Why do players want to play a large race?

[JoeGKushner]

Well, with the introduction of the half-giant and the goliath, WoTC effectively made some medium sized creatures that are capable of dealing out the damage.

As far as small races... Whisper Gnomes man. That's all I'm going to say. The most effective character I've ever seen as an assassin type ever. Truly viscious.

 

[Aust Diamondew]

My friend wanted to play a minotaur because he thought they were just cool creatures.
My other friend wanted to play a pixie because they could turn invisible at will and had a huge dexterity bonus.

I'm currently playing a halfling barb/Barbarian

Then there's my other friend who decided to play an orc werebear because of the really really big strength boost.

So I would say your assesment is not always true.

 

[Darmanicus]

I know it's a silly question, and mostly it's a rant...

When the DM freely allows races not in the PHB, I often see players asking for a large-sized race, but I have the suspect that the only reason is that they're looking for a PC who does lots of melee damage (you know, Str bonus + large weapons + reach...), and nothing else.

When someone asks to play a small race, IMXP it's always for RP/flavor reason instead...

Am I completely off?

I don't know how the others feel about it, but I have a hard time thinking of a character concept less original than "big guy who deals lots of melee damage"

1. Small players?
2. Inferiority complexes?
3. Get beaten up by the DM all the time with LARGE creatures?

 

[Kast]

Small characters usually get a penalty to Strength, their weapons do less damage and they get hosed during a grapple (which doesn't make any sense - broken RAW), so they aren't the ideal front-line melee character. However, they do get a bonus to hit and AC so they are playable.

I think players who want to play large races are more into the powergaming aspect than players who want to play small races, since natural reach is a very powerful ability for a melee fighter (especially one who has Combat Reflexes).

In the early days when I learned to play D&D, despite being a scrawny kid, I never played monster races (they weren't really available anyway) and I never developed a desire to do so. I always thought it was cooler to be the smaller guy who figured out a way to triumph over the larger, more dangerous opponent.

@Diaglo
It could be argued that sneak attack damage might actually diminish as number of sizes larger increases -- as the hits themselves can't be as precise.

 

[Zappo]

that's b/c they didn't scale sneak attack or other damage with size also.

look for that in 3.75ed.

Hehehe, giant fireballs with a 2 miles range. I'd like that.

 

[frankthedm]

I especially hate gnomes, don't know why.

They look rediculous at best? Those freaky eyes do not work

Players want to get reach AoOs for themselves.

 

[Piratecat]

I wouldn't say it's an invalid character concept; in fact, it is so stereotypical as to be a standard of ANY genre (fantasy, sci-fi, modern, what have you).

Hulk SMASH!

 

[diaglo]

Hulk SMASH!

his counterpart from the Fantastic Four would say:

It's Clobberin' time

 

[Voodoo]

I'm currently playing a Halfling fighter/ranger and the bonus's for being small in this case are great, but I have noticed over 17 levels of a campaign that small sized equipment is quite rare. Large equipment is more common but by far the most common size of magical armour and weapons is medium.

If you know your going to be playing in a campaign of any length the true powergames will be drawn to the medium sized characters to take advantage of the loot.

 

[shilsen]

Because size sometimes DOES matter?