The Hill Giant in melee

[NewJeffCT]

No it is NOT the rules.

Quote:
Unlike when someone uses a reach weapon, a creature with greater than normal natural reach (more than 5 feet) still threatens squares adjacent to it. A creature with greater than normal natural reach usually gets an attack of opportunity against you if you approach it, because you must enter and move within the range of its reach before you can attack it. (This attack of opportunity is not provoked if you take a 5-foot step.)

Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less.

Can you give me a link in the SRD for that?

Thanks

 

[NewJeffCT]

Give him a level of Psychic Warrior and the Expansion power for 15' natural reach and improved weapon damage. If you're feeling really cruel, combine this with the spiked chain suggestions.

How about a level of Barbarian so he can rage & up his strength, then a level of mage so he can get the Shield spell to improve his AC, then...

well, I'm not a cruel DM. I want to challenge the party, but not kill them.

Besides, they're a 4th level party going up against a CR7 monster - and, they also have a level 7 cleric and a level 6 duskblade about as well, in addition to several lesser bad guys.

(it's 6 PCs, plus several NPCs)

 

[Arkhandus]

Large, Huge, Gargantuan, and Colossal Creatures
Very large creatures take up more than 1 square.

Creatures that take up more than 1 square typically have a natural reach of 10 feet or more, meaning that they can reach targets even if they aren’t in adjacent squares.

Unlike when someone uses a reach weapon, a creature with greater than normal natural reach (more than 5 feet) still threatens squares adjacent to it. A creature with greater than normal natural reach usually gets an attack of opportunity against you if you approach it, because you must enter and move within the range of its reach before you can attack it. (This attack of opportunity is not provoked if you take a 5-foot step.)

Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less.

Linkage

 

[NewJeffCT]

Unlike when someone uses a reach weapon, a creature with greater than normal natural reach (more than 5 feet) still threatens squares adjacent to it. A creature with greater than normal natural reach usually gets an attack of opportunity against you if you approach it, because you must enter and move within the range of its reach before you can attack it. (This attack of opportunity is not provoked if you take a 5-foot step.)

Large or larger creatures using reach weapons can strike up to double their natural reach but can’t strike at their natural reach or less.

Linkage

Thanks for the link. The wording is confusing, as it says greater than normal natural reach - but then goes on to speak about reach weapons, neglecting to mention normal (for a giant/large creature) weapons.

Now, the hill giant's standard greatclub is NOT a reach weapon for the hill giant, correct?

 

[kenobi65]

The wording is confusing, as it says greater than normal natural reach - but then goes on to speak about reach weapons, neglecting to mention normal (for a giant/large creature) weapons

If the weapon that the large creature is using wouldn't give him reach if he (and the weapon) were "normal" sized, then you can assume that the reach he has is due to "natural" reach.

As I noted above: the "stock" hill giant has a greatclub, and 10' reach. If he (and his greatclub) were medium-sized, the greatclub wouldn't give him reach, and so one has to assume that his 10' reach is natural.

 

[Derro]

Thanks for the link. The wording is confusing, as it says greater than normal natural reach - but then goes on to speak about reach weapons, neglecting to mention normal (for a giant/large creature) weapons.

Now, the hill giant's standard greatclub is NOT a reach weapon for the hill giant, correct?

That's right. If the giant were using a giant-sized longspear or other pole-arm then you'd have an adjacency issue but the greatclub is a threatened area weapon. frankthedm's post way above illustrates all this nicely.

As for Large and In Charge I don't know where that is published these days. It first appeared in Sword and Fist. Basically it allows a large creature to stop an advancing attacker at the cusp of the large creatures threatened area if the opportunity attack that the advancing creature provokes is successful. Someone else may have a better idea of its current published location.

 

[Piratecat]

This one's simple:

Just don't tell your players that you know the actual rule now. They swarm the giant. He pounds them mercilessly. They complain. You show them the rule. I think that's enough!

I advise against this.

If they're clever enough to strategize, let them know their rules knowledge is wrong. They'll thank you for it, and have more fun.

I love the idea of throwing front-line fighters at back-line casters.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Also fun - barrels of hot tar (think 'giant tanglefoot bags that do Fire damage) and barrels of burning naptha (think 'napalm').

Beehives that have been corked shut make fun giant missile weapons too....

The Auld Grump, fond of Hill Giants.

 

[monboesen]

Besides, they're a 4th level party going up against a CR7 monster - and, they also have a level 7 cleric and a level 6 duskblade about as well, in addition to several lesser bad guys.

(it's 6 PCs, plus several NPCs)

For a 4th level PC the tactic of running up to a Hill Giant and start beating on it will only result in being smashed to a bloody pulp. Unless the characters are significantly tougher than the D&D default even a fightertypes will be dead in 2-3 rounds, other classes in 1-2 rounds.

Giants are meant to be defeated with magic that targets their weak reflex and will saves. Preferably something that denies them actions.

 

[dontpunkme]

To avoid the he can't hit us all if we all rush him give him the combat reflexes feat and have him ready an attack when they get within charging distance.