Mind of tempest
(he/him)advocate for 5e psionics
why are they so dumb then? earth is not particularly dumb in connotations?
D&D General did giants ever get the spotlight?
- Thread starter Mind of tempest
- Start date
Ath'kethin
Elder Thing
Everybody always forgets about Al-Qadim!
In AQ lore, the continent was once ruled by giants, whose civilization gradually fell in favor of the genies and ins (mortals).
Keith Baker has never confirmed any Al-Qadim influence on Eberron's design as far as I know (nor have any other official sources). But Eberron's take on both giants and deities is virtually identical to Al-Qadim's, and is so different from the way both were handled in previous official settings, I'd be shocked to learn there was no overlap.
In AQ lore, the continent was once ruled by giants, whose civilization gradually fell in favor of the genies and ins (mortals).
Keith Baker has never confirmed any Al-Qadim influence on Eberron's design as far as I know (nor have any other official sources). But Eberron's take on both giants and deities is virtually identical to Al-Qadim's, and is so different from the way both were handled in previous official settings, I'd be shocked to learn there was no overlap.
Nefermandias
Hero
That's wrong.
From the top of my head, we had the G series for 1e, the Giantcraft sourcebook for 2e, Revenge of the Giants for 4e and a whole series of novels by Troy Denning.
dave2008
Legend
IDK, I think earth does have a "dumb" connotation for some. But IDK if they are even treated as "dumb" in the lore (in 4e).
Voadam
Legend
They are "Dumb as a box of rocks."
There are a lot of stories and folklore traditions of giants as being big dumb guys who are easily fooled (seven with one blow, squeeze water from a rock). In those stories it is generally just a generic big giant, not an elemental themed one like the Norse fire or frost giants. Hill giants fit the bill for looking like big dumb guys without strong elemental connotations the way stone giants do. Cloud giants match the tradition for the normal looking giants who are smarter.
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dave2008
Legend
And Cloud Giants draw more on "Jack and the Beanstalk." The giant in that story lives in a castle above the clouds and, while violent, is not dumb; his wife is able to soothe his suspicions for a time, but believing what she tells him doesn't make him stupid.
Nefermandias
Hero
That's right! I'm flabbergasted with all the posters here saying there aren't any official material where giants are featured prominently.
Yora
Legend
I think one (possibly minor) issue might be that the entry level hill giants are really just beefed up ogres. Then the next level of giants are stone giants, which I really quite like, but being dour and neutral is basically their thing, so they are not very exciting.
By the time you can deal with frost giants in groups, you're already playing in the big league, where the overall number of PCs is getting more scarce.
I think basically, giants might just be too big and powerful. Just like dragons and beholders. Look cool on paper, but impractical as opponents in most games.
By the time you can deal with frost giants in groups, you're already playing in the big league, where the overall number of PCs is getting more scarce.
I think basically, giants might just be too big and powerful. Just like dragons and beholders. Look cool on paper, but impractical as opponents in most games.
