **L[number]y** (yards): For example, **L13y** indicates "I am about 13 yards long."
  * **L[number]c** (centimeters): For example, **L1220c** indicates "I am about 1220 centimeters long."
  * **L[number]m** (meters): For example, **L12m** indicates "I am about 12 meters long."
  * **L[number]k** (kilometers): For example, **L0.01k** indicates "I am about a hundredth of a kilometer long."

===== Modifiers =====
Suppose you want to specify the dimensions of some of your body parts; well, there are modifiers for that. For some of them, anyway (dick-measuring contests, for example, must be conducted elsewhere). These are meant to be used with the [[#quantitative method]]; the measurements for total length and body part length are kept separated by the unit abbreviation, so you can't use the standard subtypes here.

These modifiers use a letter after each number to indicate the appendage or body segment being specified. The units used must be consistent throughout.

  * **[number]a** (arms): For example, **L6f2a** indicates "I am 6 foot tall with arms that are 2 feet long each." Intended primarily for bipeds, or at least creatures with limbs ending in grasping appendages.
  * **[number]l** (legs): For example, **L30c5l** indicates "I am 30 centimeters long with 5 centimeter long legs."
  * **[number]n** (head and neck): For example, **L1k0.2n** indicates "I am a kilometer in length with a neck and head that are 200 meters in length."
  * **[number]t** (tail): For example, **L6i2t** indicates "I am 6 inches long with a 2 inch long tail."
  * **[number]w** (wingspan): For example, **L3i6w** indicates "I am 3 inches tall with a 6 inch wingspan." Keep in mind, this is total wingtip to wingtip when extended; this does not measure an individual wing.

Modifiers may be combined. For example: **L10m4t1l** indicates "I am 10 meters long with a 4 meter long tail and 1 meter long legs."

As Wyrm's site notes, "Most quadrupeds will include the tail in their overall length whereas most bipeds will not. Thus L6f2t could indicate a quadruped that has a 4 foot long body and a 2 foot long tail, or a biped that is 6 foot tall and has a 2 foot long tail!" For plants, treat the body as the trunk or stem, legs as roots, arms as branches, wings as leaves, and the neck and head as the flower and its stem.

The sources don't mention being able to differentiate between two or more body parts of the same type, here or in other tags that deal with them, but theoretically one could imagine something like **L2m0.5l0.4l** for "I am 2 meters tall with one leg a bit shorter than the other".