SatanasOz
Explorer
What are the challenges of figuring out how to handle small size player character races like halflings in D&D Next?
The biggest challenge is finding out just how light of a touch we can put on those mechanics and have them still feel satisfying to players. In general, the smallness of the small races has the potential to be so detrimental that it deters players from playing them: if the penalties for playing the race are too stiff, why bother? On the other hand, ignoring the smallness is ignoring a defining trait of these races. Plus, we want to make sure that the characters make sense mechanically given their small stature. So, looking at the halfling, we nod to the smallness as a detriment by barring them from heavy weapons (something likely to only affect classes like the fighter and the barbarian), but we also turn it into a boon with their Nimble trait. I think when we look at the gnome, we’ll likely try and achieve the same kinds of things. - See more at: http://community.wizards.com/content/blog/808751#sthash.FbDLj4Zz.dpuf
old official answer to the question. if that was their intent, did they succeed for the Gnome (yet)?