D&D 5E Making Goliaths More Mechanically Appealing

[Don Durito]

What's our point of comparison here? Is it Half-Orcs or Mountain Dwarves?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I don't think he's looking to get you to play a Goliath. HE likes them as a concept (and name), and wants advice on making them more mechanically appealing.

If you like something, why change it? Why not create something that has the stuff you like from scratch?

The Jotun-Kin are said to stem from an intermingling of northern barbarians with giants. They live in harsh mountain environments and keep to themselves etc etc.

+2 STR +2 Con. Tough as Stone (gain 1 extra hp per hit die); Large Hands: When using a versatile weapon can use the larger damage die when wielding the weapon in one hand; Tall: when in supermarkets can reach items on the top shelf.

 

[Son of the Serpent]

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.

Well honestly i think stone's endurance is half of a great name and none of a good mechanic, one that to me it feels like there definitely is a place for. There is a void that needs filling but the way this mechanic opperates i think serves that purpose poorly and doesnt even resemble something "stoney".

I think the ability should be called stone's resiliance or better yet "stone's durability". Lets make the goliaths quite literally HARD and generally somewhat resistant to most damage. Like most people think of stone. Hard and generally durable.

What would actually resemble that? Supernaturally hard flesh (like a stone) represented by the DR (damage reduction) mentioned earlier (again I forgot who. Im sorry. Ill look up the name of the original poster of said comment and edit it into this post.)

To make it even more "stone" like id say make it over come strictly by a number greater than the number of the DR or acid and/or force (probably not thunder). Also make the DR a constant static salient ability. Not something that "wears off". Stones arent made of jello 90% of the day until they decide to resist the pressure of your shoe on them.

Edit. Lol. It was actually the op of the entire thread @doctorbadwolf . sorry man. Anyway i like the idea for dr. I dont think it should be an ability with a time limit btw.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

I would give them a fun feature like the Zelda's Gorons Boulder stance.
+5 AC, prone, cannot take action, can move 15 ft and enter enemies squares, pushing them out of the way with on a failed Dex save. Create a feat that allows for damage when grappling and using boulder stance with their stony bone spurs.

And a climb speed/improved jump distance.
And immunity to extreme cold/heat.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

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.

Nope.

What's our point of comparison here? Is it Half-Orcs or Mountain Dwarves?

Neither.

 

[Todd Roybark]

If you like something, why change it? Why not create something that has the stuff you like from scratch?

LOL...Paul... doc in effect was asking for suggestions regarding his chicken kiev recipe and you essentially told him to start from scratch with lamb.

 

[TiwazTyrsfist]

How badly would it break things if we kept them medium BUT Gave them Reach?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

How badly would it break things if we kept them medium BUT Gave them Reach?

Bugbears do that already.

 

[Fenris-77]

I really like the idea of doing a variety rules based on giant heritage. Fire giant is your Cyclops type, Storm Giant gets you the sea farers, frost giants are your arctic mountain recluses, and so on and so forth. Each types gets different resistance or similar rule related to heritage, and maybe another buff based on region.

 

[Don Durito]

Cloud Giants (Goliaths) are like Trolls in Earthdawn. Sky pirates who leap out of the ships and fall to the ground.