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

[bedir than]

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.

Then there's no need for complicated weapons in Goliath society. They can kill with a rock and their fire/frost/etc.
That's even more true for Elves with their combat cantrips. Why use a long bow when you can fire bolt with less training and cost?

Not a single bit of the current structure of Realms/Greyhawk/etc societies holds up if every person in those worlds has the PC abilities upon reaching the age of maturity. That would mean every human has a feat, which means a significant percentage can cast Goodberry, creating a society where farm labor is pointless.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Then there's no need for complicated weapons in Goliath society. They can kill with a rock and their fire/frost/etc.
That's even more true for Elves with their combat cantrips. Why use a long bow when you can fire bolt with less training and cost?

Not a single bit of the current structure of Realms/Greyhawk/etc societies holds up if every person in those worlds has the PC abilities upon reaching the age of maturity. That would mean every human has a feat, which means a significant percentage can cast Goodberry, creating a society where farm labor is pointless.

Most of those settings were built for past editions, so I do not hold it against them, they were fine when they were made.

 

[bedir than]

Most of those settings were built for past editions, so I do not hold it against them, they were fine when they were made.

And the rules are rather specific that the PHB is for players, not NPCs (with rare exceptions).


Now, I think Powerful Build on goliaths is something they all have, whether PC or not. Same with Stonecunning for dwarves. I wouldn't make mystical or combat elements go to the entire populace -- I would love to read a setting that uses that framework!

 

[Mind of tempest]

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.

my point is we can't at present do that at all nor subvert expectations as none have been made.

 

[bedir than]

my point is we can't at present do that at all nor subvert expectations as none have been made.

The appendix N (inspirations) for the Goliath are plentiful though.

There's everything Critical Role has done, which is 1,000s of hours of lore, multiple books, multiple seasons of a TV show.
There's WotC's previous content.
There's the dude the Goliath is named after.

Wizards doesn't assume people have zero fantasy/comics background when they create content because that person is extremely rare.

Instead the assumption is that people have a background of experiences around the lore that inspires the game.

 

[Mind of tempest]

The appendix N (inspirations) for the Goliath are plentiful though.

There's everything Critical Role has done, which is 1,000s of hours of lore, multiple books, multiple seasons of a TV show.
There's WotC's previous content.
There's the dude the Goliath is named after.

Wizards doesn't assume people have zero fantasy/comics background when they create content because that person is extremely rare.

Instead the assumption is that people have a background of experiences around the lore that inspires the game.

okay working from that tell me what a goliath is then?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

my point is we can't at present do that at all nor subvert expectations as none have been made.

What exactly do you think they are unable to do, because I seriously don’t get it?

 

[Scribe]

okay working from that tell me what a goliath is then?

The Big Guy (trope) with a focus on resilience, survival, ruggedness, and strength, and thats before the more direct tie in to Giants.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

And the rules are rather specific that the PHB is for players, not NPCs (with rare exceptions).


Now, I think Powerful Build on goliaths is something they all have, whether PC or not. Same with Stonecunning for dwarves. I wouldn't make mystical or combat elements go to the entire populace -- I would love to read a setting that uses that framework!

I would take them as learnable abilities. Humans have an innate ability to learn language, but that doesn’t mean they all speak French without learning it first.

 

[bedir than]

The Big Guy (trope) with a focus on resilience, survival, ruggedness, and strength, and thats before the more direct tie in to Giants.

Here's more reading on a narrower trope for the goliath

Literature - TV Tropes

Agent Of The Terran Empire: The protagonist Imperial secret agent Dominic Flandry is kidnapped by a race of Proud Warrior Race Guy. They sneer at him for being part of the "decadent" Empire. It takes him quite a bit of work but he winds up …

tvtropes.org