Giantkin (Half-Giant Tweak)

[Tetsubo]

I've never been happy with the Half-Giant as presented. It only has a
+2 Strength and that just doesn't feel like a Half-GIANT to me. Here is
a tweak I'm thinking of using. Do you think it is balanced as a +1 LA
race? I thought of adding in a +1 attack and damage bonus for spears as
a cultural theme, but it might be too much.

* +4 Strength, +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence, -2 Dexterity, -2
Charisma: Half-giants are tough and strong, but not too bright, nimble
or socially adept.
* Giant: Half-giants are not subject to spells or effects that
affect humanoids only, such as charm person or dominate person.
* Medium: As Medium creatures, half-giants have no special bonuses
or penalties due to their size.
* Half-giant base land speed is 30 feet.
* Low-Light Vision: A half-giant can see twice as far as a human in
starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor
illumination. He retains the ability to distinguish color and detail
under these conditions.
* Half-Giants may use their Strength bonus in place of their
Charisma bonus for the use of the Intimidate skill.
* Powerful Build: The physical stature of half-giants lets them
function in many ways as if they were one size category larger.

Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special
size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull
rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size
larger if doing so is advantageous to him.

A half-giant is also considered to be one size larger when
determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as
improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A half-giant can use
weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty.
However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual
size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of
powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
* Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Draconic, Giant,
Goblin, Orc.
* Favored Class: Barbarian.
* Level Adjustment: +1.

 

[Derro]

* Half-Giants may use their Strength bonus in place of their
Charisma bonus for the use of the Intimidate skill.
* Powerful Build: The physical stature of half-giants lets them
function in many ways as if they were one size category larger.

I'd roll those two into one. Make the h-g a large creature for the purposes of intimidation. I'm also not sure about LA +1. The half-ogre, with its comparable stat mods and special abilities, comes in at +2. LAs of +1 or +2 are generally pretty touchy. I'd probably give this guy +2 based on the fact he's going to be built as a warrior-type and therefore his penalties are only a nuisance and not that much of a trade-off. Removing the Giant type might make it a bit more equitable but that destroys a bit of his flavor.

Ponder this on the Tree of Woe.

 

[Lord Slaw]

Considering his abilities alone, I'd say that it would squeak into the LA +1 category. However, that Powerful Build ability is a huge boon, not to mention its favored class being Barbarian boost power level a little bit, too, bumping it into a low LA +2. And yeah, the Giant type helps, as well - immunity to spells like Charm Person can be a killer.

Personally, I've always felt the same about Orcs - as Barbarians, they come painfully close to LA +1. +4 Strength is huge, and not many Barbarians care about Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, due to their decent skill points, boost to Will saves, and lack of Charisma-related skills. If it weren't for Light Sensitivity, I would say that orcs would be LA +1.

Out of curiosity, were you basing this off of the Psionic Half-Giant, and just decided to get rid of the Psionic rules tied to it? Nothing wrong with that - just wondering.

 

[Tetsubo]

Considering his abilities alone, I'd say that it would squeak into the LA +1 category. However, that Powerful Build ability is a huge boon, not to mention its favored class being Barbarian boost power level a little bit, too, bumping it into a low LA +2. And yeah, the Giant type helps, as well - immunity to spells like Charm Person can be a killer.

Personally, I've always felt the same about Orcs - as Barbarians, they come painfully close to LA +1. +4 Strength is huge, and not many Barbarians care about Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma, due to their decent skill points, boost to Will saves, and lack of Charisma-related skills. If it weren't for Light Sensitivity, I would say that orcs would be LA +1.

Out of curiosity, were you basing this off of the Psionic Half-Giant, and just decided to get rid of the Psionic rules tied to it? Nothing wrong with that - just wondering.

Yep. I've NEVER understood why they made the Half-Giant a Psionic race. I know it is a hold over from dark Sun. But it never made any sense to me.

For flavor I'm going to call the race the Jotun and base them off of the Norse tales of Giants.

 

[Nifft]

Yep. I've NEVER understood why they made the Half-Giant a Psionic race. I know it is a hold over from dark Sun. But it never made any sense to me.

"Historical" is too often the enemy of "sensible".

In one set of racial house rules that I'd been considering, there was a feat any Human could take which granted +2 Str and cost -2 Dex. That was the implementation of the "giant blood" basic race.

Cheers, -- N

 

[milo]

I would say that if the Bugbaear is a LA +1 that this could be only a +1. The bugbear has a better stat block and +3 nat AC. I personally think that the bugbear should be a +2, but that is an arguement for another thread. I would say that 4 points of dex, 2 points of int, and +3 nat AC make up for powerful build.

 

[Nifft]

I would say that if the Bugbaear is a LA +1 that this could be only a +1. The bugbear has a better stat block and +3 nat AC. I personally think that the bugbear should be a +2, but that is an arguement for another thread. I would say that 4 points of dex, 2 points of int, and +3 nat AC make up for powerful build.

Er, Bugbears also have those racial HD to contend with.

Cheers, -- N