Line Of Sight - why not from Center of square?

[Spirynth]

Hey-yo all! My first post here - and its a question about the "Line Of Sight" (and I guess the "Line Of Effect" too?)

To determine if you have "Line Of Sight," page 273 of the player's handbook tells you to "pick a corner of your space and trace an imaginary line from that corner to any part of the target's space."

...now, that seems overly generous to me - shouldn't you be tracing the imaginary lines from the Center of your square?

and the illustration picture at the top of page 274 seems really off to me, as well - I can't wrap my head around how that attacker can be said to see Either the Bugbear or the Goblin!

So - is it just me? Is there a reasonable explanation as to why you'd use a Corner of Your square and not the Center? and How can the Attacker see that Bugbear around that corner?

Thanks!

 

[Dalzig]

The closest thing I can come up with (for ranged attacks) is leaning out to see someone.

 

[strumbleduck]

You lean over a bit, crane your neck, poke your head out, or move slightly inside your square. This happens a lot during gunfights in movies, and the idea is that it's the kind of movement that doesn't require an action.

 

[Chris Knapp]

I like to think of it as a target moves around within its square(s) so that a part of it can be considered exposed at certain times. Plus, you also aren't necessarily targeting your enemy center mass. A shot to the arm or leg is just as effective.

 

[Solodan]

Less confusion - from the corner is pretty clear, since the map has lines that show exactly where that is. Center of square gets fuzzy for some LOS shots.

 

[Spirynth]

Ah! Okay - those all sound like reasonable explanations. Makes sense to me now.

Thank you!