D&D 4E Easier to be Small in 4E?

[Zathraas]

In 3E, the basic small races got a bonus to attack rolls, to AC and hiding, but took a hit to their strength and their movement and had some size issues that affected carrying, grapple and such. The small character had to contend with less damage from attacks, a hard time dealing with grapple, bull rush, etc and around the battlefield moved at 20’ or is encumbered or in medium or heavy armor, at 15’ and the lowered movement also lessened jumping. 4E seems to have removed the movement issue, grapple does not look as harsh (but I have not researched it enough to know really) and damage can come from other abilities, so has 4E made it easier to be small?

 

[keterys]

The movement issue is still there just not as bad (6->5)... unless you're in heavy armor. And you're doing d6 damage instead of d10, so that seems almost as notable as the -2 str and d8->d6 (almost)...

But yeah, it seems easier to be small.

 

[Sir Brennen]

It's also easier to be green...

 

[Zathraas]

Oops, forgot there was the 1 less point of movement, but that is still not much of a difference, especially compared to 30 to 20.

Corrin, the halfling paladin example character, does base 1d6 with his shortsword, which seems average for a shortsword. It does not seem that a medium character would do more damage with a shortsword.

 

[keterys]

Correct - but Corrin is using the shortsword one handed, instead of the more enviable 1d10 warhammer that the fighter is one-handing.

 

[Stalker0]

Correct - but Corrin is using the shortsword one handed, instead of the more enviable 1d10 warhammer that the fighter is one-handing.

That's also a reflection of the weapon type. Hammers do more damage but don't get some of the sword advantages. A longsword likely does a d8.

 

[Voss]

Right, the sword is giving +3 to hit rather than +2. So its hards to say if the small ones are limited to mechanically inferior weapons. Although in 3e this didn't matter anyway. Damage bonus mattered a lot more than the die type.

But aside from the movement penalty, there aren't a lot of obvious drawbacks to being small. Since they're defenses look like they get bonuses, so grapple isn't a drawback

 

[Wiman]

Every pregen game I've played has resulted in the paladin Corrin using that halfling ability to "make you reroll" at least once....and dodging crits is no small issue.

 

[frankthedm]

The combat maneuvers that made bullying small creatures easy are no longer mainstay combat options, so yes small critters have it easier.

 

[Zathraas]

Anyone know if the attack bonus from small size will affect attack rolls for spells, eldritch blasts, etc?

Does the small size benefit to AC affect Reflex defense? Size affecting Reflex means that large size penalties would affect both AC and Reflex, giving the halfling warlock an every better chance to blast giants and such.