D&D (2024) How's the adoption of the new Goliath types going?

[Shadowdweller00]

I dislike (To put it mildly) cultural stereotyping. I think everyone should be treated as a blank sheet, no matter how inconvenient it might be.

You are of course free to like or dislike whatever you choose. And I don't know if matters to you at all, but: Group trends and customs are part of what helps to establish common identities amongst particular cultures or populations. Not all collective evaluation or stereotyping is done to judge or denigrate others.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

This still gets into the assumption that every member of every species is a hero. The PHB isn't meant to simulate the world. It's meant for gameplay by players of the game.

If every character is made with the PC rules the world gets wildly different than any assumption of any setting.

I despise the notion of PCs being completely different types of creatures from their kin, which this POV necessitates.

If all dwarf “heroes” have stonecunning, but not all dwarves in general, is “heroism” a genetic trait? Are all PCs mutants or chosen ones blessed by the gods with weirdly species specific boons?

I’m not a simulationist, but the absolute basics have to have some sort of rationality.

So no, not all people are PCs (who in turn aren’t all heroes), but the PHB species represent what each species is, otherwise they should just be removed.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I want to see some serious setting lore for them before judging, so far only the Stone Goliath has any serious lore for it.

There is nothing that suggests the various types of goliath are significantly different from each other, aside the potential to manifest certain physical abilities.

Same with Dragonborn. They one species, not fifteen.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I dislike (To put it mildly) cultural stereotyping. I think everyone should be treated as a blank sheet, no matter how inconvenient it might be.

I have no issue with that, but a guiding option is helpful. It is both always someone's first game and someone's first time with the concept, having a path of least resistance for when you just need an answer is helpful.
I get everyone is a blank slate but there also on the macro level a blank slate not the individual.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I have no issue with that, but a guiding option is helpful. It is both always someone's first game and someone's first time with the concept, having a path of least resistance for when you just need an answer is helpful.
I get everyone is a blank slate but there also on the macro level a blank slate not the individual.

There is no reason a Goliath can’t be played exactly the same as a human. Playing as yourself is the path of least resistance.

D&D isn’t a game about alien psychologies. You can do that with it, but it’s not really for new players. And a Goliath is rather less alien than an elf.

 

[Mind of tempest]

I guess a lot of people have touched in this: But the major barrier I see from playing goliaths seems to be lore integration. That is, it feels like there's rarely much sign of them in the games my friends and I run. Maybe occasionally rumors of some up in the mountains...but most of the time it doesn't feel there's actually much about their influence on the world. I guess most of the people I game with prefer stronger social ties to whatever fantasy-medieval society or something? I don't know - I don't see anyone complaining about them being bad. But nobody seems interested in playing one.

It is certainly my problem, it is the gnome problem How do you integrate something that seems to have no past, present or future?

 

[Mind of tempest]

There is no reason a Goliath can’t be played exactly the same as a human. Playing as yourself is the path of least resistance.

D&D isn’t a game about alien psychologies. You can do that with it, but it’s not really for new players. And a Goliath is rather less alien than an elf.

then why even have the option beyond the stats that are now gone?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

then why even have the option beyond the stats that are now gone?

Special abilities and cosmetics.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Special abilities and cosmetics.

you got me on the abilites but the cosmetics amount to being big.

It is more I want to see something to work with if someone wants to lean into it and not have to start from scratch.

imagine if a goliath was with the fellow ship of the ring what would they be doing?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

you got me on the abilites but the cosmetics amount to being big.

It is more I want to see something to work with if someone wants to lean into it and not have to start from scratch.

If someone wants to lean into it, then it implies they already have some idea as to what “it” is. Otherwise they are choosing it for the special abilities and/or the cosmetics, which is fine.

imagine if a goliath was with the fellow ship of the ring what would they be doing?

Gimli but taller. Or Boromir with more tats.