Fire Giant Dreadnoughts in VOLO's GUIDE TO MONSTERS

WotC posted this image a couple of days ago, along with a brief note that that Volo's Guide to Monsters has "quite an extensive entry" on Fire Giant Dreadnoughts. Spiky! Also check out yesterday's Giant Lore preview, and the preface - there's a bit of a giant-based focus o the previews, which is likely because Storm King's Thunder is the current storyline. The book hits stores on November 15th (November 4th in preferred stores).

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[Beleriphon]

What creatures are you imagining this giant charging through?

Group of PCs, really anything smaller than itself. Its like a bulldozer vs a crowd.

 

[HomegrownHydra]

Can't PCs easily move out of the way?

 

[hawkeyefan]

I'm glad you guys aren't designing monsters for these books. I feel like the criticisms are more about displaying a level of real world physics rather than on what kind of design elements make for compelling concepts in a fantasy setting.

I mean, typically when folks display a knowledge of science, I find it impressive...but there's a time and place. When discussing the lifting capacity of a fire giant that already defies conventional physics, within a fantasy setting...it just comes across as pedantic.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Can't PCs easily move out of the way?

Not if the dreadnought fills the width of the passageway. A passageway with a pit of lava on the far end, preferably...

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Can't PCs easily move out of the way?

No because Giants are not slow. While dodging can be done, If another guy charges you there is a good chance you won't be able to dodge out of way. This is the same thing but the other guy is 18 ft tall.


Also reading this thread and the last one about the volo previews. I have realized something, far far too many people here hate fun. Seriously there are so many stick in the muds here, who don't have an ounce of imagination.

 

[Demetrios1453]

No because Giants are not slow. While dodging can be done, If another guy charges you there is a good chance you won't be able to dodge out of way. This is the same thing but the other guy is 18 ft tall.


Also reading this thread and the last one about the volo previews. I have realized something, far far too many people here hate fun. Seriously there are so many stick in the muds here, who don't have an ounce of imagination.

Exactly. My first response to seeing this was to come up with a half-dozen ways I could use it to set up interesting challenges for my players, not to worry about whether it could actually exist. Playing the game itself requires a willing suspension of disbelief on so many levels that complaining that dreadnought wouldn't be physically possible (when fire giants themselves aren't even physically possible) does seem to be missing the forest for the trees...

 

[Mercule]

Watched any anime?

I do not watch anime. I do not like the art style. I do not like silliness that passes for "cool". I do not enjoy anime and it is, as a general rule, exactly what I want to avoid out of art, RPGs, board games, card games, video games, etc.

People keep telling me I just haven't watched the right stuff. I stopped humoring them after about the eighth "Now, this is good anime." I've simply decided that anime is to the visual/action palette what lutefisk is to the culinary palette. Some people like it, but I have no idea why.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

Also reading this thread and the last one about the volo previews. I have realized something, far far too many people here hate fun. Seriously there are so many stick in the muds here, who don't have an ounce of imagination.

That's a pretty mean thing to say.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I do not watch anime. I do not like the art style. I do not like silliness that passes for "cool". I do not enjoy anime and it is, as a general rule, exactly what I want to avoid out of art, RPGs, board games, card games, video games, etc.

People keep telling me I just haven't watched the right stuff. I stopped humoring them after about the eighth "Now, this is good anime." I've simply decided that anime is to the visual/action palette what lutefisk is to the culinary palette. Some people like it, but I have no idea why.

This dreadnought is not anime.

That's a pretty mean thing to say.

True it's a bit mean to say they don't have any imagination. But they still rather stuck up.

The guy who said that the Gelatinous Cube goes into the silly box to never be used lost all respect from me.

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

Couldn't we be going for intelligent, skillful, and also cruel?

That is very well said. My 5E game is heading in to a conversion of Against the Giants, so I'm going to keep that phrase in mind.