Giant by Poll - The Creature Thus Far (recovery effort)

Conaill

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Project - Giant by Poll - The Creature Thus Far
This fella is going to be a Gargantuan giant defined by the following words:

Esurient: hungry; voracious; greedy.

Crepuscular: pertaining to twilight.

To help round out the creature we'll use...

Cormorant: a gluttonous, greedy, or rapacious person.

Piebald: 1. Having spots and patches of black and white, or other colors; mottled. 2. Mixed; composed of incongruous parts.

Riparian: of or pertaining to the bank of a river.

It's niches are melee hurter and soft target.

Here's the stat block so far, which I'll update as we go.

"GIANT"
Gargantuan Giant
Hit Dice: 26d8+286 (403 hp)
Initiative: -2
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 40 ft.
Armor Class: X (–4 size, -2 Dex, +X natural), touch X, flat-footed X
Base Attack/Grapple: +19/+47
Attack: Slam +31 melee (xdx+16) or greatclub +31 melee (4d8+24) or rock +13 ranged (xdx+x) or net +13 ranged (entangle)
Full Attack: 2 slams +31 melee (xdx+16) or greatclub +31/+26/+21/+16 melee (4d8+24) or rock +13 ranged (xdx+x) or net +13 ranged (entangle)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./20 ft.
Special Attacks: Rock throwing, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Camouflage, low-light vision, rock catching
Saves: Fort +28, Ref +6, Will +12
Abilities: Str 42, Dex 6, Con 33, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 7
Skills: 29 ranks (-12 Hide, +X Hide, +4 Jump, +8 Swim)
Feats: Athletic, Awesome Blow, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (net), Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Power Attack
Epic Feats: Epic Will, 1 more TBD
Environment: X
Organization: X
Challenge Rating: X
Treasure: X
Alignment: Usually chaotic
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +X

Desc.

One of its favorite tactics is to sit down in a stream, completely damming it off, and eating all the fish in the resulting lake plus any game or cattle which come to slake their thirst.

A GIANT speaks Giant...

Combat

Tactics.

Spell-Like Abilities: x/day--control water; x/day--create water. Caster level Xth. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Camouflage (Ex): Since a GIANT looks like a normal hill when at rest, it takes a DC 20 Spot check to notice it before it attacks.

Anyone with ranks in Survival or Knowledge (nature) can use one of those skills instead of Spot to notice the GIANT.

GIANT's Net: A GIANT may throw its massive net to a range of 20 feet. Unlike using a standard net, the GIANT targets a grid or intersection (AC 5). All creatures within a 10 foot radius of this point must succeed on a DC X Reflex save or become entangled.

A GIANT's net is tightly-woven, allowing it to be used against creatures from Tiny to Gargantuan size.

For all other purposes, a GIANT's net functions as a standard net.

Skills: GIANTS have a +X racial bonus on Hide checks. *This bonus on Hide checks increases to +X when the GIANT is immobile.

A GIANT has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
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Old 01-25-06, 08:43 PM #2
Conaill
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Just so we have a point of reference for Gargantuan-sized giants, I figured I'd see what would happen if I "advanced" the Hill Giant by two size categories, reduced the MM2 Colossal Mountain Giant (resembles "a titanic hill giant") by one size category, and taking the average:

Gargantuan Hill Giant: Str 41, Dex 6 , Con 27, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 7, +16 nat. AC, >12 HD
Gargantuan Mtn Giant: Str 35, Dex 10, Con 33, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 7, +24 nat. AC, <30 HD

Avg. Gargantuan Giant: Str 38, Dex 8 , Con 30, Int 6, Wis 10, Cha 7, +20 nat. AC, 24 HD?

If we want to (hey, we could have a poll! ) we could adopt these stats whole-hog, and quickly put together a "traditional Gargantuan giant". Once that one is out of the way, we can start some polls for a less traditional giant, which is something I know a number of people here would love to do...
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Old 01-25-06, 08:59 PM #3
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Well, I'd kinda hoped this one would be slighly-less traditionalist, what with its associations with twilight and rivers. We can definitely finish up your traditional giant as well, though.

In fact, I'll start that up shortly.
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Old 01-26-06, 05:46 AM #4
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Greedy, Twilight, River and Mottled - its an Erosion Giant!

The Erosion Giant is nicknamed the rock crusher for its habit of catching boulders and crushing them into gravel. The Gravel in turn is consumed and used to aid digestion.
The Erosion Giant has no teeth and instead must allow the gravel to grind its food

Digestion in the erosion giant takes a very long time and thus after a meal it becomes sluggish and slow moving...
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Old 01-26-06, 06:42 AM #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonguez
Greedy, Twilight, River and Mottled - its an Erosion Giant!

Not entirely clear how you fit Twilight, Riparian and Piebald into that...


How about this:

The Hill That Walks disguises itself with swathes of grass, making it look like a grassy hill when sitting down. Cattle attracted by the juicy green are gobbled up as soon as they come in reach. One of its favorite tactics is to sit down in a stream, completely damming it off, and eating all the fish in the resulting lake plus any game or cattle which comes to slake its thurst. Preferring to be unobserved but lacking darkvision, they are only found in hilly terrain, and move very slowly, mainly during twilight. Bare patches on nearby hills or fields, or streams that suddenly dry up and then flash-flood a few days later, are a good sign that a Hill That Walks may be around...
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Old 01-26-06, 06:58 AM #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Conaill
How about this:

The Hill That Walks disguises itself with swathes of grass, making it look like a grassy hill when sitting down. Cattle attracted by the juicy green are gobbled up as soon as they come in reach. One of its favorite tactics is to sit down in a stream, completely damming it off, and eating all the fish in the resulting lake plus any game or cattle which comes to slake its thurst. Preferring to be unobserved but lacking darkvision, they are only found in hilly terrain, and move very slowly, mainly during twilight. Bare patches on nearby hills or fields, or streams that suddenly dry up and then flash-flood a few days later, are a good sign that a Hill That Walks may be around...


I like that too


Quote:
Not entirely clear how you fit Twilight, Riparian and Piebald into that...


Pibald is where I got the Gravel idea from (mottled like a gravel river bed), Riparian is the river edge where erosion occurs and um yeah Twilight I kinda ignored
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Old 01-26-06, 03:31 PM #7
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I like all these ideas and we'll incorporate them into a future poll. Keep the ideas coming.

More on crepuscular and riparian, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

"Crepuscular is a term used to describe animals that are primarily active during the twilight. Crepuscular is thus in contrast with diurnal and nocturnal. Crepuscular animals may also be active on a bright moonlit night. Many animals that are casually described as nocturnal are in fact crepuscular. Within the definition of crepuscular are the terms matutinal and vespertine, denoting animals active in the morning (dawn) and evening (dusk) respectively.

Crepuscular mammals include the rabbit, ferret, guinea pig, common mouse, rat, and capybara. Crepuscular birds include Common Nighthawk and Spotted Crake. Some species have different habits in the absence of predators. For example, the Short-eared Owl is diurnal on those of the Galapagos islands that do not have buzzard species, but crepuscular on the others."

"Riparian areas or zones are the interface between land and water. They are the areas adjacent to water courses that are prone to flooding. Riparian zones are an important matter in environmentalism and civil engineering due to their significance for managing erosion control, their ecologies and the large effect they have on aquatic ecosystems.

Riparian ecosystems are vital to the health of all aquatic ecosystems as they filter out pollutants from land runoff, prevent erosion, and provide shelter and food for many aquatic animals.

Riparian strips refer to riparians and the vegetation growing there."

Here are my brainstorms on the concept so far:

* Is amphibious and sleeps near river banks until twilight, when it rises to hunt and satisfy its voracious appetite.
* It gains additional Strength, special abilities, etc. during twilight
* It might possess the power to control water
* Perhaps it seeks to prevent nonaquatic/nonamphibious creatures from entering the river as part of its "filtering"

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Old 02-21-06, 03:42 PM #8
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We'll be using the "Looks Like a Hill", "Dam It", "Amphbious Twilight Hunter", and
"Water Control" themes.
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Old 03-10-06, 02:32 PM #9
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Updated with a few poll results.
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Old 03-13-06, 07:17 PM #10
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Updated with results of ability scores polls.
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Old 03-27-06, 10:26 PM #11
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Updated with results of speed polls.
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Old 03-31-06, 04:08 PM #12
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Added results of "looks like a hill" poll.
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Old 04-21-06, 03:42 PM #13
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Added results of feats polls.
 

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Cleaning it up:

Glupskulle
Gargantuan Giant
Hit Dice: 26d8+286 (403 hp)
Initiative: -2
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), swim 40 ft.
Armor Class: 38 (–4 size, -2 Dex, +34 natural), touch 4, flat-footed 28
Base Attack/Grapple: +19/+47
Attack: Slam +31 melee (2d6+16) or greatclub +31 melee (4d8+24) or rock +13 ranged (3d8+16) or net +13 ranged (entangle)
Full Attack: 2 slams +31 melee (2d6+16) or greatclub +31/+26/+21/+16 melee (4d8+24) or rock +13 ranged (3d8+16) or net +13 ranged (entangle)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./20 ft.
Special Attacks: Rock throwing, spell-like abilities
Special Qualities: Camouflage, low-light vision, rock catching
Saves: Fort +28, Ref +6, Will +12
Abilities: Str 42, Dex 6, Con 33, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 7
Skills: Climb +18, Hide -10 (+2 in hilly terrain or near streams or in areas of shadowy illumination), Intimidate +1, Jump +20, Move Silently +10, Spot +3, Survival +8, Swim +26, Tumble +1
Feats: Athletic, Awesome Blow, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (net), Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Sunder, Power Attack
Epic Feats: Epic Will, Penetrate Damage Reduction (cold iron)
Environment: Temperate rivers
Organization: Solitary and family (1-2 and 1 offspring)
Challenge Rating: 19
Treasure: Standard
Alignment: Usually chaotic
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: -

The soft sounds of the slow-moving river is interruped by a loud sucking sound as a nearby hill unfolds into the form of a massive humanoid. In the fading light of day, you can make out piebald patches of green and brown covering its skin, and its long hair dangles like uprooted river grass. Muddy water runs in rivulets from its bulk as it effortlessly uproots a nearby tree. The rumbling of its belly sounds like distant thunder.

Voracious predators of riparian areas, a glupskulle spends most of the day sleeping. As twilight arrives, it begins its hunt for any prey it can aquire to slake its incredible appetite.

One of a glupskulle's favorite tactics is to sit down in a stream, completely damming it off, and eating all the fish in the resulting lake plus any game or cattle which come to slake their thirst.

Although it satiates its voracious appetite on any living creatures it can catch, a glupskulle has a "sweet tooth" for fey, which are often active during the twilight hours in which it hunts.

A glupskulle's bag usually contains 1d4 throwing rocks, 3d4 mundane items, and the giant's personal wealth. These possessions tend to be muddy or algae-covered, and usually consist of a mixture of fishing gear, woodsman's gear, and tools for weaving nets.

A glupskulle speaks Giant.

Combat

A glupskulle prefers to use its natural camouflage to its advantage, waiting for creatures to come within melee range before striking with its powerful slam attacks or an uprooted tree used as a makeshift greatclub. If facing flying or ranged combatants, it hurls boulders. Against foes that venture too close to the river, it may try to use its control water ability to raise the river level to catch foes within. It uses its Awesome Blow feat to knock heavily armored opponents into the river, hoping to drown them or take them out of the battle for a time. A glupskulle cares little for equipment sized for lesser creatures, so it will use Improved Sunder whenever it is advantageous.

Spell-Like Abilities: 3/day--control water, create water. Caster level 20th. The save DCs are Charisma-based.

Camouflage (Ex): Since a glupskulle looks like a normal hill when at rest, it takes a DC 20 Spot check to notice it before it attacks.

Anyone with ranks in Survival or Knowledge (nature) can use one of those skills instead of Spot to notice the glupskulle.

Glupskulle's Net: A glupskulle may throw its massive net to a range of 20 feet. Unlike using a standard net, the glupskulle targets a grid or intersection (AC 5). All creatures within a 10 foot radius of this point must succeed on a DC 15 Reflex save or become entangled.

A glupskulle's net is tightly-woven, allowing it to be used against creatures from Tiny to Gargantuan size.

For all other purposes, a glupskulle's net functions as a standard net.

Skills: A glupskulle has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks. It can attempt a Hide check in hilly terrain or near streams, even if the terrain doesn’t normally grant cover or concealment. It gains an additional +12 racial bonus on any Hide check made in such terrrain or in areas of shadowy illumination

A glupskulle has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
 
Last edited:



Updated again. Post any ideas for italicized description, flavor text, and how to best describe its environment.
 

What's left:

  • italicized description
  • flavor text
  • how to best describe its environment
  • caster level for SLAs (I'd suggest 20)
  • challenge rating
  • save DC for net
  • contents of giant's bag (if any...tbd by poll)
 


How's this for an italicized description.

The soft sounds of the slow-moving river is interruped by a loud sucking sound as a nearby hill unfolds into the form of a massive humanoid. In the fading light of day, you can make out piebald patches of green and brown covering its skin, and its long hair dangles like uprooted river grass. Muddy water runs in rivulets from its bulk as it effortlessly uproots a nearby tree. The rumbling of its belly sounds like distant thunder.
 


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