D&D 5E Making Goliaths More Mechanically Appealing

[doctorbadwolf]

I like it.

Level + Con mod fits in with the way the Aasimar abilities work off of level, but at low levels you can roll and see if it is better. 2d6 + con is definetly better without overpowering it, and prevents the minimum problem. Which is really the biggest problem with the ability, the fact you could roll a 1 and essentially "waste" it.

Yep. Makes it not feel as fun as the other races limited abilities. I think that fix would work really well.

I agree with the posters who have proposed that we should focus on Stone's Endurance. Another improvement could be making Powerful Build(?) better for tables which don't use endurance or pushing/carrying rules very often.

I actually think that Powerful Build should increase your jump distance and height, maybe climb and swim speed as well?

 

[Chaosmancer]

I actually think that Powerful Build should increase your jump distance and height, maybe climb and swim speed as well?

Not Climb and Swim, but I can see increasing jump distance and height.

Edit: Which also plays into their Athletics proficiency

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Not Climb and Swim, but I can see increasing jump distance and height.

Edit: Which also plays into their Athletics proficiency

I’d go for all four, but I could go either way.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

I too would go for all four. And actually id give them the DR someome mentioned too in some way. Maybe make it overcome by acid and/or force too (but not thunder).

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

I agree that Stone's Endurance is the problem. But part of the problem is that I have no idea what Stone's Endurance is. What happens when a goliath uses it? When makes blocking an attack using Stone's Endurance different than blocking another attack? The ability seems very vague to me. I have no idea what it's supposed to mean.

 

[Phazonfish]

Make them actually Large sized.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Make them actually Large sized.

No. Completely unnecessary added complexity that nets the game practically nothing compared to the current situation.

 

[Todd Roybark]

The question I have is does 5e as a system place a higher value on reducing damage than the ability to do extra damage? There are quite a few races released after the Goliath that have add level to damage, but none with the Stones Endurance power, and I honestly do not know if that is by design or happenstance.

My house rule for Powerful Build is : you count as one size larger for grappling.
This way, in a game that may not use encumbrance, the player still gets something.

Stones Endurance might also work better as Resistance to all damage to the beginning of your next turn. This could even be a 3rd level capstone to the base power as written.

Resistance to cold is fine, and consistent with the Triton PC race.

adding more than this and why play a Half-Orc?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

adding more than this and why play a Half-Orc?

Because one wants to, as is always the reason to play one.

 

[Todd Roybark]

It is a noble sentiment doc, but this whole thread is about making the wanting to play one race more mechanically desirable.....and it is warranted, in my opinion, but isn’t this thread in some ways about that voice in the reptilian part of our brain...the power gamer center, the Sid Meier ganglia.....that voice that says “ I love Goliaths, but I would love them more with Cold Resistance”.

Tweak Goliaths too hard, and half -orcs become like non steroid using players in MLB, not played.