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

[RoughCoronet0]

I’ve made a few Goliath characters with the 2024 version. I like pairing them with the Giant feats from Bigby’s.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Anyways one thing about the newer Goliaths is I feel there's room for some campaign specific variations.

• For example Dark Sun would have a Goliath that resembles mini Humanoid Head Giants, which are the classic Half-Giants of DS. And there could be a Beast-Head Goliath variety that's connected to the Beast-Head Giants of Athas.
• Despite Oni now being Fiends, for Japanese themed settings there could be Goliaths resembling the dumb-brutish type Oni that existed in D&D before.

 

[DragonLancer]

My campaign is my first attempt with 5th edition so I can't speak for Goliath's in 2014 or earlier. In this I have two players with Goliath characters. One is a Hill Giant ancestry (Monk 5/Ranger 1) and the other is a Cloud Giant (Rogue 6). They seem popular with those players. I'll be interested in seeing if anyone plays one in subsequent campaigns.

In my homebrew setting they are influenced by Dark Sun as being a created slave race of the Ancients who have since expanded into their own cultures in the world. As for the appearance I imagine they just look like smaller versions of their giant ancestors.

 

[Zardnaar]

I've been seeing a few more Goliath recently. Can't remember the flavor I saw post 2024 for a short game/substitute.

Mordenkainens kinda gets forgotten about although I'm seeing more gith post BG3. Cheers Lae'zel. They're going for earlier ones from Volos iirc. Bladelock medium armor is why.

 

[bergec]

I build a homebrew world for the new edition that has giant as no longer a part of the world and goliaths as their successors. We have two in the party, one storm and one cloud, and they both seem to really be enjoying the characters and the species' backstory.

 

[TorgoTheWhite]

Played a Goliath barbarian. GWM, charger. Use his extra D10, brutal strike, and charge to great effect. Outside of combat, I have no shortage of slave race/ demonic cult masters/Acheron wizard empire let their "trained apes" learn too much arcane craft to the point of overthrowing the overlords. I always build the culture first, then the character quirks spin off that

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Markings seem to be the main visual indicator for Goliaths beyond their size, I'm guessing they want to emphasize Giant runes somewhere.

 

[tombowings]

For me, I'm having a really hard time considering the cultural implications of a race that can change its size to increase its Strength and speed. Though not all Goliaths have access to this ability, it's still a little hard for me to wrap my head around.

Some of the Goliath's other abilities are also head scratchers. Cloud's Jaunt would change the way architecture is designed. Storm's Thunder would seriously change the way children rough-house play.

Overall, I don't feel like I'm getting though support from the PHB to properly integrate Goliaths into my world. Likewise, I'm not seeing a lot of support from players that helps them avoid the "humans in cosplay" trope.

After all, these are no longer different races (of the same offshoot), but now different species, which implies a much more disparate developmental process. Those differing phenotypes would cascade outwards into even more radically different cultural memes. Rhinos do not behave like house cats, after all.

 

[bedir than]

For me, I'm having a really hard time considering the cultural implications of a race that can change its size to increase its Strength and speed. Though not all Goliaths have access to this ability, it's still a little hard for me to wrap my head around.

Some of the Goliath's other abilities are also head scratchers. Cloud's Jaunt would change the way architecture is designed. Storm's Thunder would seriously change the way children rough-house play.

Overall, I don't feel like I'm getting though support from the PHB to properly integrate Goliaths into my world. Likewise, I'm not seeing a lot of support from players that helps them avoid the "humans in cosplay" trope.

After all, these are no longer different races (of the same offshoot), but now different species, which implies a much more disparate developmental process. Those differing phenotypes would cascade outwards into even more radically different cultural memes. Rhinos do not behave like house cats, after all.

Are you building your world on the assumptions that everyone is a hero?

 

[Yaarel]

Even though Monsters of the Multiverse where the Genasi last appeared is more 2024 compatible than other books, I think the Genasi are going to need more of a reformatting.

I wouldnt mind some reconcepting: the Genasi able to become actual fire, actual water, actual gust of wind.