2 frost giants or 3 hill giants?

[S'mon]

Seriously folks, I really appreciate the creative answers but... no one has answered the question:

what fight is harder: 3 hill giants or 2 frost giants?

2 frost giants, definitely. Hill giants aren't too outrageous for CR 5, while frost giants are tough even for
their CR 8 (I got it wrong earlier). It's not just raw damage (+9/25x4 vs +8/18x6) - IME frost giants are a LOT more durable - better AC 15 and hp 138 vs AC 13 hp 105 is nice, but look at the saving throw line - hill have no good saves and are vulnerable to a clever caster, frost have CON +8 WIS +3 CHA +4 (as well as
STR +6). 2 frost are worth 7800 vs 3 hill 5400 and I'd say that reflects the threat level.

When you fight frost or fire giants you KNOW you're fighting giants!

 

[Ancalagon]

I plan on having the giants open with one round of boulders (surprise round) and then come in. They are definitely over confident. The party will be at full HP etc, but not in an ideal position, strung out on a mountain trail. I will have the giants be able to navigate the slope with ease, showing their spiritual connection with the land. Meanwhile, the party has to stick to the narrow road... but that's not as big a deal since there are 2 monks and other party members have mobility spells.

The saving throw is a big factor - both the warlock and the cleric like mental attack spells (fear, confusion) and will have them ready. Two monks means a *lot* of stunning fists. The hill giants are more vulnerable, but they are 3 of them (vs 2) so a failed saving throw means less % of the foes are taken out.

 

[S'mon]

Two monks means a *lot* of stunning fists.

They're gonna hate that CON +8 - or love it when the giants roll in low single digits.

 

[ccs]

Seriously folks, I really appreciate the creative answers but... no one has answered the question:

what fight is harder: 3 hill giants or 2 frost giants?

(at this point I'll reskin the 3 hill giants into small frost giants for flavor reasons, so heck, what is harder: 2 full grown frost giants or 3 teenage punk frost giants?)

My answer remains the same as way back in post #2 - 3 hill giants. Or, in this case 3 punk frost giants.

 

[aco175]

I would have 1 frost and 3 hill giants. Have the frost be the leader and the others are focusing on being cold and wanting to take shelter, possibly giving the PCs surprise. The paladin with a giant slaying sword can take out one by himself and come to help the others.

 

[collin]

More is always better as a challenge, e.g, what makes a horde of zombies or skeletons is not their CR but the fact there are so many of them and they just keep coming. More targets to focus on and attack with.

 

[FrogReaver]

I think it depends on what you consider a challenging fight. I think the 3 hill giants will cause the players to burn more resources. I think the frost giants have the better chance of downing a PC.

 

[Arvok]

Hill giants (IMO) would first go after the weaker party members--in this case the NPCs. 1 or 2 rounds of that would take a chunk out of the paladin and cleric's healing spells/abilities (I'm assuming the paladin and cleric wouldn't let NPCs die). If the party doesn't have much in the way of ranged attacks--and it sounds like they don't--they could be out of healing in 5, maybe 6 rounds of 3 hill giants crushing weaker party members with boulders. The frost giants could do the same, but with only 2 of them, they're probably not going to be hitting as many NPCs per round.

In other words, I think 3 hill giants who are cunning and cowardly would be tougher than 2 frost giants. This assumes the hill giants stay up on a ridge and rain boulders down for a half dozen rounds or so. I know you said that you planned on the hill giants coming down into melee range after a round or 2, but that seems too easy for the PCs. Hill giants might be dumb, but they aren't suicidal. I've always run hill giants as cowardly bullies who try to use the terrain to their advantage (and I think I'm following the original concept of the creature). If you're not playing them as such, I think they don't deserve as high a CR as the book states.

 

[Guest 6801328]

Do I hear five giants? Five giants? Anyone? Going once....going twice...

 

[jasper]

Hill Giant stats, frost giant abilities.