Anders Johnson, a Swedish artist over on ArtStation, has an awesome image in which he compares the relative sizes of various D&D giants.
For me, it is not so much the strength score (I actually think it could be lower), but the damage caused. I generally accept it because HP are so abstract, but if you want HP to be meat points (which I think you do) it really makes no sense. I hit from a giant should kill you.Wow, when a fire giant punches you with a forearm as big as your whole body, it really calls their Strength 25 into question. The must be moving incredibly slowly, in order for that much mass to result in that little destructive power.
This one comes down to simple narration.For me, it is not so much the strength score (I actually think it could be lower), but the damage caused. I generally accept it because HP are so abstract, but if you want HP to be meat points (which I think you do) it really makes no sense. I hit from a giant should kill you.
I'm less concerned about Hit Points than I am about doors and manacles. When something has a break DC of 20, a +7 modifier doesn't really cut it.For me, it is not so much the strength score (I actually think it could be lower), but the damage caused. I generally accept it because HP are so abstract, but if you want HP to be meat points (which I think you do) it really makes no sense. I hit from a giant should kill you.
It generally works for me too. However, you could have them have fewer attacks and cause more damage. I might like that even better.The flip side of this is that, due to sheer scale, most Giants won't be able to attack nearly as quickly/frequently as PC-size people could; and so the reduced damage kind of evens it out (doing 2d8 more often instead of 8d8 not as often).
Works for me...
Conversely, what I like is the narrowed range of size in 5e. In 1e a Storm Giant is 2x the size of a hill giant., but only about 1.5x the size in 5eWhat doesn't work as well for me, and here I rather agree with Celebrim, is the up-scaling of Giants' sizes. I come from a 1e perspective, where Ogres are 9' tall, Hill Giants are 10-12' tall and it's about another foot or two in height for each gradation up from there. That's usually more than big enough to pose a threat (particularly if there's lots of 'em!); and if I need something bigger there's always Titans (which can be big enough to underpin entire mountain ranges, if needed), Elementals, or whatever I can dream up on my own.
I get you, If I cared about that mechanically that would bother me too. I feel free to handle that Narratively and just say the giant breaks them.I'm less concerned about Hit Points than I am about doors and manacles. When something has a break DC of 20, a +7 modifier doesn't really cut it.
I dunno - I'm having a really hard time envisioning a Dex-based two-weapon Giant dancing circles around the sword-and-boards...It generally works for me too. However, you could have them have fewer attacks and cause more damage. I might like that even better.
Also, if they are dynamically similar they wouldn't be much slower.
Only because the 1e Hill Giant is smaller...Conversely, what I like is the narrowed range of size in 5e. In 1e a Storm Giant is 2x the size of a hill giant., but only about 1.5x the size in 5e
That's what I'd see as a Cloud Titan or Elemental - it left Giant behind long ago.My grandfather had a copy of this classic NC Wyeth painting at his house:
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I always enjoyed looking at it as a kid. As a result, this is what I think of when I think of giants.