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

[Atlatl Jones]

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

Halflings don't have a movement penalty. The D&DXP halfling has a move of 5, but he's wearing plate armor. The human cleric in chainmail also has a move of 5.

Movement speed now seems to be a racial trait, not something dependent on size. Elves have a speed of 7, all the other races have a speed of 6. Maybe dwarves have a speed of 5 that isn't affected by armor worn.

 

[keterys]

As I understand it, both halflings and dwarves have a speed of 5, but are not further hindered by wearing heavy armor.

 

[Zathraas]

Elves have a speed of 7?

 

[Kordeth]

Elves have a speed of 7?

Yeah, we learned that in the Ampersand column on the WotC site right before Christmas.

 

[keterys]

The wildernessy elf does indeed move faster (I'm assuming the eladrin doesn't... *checks* yep, 6)

 

[Sir Sebastian Hardin]

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.

I think there are no Small weapons anymore. He uses a shortsword because that's what the biggest weapon he can have one-handed.

I think it is a good move. Even if it is a "longsword" among halflings, streamedlined rules say it is a "shortsword".

 

[Sir Sebastian Hardin]

As I understand it, both halflings and dwarves have a speed of 5, but are not further hindered by wearing heavy armor.

Why would halflings move normaly in heavy armor??? We understand this for Dwarves, because they are experts in warfare and are thick and heavy and stuff. But halflings??? If this it what they are doing is a very gamist feature.

I would prefere if halflings moved 6 squares normaly. I'd like that a lot. I can understand halflings being quick enough to move just as fast as Medium creatures, but it's silly to pretend they are as good as Dwarves in heavy armor (without special training at least).

 

[keterys]

Maybe they move 5.3 squares in light armor and 4.7 squares in heavy armor, but all that still turns into '5 squares'.

Or maybe they move 6 and I was misinformed.

 

[bgardner]

Being small, you're also going to miss out on a lot of usable loot. Weapons and armor are sized and from what I heard at D&D XP you can't use incorrectly sized weapons or armor. You'd be able to sell it of course, but not use it.

I think there are no Small weapons anymore

On the stat cards from Dungeons of Dread the Oni has a Large greatsword.