D&D 5E All character races are Medium-sized...why?

[Casimir Liber]

Pondering this that centaurs and minotaurs are both size M when used as player races, yet when encountered as NPCs are L. Does anyone know of any specific rationale into shoehorning all races into size M rather than just leting them be size L and rolling with it so to speak?

 

[pogre]

or smaller... But, I know what you mean.
All I can assume is they see size as a possible advantage in grappling situations, etc.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

It’s a subtle homage to Medium Rary.

 

[Vaalingrade]

Large is a design nightmare when you stop pretending the grid doesn't exist. What squares do you occupy? Do you have natural reach? Do you do more damage inherently? What about AoEs?

Small is something people decide to make a nightmare because they feel the need to punish them for being Short Kings.

 

[niklinna]

Not to mention getting through doors at the tavern. How are you ever supposed to get your quest hooks??

And then for centaurs, things like ropes & ladders. Such a bother.

 

[JEB]

Pondering this that centaurs and minotaurs are both size M when used as player races, yet when encountered as NPCs are L. Does anyone know of any specific rationale into shoehorning all races into size M rather than just leting them be size L and rolling with it so to speak?

Agree or disagree, here's the rationale from Crawford himself:

 

[John R Davis]

If you are going to allow every 'monster' to have PC options then don't nerf them.

Lots RPGs where they can cope with such issues.

 

[cbwjm]

I don't think the aura thing is enough of a reason not to include large PCs, but it is the reason we're given. Additionally, once they get weapons sized for them, they'd be dealing twice the base weapon damage as a medium PC (assuming the damage increase for weapons for larger creatures holds for large PCs). This wouldn't be an issue for centaur as they seem to have a human torso which is comparable in size to medium humanoids, at least according to the MM.

 

[Deset Gled]

Being Large is generally pretty powerful. Better battlefield control, better damage, advantage for disarming, easier grappling with small enemies; I'm sure there are more I'm not thinking of. It's not quite as big of a benefit as it was in past editions, but it's still a big boost that would be harder to balance.

 

[Stalker0]

Well 5e removes most of the benefit of any natural reach, and grappling doesn't change (its just athletics, you don't get any innate grapple bonus). I don't consider the aura one so strong that you can't balance around it.

I think the only one that is a genuine concern is the larger weapons. If your willing to just say that they don't do more damage with bigger weapons, its probably fine.