toucanbuzz
No rule is inviolate
Would the same problems of Reach still be true now in D&D 5e?
LARGE ISSUES
1. Grid Effects. Crawford tweeted years ago there are no plans for large creatures as they present grid-based logistical issues. For example, an aura spell/effect on a large creature is bigger than for a medium one. Further, they threaten more spaces. And, minis.
2. Oversized Weapons. Large PCs could get a damage upgrade if allowed to use Oversized monster weapons, such as a 2d8 ogre greatclub. Normally, medium PCs would have disadvantage trying to use an Oversized weapon like this. When asked about the Enlarge spell and Oversized weapons, senior designer Chris Perkins, using the Enlarge spell to accomplish this wasn't the intent of the spell, but it's your game and if you want that, go for it. Mike Mearls also felt a house rule of never allowing Advantage when using an Oversized weapon would be a good one.
REACH
Many large humanoids such as Ogres don't have Reach, so this isn't the advantage it used to be, especially in 3rd when entering a threat zone prompted an attack of opportunity.
LARGE PLAYER CHARACTERS: CAN IT BE DONE
I have no belief WOTC will do so. Everything previously large (centaurs, firbolgs, minotaurs, etc.) have mysteriously shrunk, making one wonder what's in the water. But, I worked up a homebrew Half-Giant for Dark Sun and so far no major issues, albeit some is directly tied to the setting, and this doesn't account for the RP implications.
- Nothing is crafted for a half-giant in this setting as they are a magically created race with no culture or cities of their own. The vast majority tend to be soldiers or slaves and thus are provided for in some way without being consumers
- Consequently, in this setting, their training comes from using weapons designed for smaller races and they've adapted to this. By homebrew design, they can wield two-handed or versatile weapons with 1 hand. There is no default rule that allows this, but we're accounting for a setting in which there's not a market for oversized items. It's not a major damage boost (e.g. d8 to d10) and doesn't permit them to bypass rules on dual-wielding.
- I hadn't considered Oversized weapon use, but I like the unofficial sage advice proposal of never being able to gain Advantage, or even treating the weapon as non-proficient. After all, this weapon is foreign in weight and dimension from anything the PC would have been trained in.
- Everything else costs a lot more for them, and they require more food/water. So, we're draining resources regularly. In a typical setting, food/water might not be a concern, but in dying desert world without "auto-ease" spells like goodberry, it is.
- They are the only race with an offsetting INT and WIS penalty. And before anyone goes ape-naughty word over political correctness of giving any race an INT penalty, it's by design. In this setting, they were magically created to be malleable super-soldiers and intentionally modified to be that way. As a design feature, we need something to offset mechanical advantages of being Large.