D&D 5E (2014) Troll PC race experiment

[Flamestrike]

How are you coming up with 4d6+5? The part you quoted listed the damage as 2d6 + mod. There was nothing that said this should be doubled. I believe the whole point of the 2d6 is that is the Large damage from the Medium damage of 1d6. Why would you every double that again?

They can now use large weapons.

Large weapons deal double weapon dice damage. So our 8th level troll wields a large great sword which deals 4d6 base damage.

 

[Flamestrike]

You missed a key part of that DMG passage:

"Big monsters typically wield oversized weapons that deal extra dice of damage on a hit. Double the weapon dice if the creature is Large, triple the weapon dice if it’s Huge, and quadruple the weapon dice if it’s Gargantuan. For example, a Huge giant wielding an appropriately sized greataxe deals 3d12 slashing damage (plus its Strength bonus), instead of the normal 1d12."

Large creatures don't automatically add an extra die of damage. (This is why the Trollish Stature feat increases their claw attack to 2d6.) They are capable of wielding weapons that are larger, and therefore do an extra die of damage. Therefore, a large PC would need to also acquire large-size weapons.

I could also see an argument that proficiency-wise, they should be treated as different from their normal-size counterparts as a hand axe is from a battleaxe. So your Large PC would also have to get proficiency with Large weapons, either individually or as a category (sounds like a job for another feat!).

No, the proficiency is the same. If you're large and can use a greatsword, you can use a large greatsword.

 

[dave2008]

They can now use large weapons.

Large weapons deal double weapon dice damage. So our 8th level troll wields a large great sword which deals 4d6 base damage.

OK, your are not talking about the claw damage, which is specifically what the trait refers to. I get it now, but back to @JEB's point (I think), they would have to have access to a Large size greatsword to get the 4d6. That is not something that they can randomly or even intentionally get without help from the DM. So there are some breaks on it if it is an issue.

 

[JEB]

I came across an OSR version of regeneration you might find interesting.

In short, the character regenerates 3 hp per minute (or whatever time interval you deem appropriate). They can do this for one minute per level per day. If they eat a day's worth of food they can regenerate for an additional time interval.

Also, they can eat practically any kind of meat. Each HD of creature is about three days worth of food. Naturally, they can eat at a amazing rate.

I did something similar, but I used the trolls from the old Wormy comic from Dragon magazine, which were Medium sized. I gave them Regeneration equal to their proficiency bonus so it would scale with level. It didn't seem overpowered, and is easier to track than a different flat bonus that scales at particular levels, FWIW.

Interesting ideas, thanks! I'll keep them in mind.

 

[JEB]

No, the proficiency is the same. If you're large and can use a greatsword, you can use a large greatsword.

Says who? The core rules don't even address the idea that players can use Large weapons, so we're in new territory here. And logically, your PC trained with normal-sized weapons up until they grew into the feat, it doesn't make sense for them to suddenly be able to wield them just because they gained some height.

I should also note that even in the worst case scenario (a 4d6 Large greatsword), you wouldn't be able to use it until 8th level, at which point having a flame tongue (rare item) wouldn't be unheard of. And a flame tongue greatsword would do 4d6 damage...

Mind, I am wondering now if maybe Trollish Stature should be held back until 12th level. Definitely wouldn't be overpowered by that point.

 

[dave2008]

Says who? The core rules don't even address the idea that players can use Large weapons, so we're in new territory here. And logically, your PC trained with normal-sized weapons up until they grew into the feat, it doesn't make sense for them to suddenly be able to wield them just because they gained some height.

I should also note that even in the worst case scenario (a 4d6 Large greatsword), you wouldn't be able to use it until 8th level, at which point having a flame tongue (rare item) wouldn't be unheard of. And a flame tongue greatsword would do 4d6 damage...

Mind, I am wondering now if maybe Trollish Stature should be held back until 12th level. Definitely wouldn't be overpowered by that point.

There is still almost no RAW way to get a Large greatsword. There are no Large weapons in the PHB or DMG. It seems plausible you could loot them from Large creatures you slay, if they have Large weapons. Which would be easy enough to avoid as only a few creatures in the MM have Large weapons.

 

[JEB]

There is still almost no RAW way to get a Large greatsword. There are no Large weapons in the PHB or DMG. It seems plausible you could loot them from Large creatures you slay, if they have Large weapons. Which would be easy enough to avoid as only a few creatures in the MM have Large weapons.

As DM I'd likely also allow a Large PC to have Large weapons constructed for them, but they'd have to find a smith capable of doing so, and the cost would be proportionately higher than a normal-sized weapon. Honestly, it sounds like a neat adventure hook...

 

[dave2008]

As DM I'd likely also allow a Large PC to have Large weapons constructed for them, but they'd have to find a smith capable of doing so, and the cost would be proportionately higher than a normal-sized weapon. Honestly, it sounds like a neat adventure hook...

Me too, but I am also not worried by the extra damage.

 

[vecna00]

I...really like this!

 

[vecna00]

Mind, I am wondering now if maybe Trollish Stature should be held back until 12th level. Definitely wouldn't be overpowered by that point.

Personally, I'm inclined to to think that it's fine at 8th level. I just do not have a problem with it being there.