Can a Hill Giant throw two rocks a round?

[frankthedm]

If a hill giant (STR 25, +7 bonus) were throwing it's rocks two handed, would it not be causing 2d6+10 (1.5 x STR bonus) damage, rather than 2d6+7?

Nope. Stone giants do get that, but that is specific to the stone giant who chuck rocks only the size huge giants normally chuck. Without that notable exception Stone giants get, 1.5 x STR bonus is only bestowed to melee attacks.

Two-Handed
Two hands are required to use a two-handed melee weapon effectively. Apply 1½ times the character’s Strength bonus to damage rolls for melee attacks with such a weapon.

 

[Noumenon]

The range increment is 180 feet for a stone giant’s thrown rocks. It uses both hands when throwing a rock.

That settles that, then. Hill Giants use one hand and will probably benefit from Quick Draw.

 

[irdeggman]

Shouldn't throwing centipedes be at least using an improvised weapon and thus have a -4 penalty to attack?

I think there is a feat that allows throwing living things (or was it a prestige class)?

 

[Starbuck_II]

Shouldn't throwing centipedes be at least using an improvised weapon and thus have a -4 penalty to attack?

I think there is a feat that allows throwing living things (or was it a prestige class)?

Fling Ally?

 

[Noumenon]

I don't know, maybe I am being inspired by 4E's "monsters don't have to follow the same rules as players," but if you grow up in the Centipede Clan I say you can throw centipedes instead of rocks. If one of my enlarged players tries to pick up a centipede and throw it back, I will give him -4. A hill giant that throws centipedes and misses all the time just isn't as cool.

I did another "free substitution" recently where I had a hydra that chewed up rocks and spit out gravel for its breath weapon. My players were asking "did you make it a half-earth elemental" and "what kind of energy resist is that" so maybe they want everything by the book, but I just like to add twists like that. Also, cryohydra breath weapons never leave any valuable rock quartz embedded in your armor after the fight.

 

[Shin Okada]

I did another "free substitution" recently where I had a hydra that chewed up rocks and spit out gravel for its breath weapon. My players were asking "did you make it a half-earth elemental" and "what kind of energy resist is that" so maybe they want everything by the book, but I just like to add twists like that. Also, cryohydra breath weapons never leave any valuable rock quartz embedded in your armor after the fight.

Well, as a DM of course you can create your original monsters, completely original ones or variants of existing monsters. But IMHO you should better think about following 2 factors at least, in the said case.

1) Cold damages can be reduced or negated by popular spells and energy resistances. So, if the said Rock Breath is unstoppable by similar countermeasures, that is not an equal substitution. Maybe you should consider increasing it's CR by 1.

2) Allow PCs to make Knowledge skill check to guess the true nature of the monster. That will allow PCs to take appropriate tactics.

 

[irdeggman]

I don't know, maybe I am being inspired by 4E's "monsters don't have to follow the same rules as players," but if you grow up in the Centipede Clan I say you can throw centipedes instead of rocks. If one of my enlarged players tries to pick up a centipede and throw it back, I will give him -4. A hill giant that throws centipedes and misses all the time just isn't as cool.

I did another "free substitution" recently where I had a hydra that chewed up rocks and spit out gravel for its breath weapon. My players were asking "did you make it a half-earth elemental" and "what kind of energy resist is that" so maybe they want everything by the book, but I just like to add twists like that. Also, cryohydra breath weapons never leave any valuable rock quartz embedded in your armor after the fight.

Yup that is one of the big pains in the .. . with 3.5. The monsters are different is also a go back to 2nd ed where they were too.

Everything is "balanced" and monsters work just like PCs do.

Basically your players want to know what they can do to coutner something that was "made up".

If you "make up" special things like the ones you mentioned then you also need to address how they "work" and fit in with the 3.5 mechanics, this includes countering tactics.

Shoot per the RAW the PCs can actually make knowledge checks to find out pertenant information on any creature you insert (based on type and the corresponding specific knowledge skill). I don't necessarily like the rules but that is what they 9the rules) are and they are "balanced" (at least within the WotC world, 3rd party products tend to be more hit and miss on the balanced issue).

 

[taliesin15]

Don't mean to take this in too ridiculous a tangent, but what if the Hill Giants are uphill, and try *bowling* the rolled up centipedes? Seems like damage would likely be minimal to the centipedes...then you can have fun role playing them celebrating and high-fiving each other when they bowl a strike!

 

[Thatwackyned]

Don't mean to take this in too ridiculous a tangent, but what if the Hill Giants are uphill, and try *bowling* the rolled up centipedes? Seems like damage would likely be minimal to the centipedes...then you can have fun role playing them celebrating and high-fiving each other when they bowl a strike!

If the party is stupid to walk in a V formation, then i'ld allow it. If knocked down 3 times in a row. Give the Hill Giants a Turkey.