My 1E roots are showing again: I'm struggling with the RAW seeming to have no boundaries or limits on PCs that are Size small (halflings, gnomes, goblins, kobolds) using, for instance, a Greatsword or Greataxe or glaive. In 1E, there were explicit rules about characters under a certain height not being able to effectively wield weapons of a certain length or longer. In 5E, there doesn't seem to be any equivalent.
While I understand the game's not meant to be a gritty, ultrarealistic simulation, it sort of beggars the imagination (my imagination, at least) that a haflling standing only a few inches over 3 feet could realistically carry and use a weapon that's easily 2+ feet taller than themselves. I can't see how a gnome would be able to effectively wield a glaive, or a goblin a pike or 2H maul.
Does anyone have any thoughts or house rules on this? Am I missing something in the RAW that covers these (seeming) impossibilities?
Heavy. Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon's size and bulk make it too large for a Small creature to use effectively.
Heavy. Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon’s size and bulk make it too large for a Small creature to use effectively.
My 1E roots are showing again: I'm struggling with the RAW seeming to have no boundaries or limits on PCs that are Size small (halflings, gnomes, goblins, kobolds) using, for instance, a Greatsword or Greataxe or glaive. In 1E, there were explicit rules about characters under a certain height not being able to effectively wield weapons of a certain length or longer. In 5E, there doesn't seem to be any equivalent.
While I understand the game's not meant to be a gritty, ultrarealistic simulation, it sort of beggars the imagination (my imagination, at least) that a haflling standing only a few inches over 3 feet could realistically carry and use a weapon that's easily 2+ feet taller than themselves. I can't see how a gnome would be able to effectively wield a glaive, or a goblin a pike or 2H maul.
Does anyone have any thoughts or house rules on this? Am I missing something in the RAW that covers these (seeming) impossibilities?
Hey there! I do believe that there are rules with regards to small creatures using heavy weapons, which are found in the chapter on equipment:
Phb_ p 147
Heavy. Small creatures have disadvantage on attack rolls with heavy weapons. A heavy weapon’s size and bulk make it too large for a Small creature to use effectively.
Thank you! I figured I had overlooked something.