D&D 5E Giant Slayer Extra Damage

[jiggymardust]

The giant slayer magic item reads "When you hit a giant with it, the giant takes an extra 2d6 damage of the weapon's type and must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or fall prone." Since it doesn't specify otherwise, is the extra 2d6 and/or strength saving throw limited to once per turn? Or can a character with multiple attacks cause the extra damage and/or saving throw each time they hit in a single turn? Would this be over-powered?

 

[The Crimson Binome]

A flaming sword deals +2d6 fire damage on every attack, so I can't see why a giant-slayer would be limited to once per round. As for the saving throw, given that it's a Strength save and you're fighting a giant, multiple attempts would seem necessary in order to get any real use out of it.

 

[CapnZapp]

The giant slayer magic item reads "When you hit a giant with it, the giant takes an extra 2d6 damage of the weapon's type and must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or fall prone." Since it doesn't specify otherwise, is the extra 2d6 and/or strength saving throw limited to once per turn? Or can a character with multiple attacks cause the extra damage and/or saving throw each time they hit in a single turn? Would this be over-powered?

Since it doesn't specify otherwise, it's on every single hit.

As to whether it's overpowered, the relevant question should be "is it overshadowing?"

That is, will it make other players feel relatively useless, perhaps because they too built a damage-dealing character that now can't compete? Or are other players more or less relieved the Giants will be taken care of the player with the item?

It all depends.

The item is very strong (against giants), let there be no doubt about that. But too strong? Only you know your group.

Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app

 

[jiggymardust]

Great points. Thanks to both of you!

 

[GameOgre]

Since it doesn't specify otherwise, it's on every single hit.

As to whether it's overpowered, the relevant question should be "is it overshadowing?"

That is, will it make other players feel relatively useless, perhaps because they too built a damage-dealing character that now can't compete? Or are other players more or less relieved the Giants will be taken care of the player with the item?

It all depends.

The item is very strong (against giants), let there be no doubt about that. But too strong? Only you know your group.

Sent from my C6603 using EN World mobile app

Not at my game table. Players get overshadowed all the time. They deal with it.

If you build a combat monster then you will excel at combat but not at social encounters. If you built a social Diva you will excel at non-combat encounters but not as combat ones.

You make whatever character you want and deal with the results.

If you want to be a sneaky dude and stealth through all the bad guys, I'm down.

What I don't do is tell my players those choices don't matter because someone else might feel overshadowed. I don't limit magic items based on it either.

If you want to be a diva make a Diva and approach things as a Diva would!
If you want to be a combat monster make one and then hack your way through.

There isn't one true way to adventure.

if you make a combat monster but find yourself feeling overshadowed in combat.....figure out how to increase your damage.