Mountain giants a very weak CR 26?

[Trainz]

Thats not correct. "If the party is taking on challenges that far above their level, something strange is going on and the DM needs to think carefully about the awards rather than just taking them off a table. See Assigning Ad Hoc XP Awards, page 39"

In this case, the 'something strange' would be that it really doesn't deserve to be CR 26 and that they should instead get the experience a more appropriate CR would provide.

I did say "Unless it's a mountain giant of course".

I was simply extrapolating what you quoted to make a point.

 

[ruleslawyer]

CR 16 seems right. Maybe it was a typo?

 

[Philip]

CR 16 seems right. Maybe it was a typo?

I don't think so, just bad judgement. Most monsters in the Monster Manual 2 have a relatively high CR as opposed to similar strength monsters in the Monster Manual 1. The Monster Manual 3 went in the other direction, having relatively low CR's for the monsters' actual strength.

The monster from MM2 that made me laugh of his the ridiculously high CR was the Fiendwurm, which is CR 28. Any 16th lvl party worth its salt should defeat this monster easily. Even when you consider that it's Demonic Belch has become more powerful, since demons have got better in 3.5.

 

[Testament]

MM2 is full of gaffes though, and not just ridiculously high CRs like the Mountain Giant and Fiendwurm.

I mean, look at the Jovoc and Spellgaunt, and tell me that they're not there for the sole purpose of screwing PCs.

 

[Narder]

Use a Jovoc and honestly tell me that wasn't a lot of fun

Regarding the Mountain Giant, beating one is a piece of cake for medium to high level characters, even when the DM does his very best.

 

[Al]

The problem with the MM2 is that the CRs of the monsters rely on them being able to fight the PCs on their own terms. For example, I've been throwing a few Century Worms at my PCs recently, and when they've managed to use their Swallow Whole ability (and, let's be fair, Century Worms are a bit of a one-trick pony), the PC has been in real trouble. Against flying opponents, or those with Freedom of Movement, however, they're just cannon fodder with lots of HPs.

Mountain giants are even more problematic. Even in melee it's not worth a CR 26. AC 31 is derisory at these levels, and its attacking capabilities are scarcely better, if at all, than even a non-epic fighter or barbarian (let alone frenzied berserker etc.). No SR? No flight? No magic? Little ranged capability? Not worth a CR 26.

As an amusing aside, if you were to extrapolate the CR table for it (quite probably) being defeated by three 12th level PCs, I calculate it to be 153,600 xp each. Enough to hit 20th level or go epic depending on the level caps of your campaign .

 

[hong]

As an amusing aside, if you were to extrapolate the CR table for it (quite probably) being defeated by three 12th level PCs, I calculate it to be 153,600 xp each. Enough to hit 20th level or go epic depending on the level caps of your campaign .

It's a respawn point on legs!

 

[Endur]

Hey, don't forget that your Mountain Giant can have CR 26 treasure worth of magic items.

Those items could be pretty significant (flying, SR, etc.) if you wanted to make them so.

But, the whole point behind the Mountain Giant is that it is far more powerful than the equivalent level 26 NPC fighter. Greater Strength, Crush, etc.. The NPC fighter can have a few more items, but the really important items are within both the NPC fighter and the Mountain Giant's buying capability.

Finally, the Story is more important than the rules, and the idea of fighting a Mountain Giant is more impressive than fighting a fighter level X.

 

[dcollins]

Finally, the Story is more important than the rules, and the idea of fighting a Mountain Giant is more impressive than fighting a fighter level X.

Hey, you better watch what you say here in the Rules Forum, buddy.

 

[Elemental]

edit: this is dependent on knowing what is coming. If the mountain giant took us by surprise, we'd either a) all be dead if it got to my sorcerer first or b) all be dead except for those who could get to my sorcerer in time to teleport away.

Am I the only one who read the 'taking us by surprise' bit and got the image of a 100-foot tall, extremely smelly, giant in a ninja outfit sneaking up on the party?