D&D 5E (2014) The Burden of Being Small

[was]

So, let's say I want to throw small-sized goblin skeletons at a low-level party instead of medium-sized human skeletons. How do I adjust the medium-sized example given in the book according to the new rules?

 

[GMMichael]

I also noticed that AC modifiers by size are gone in 5e. Actually we don't know for sure (there's a good chance such modifier is in-built in monsters' stats) but at least it's gone for PC races.

Aww. D&D is all-growed-up. It has stopped picking on the funny-looking little guys.

The AC bonus for little-uns didn't make much sense, anyway. A smaller opponent is harder to hit. A slower opponent is easier to hit. There should be some level of cancelling-out here.

So, I think Was reduced his list of penalties to this:
1.) reduced speed
2.) harsher weapon restrictions
3.)

Spoiler

lower encumbrance limits.

I don't know about the weapon restrictions, but I'm not sure that reduced speed is a) a penalty or b) a necessary rule:

a) being faster means you can run away faster, but it also means that you can walk into ambushes faster, get assigned delivery-boy duty faster, and sprint past important clues (like blood marks) easier.
b) the theory behind small characters being slower is that their legs are shorter. But why can't they move their legs faster, or have greater stamina for jogging/running, that allows them to keep up? I see this like the small-AC problem; there should be some amount of cancelling here.

 

[Juriel]

Yeah, no benefit to being Small, but also, only -5ft speed and no Heavy weapons as penalty...

I do hope they codified some stuff behind Small, not just what you can talk your GM into.

But it's not a huge deal.

 

[Stalker0]

Once again, I am not looking at any specific race. I was not looking to argue the merits of any specific race vs. any other. Just looking at the differences between being small vs. being medium. If I did not make that clear than I apologize.

I think that is why you are having a hard time with this, though.


So far this edition has not provided any "standard" penalties or bonuses for size. It is truely a case by case basis. The halfling doesn't have the "small template" plus some bonuses...he is just a halfling.

 

[Crothian]

Once again, I am not looking at any specific race. I was not looking to argue the merits of any specific race vs. any other. Just looking at the differences between being small vs. being medium. If I did not make that clear than I apologize.

Unless the book specifically says "All small creatures are this mechanically verse all medium creatures are this" then we really can't say. It looks like that there is no universal truth about small creatures we just have a limited selection on small and medium creatures. All that can be done is compare individual races because that is all we have to compare.

 

[Umbran]

Once again, I am not looking at any specific race. I was not looking to argue the merits of any specific race vs. any other.

Well, the thing is that they probably didn't say, "let us make size balance with size". Some of the good things you get for being Small are not fond *within* Smallness. So, yes, being small may itself be a detriment - you get the benefits elsewhere.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

You have it easier to hide, since you are small.

 

[CM]

So, let's say I want to throw small-sized goblin skeletons at a low-level party instead of medium-sized human skeletons. How do I adjust the medium-sized example given in the book according to the new rules?

I guess I'd just lower their speed by 5 feet and use them as-is? Is anybody going to know there's a difference? They use a shortsword and shortbow already, so they're goblin-compatible. You could always lower damage by 1 and raise AC by 1.

Remember, Rulings not Rules.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

Once again, I am not looking at any specific race. I was not looking to argue the merits of any specific race vs. any other. Just looking at the differences between being small vs. being medium. If I did not make that clear than I apologize.

In general, being small is a net-negative trait for any race that has it. It's not much of a negative, but in situations where it matters, it's usually a bad thing. (There are also some instances where it's helpful, in terms of exploration or hiding.)

When designing races, in order to keep them balanced, a small race would need some other cool benefits to make up for the fact that it's small.

 

[kenmarable]

I was actually surprised at how medium and small creatures are almost identical. Beside the variant rule on encumbrance, the only thing I noticed was disadvantage with heavy weapons. Certainly FAR less harsh than 3.x. Am I missing anything else? Is there a blanket rule on reduced speed (might have missed it) or is it just that each small race happens to have reduced speed?

As for a bonus, it's not called out specifically, but at least with cover being based on how much of your body is covered, being small would increase your cover. Half cover on a medium creature might be total cover for a small.

But overall, I had to look through a couple times to find ANY difference for small and medium creatures overall (and not for specific races) other than heavy weapons.