Why would a frost giant have a frost weapon?

[Jolly Giant]

Smart giants go for to-hit, crit-boost, AC-ignorer (ala radiant energy) and like abilities over energy damage. Anything that's adjusted in use by size (to-hit due to the size penalty to to-hit) is great. Crits+Giants=Ahhhh! Dancing and such are great so they can hurl rocks while their axe dices you. Also anything that keeps their foes from getting away. A giant with a sword that Entangled you with ice... *shudders*

My point exactly!

 

[Jolly Giant]

There's been a lot of entertaining reading here... There were a lot of very creative, if rather far-fetched, possible "explanations"; non of which are rooted in any rules or game mechanics. A lot of thought has obviously been put into defending something which can only be explained in two ways: 1) Lazyniess and/or lack of creativity in designers. 2) Pampering players by making sure PCs can be lazy and uncreative and still get maximum value from their Protection from Energy spells.

I especially liked those replies that implied that all frostgiants are terrified of being disarmed and have their own weapon used against them!

 

[Plane Sailing]

We do expect people like you whining.

Ecliptic, this kind of personal attack is unwarranted and shouldn't happen. Please don't.

Regards
Plane Sailing (Moderator)

 

[Kirin'Tor]

There's been a lot of entertaining reading here... There were a lot of very creative, if rather far-fetched, possible "explanations"; non of which are rooted in any rules or game mechanics.

I really don't find that to be true: The most reasonable (rules-ready) arguement I've read here is that as COLD creatures, they (a) fear fire creatures, and would want to be well-protected against them (extra damage cold weapon v. fire creature) or (b) hate and war with fire creatures (extra damage cold weapon v. fire creature).

that's rooted directly in the rules (the subtype rules, specifically) and really isn't far fetched. If I were going into a war against vampires, or was afraid of assault by vampires, I'd take the time to dip my wooden stakes in a mix of garlic-laden holy-water, if I actually thought\knew it would hurt 'em more...

Are you really looking for a reason, or simply wanting to point out that you think the designers did a poor\lazy job?
Many reasonable explanations (even if not rules-ready, they're flavor ready, so to speak) have been given (cold is abundant, it's easier to forge due to subtype, etc) and at least one rules-ready reasonable (above) explanation given, and you seem to just shoot them down\dismiss them...
There's nothing wrong with wanting to criticize if you think they did poor, but I think if any idea anyone gives for why Frost Giants use Frost weapons will be shot down or dismised, then there's no need in posting 'em.

 

[Numion]

I think you're on to something here...

Only thing he's 'on to' is to call some aspect of the game he doesn't like video gamey. That is so cool.

 

[DMH]

I especially liked those replies that implied that all frostgiants are terrified of being disarmed and have their own weapon used against them!

Yes, esp when their weapons are so large that Medium sized creatures have a dickens in wielding them.

As for the fire giants/frost giants war- huh? They are rarely found in the same area as they can't stand the temperature enjoyed by the other.

Do you really think they expect a dinky +1d6 cold damage enhancement to pull all the weight in a fight?

Then they would use icy blast (+3d6 and upto +12d6 on crits). Again from A&A 3.5 (my best friend in this thread).

 

[Gez]

What I want to know is, what's with good characters and the like always carrying around these Holy weapons? Seriously, if you spend the majority of your free time hanging around at the temple of Pelor, it follows that the majority of creatures you encounter will be good-aligned... A lot of good that Holy-ness is going to do against them! I really wonder what the designers were thinking when they wrote up, say, the Paladin -- giving him all these abilities that are almost never going to offer useful protection in his native church habitat!

You beat me to it!

Honestly why would a frost giant use a frost weapon? Dude, because they are, like FROST giant and thus when they make magic weapons, the weapons are infused with their frostiness.

Why would a dwarf use a dwarven waraxe and wear dwarven plate? Duh, because he's, like, totally a DWARF!

Next time you'll ask why earth elementals speak Terran, while Undercommon would be much better for them. Or something like that.

Likewise for spells. Why do frost giants spellcasters have a lot of cold-related spells? Why do white dragons and winter wolves breath cones of cold? Why do the Inuit have so much words of snow?

And is that video-gamey? No it ain't. To the contrary. Video-gamey would be frost giants having random weapons, as likely to be shocking burst or flaming burst as it is to be frost burst or sound burst.

Frost giants with frost weapons and frost spells is classical.

Why are red dragons immune to fire? I mean, that's stupid, that doesn't protect them from their most frequent enemies the silver dragons. Why do they breath fire? That's stupid, that doesn't let them harm their broodlings during the competition of the formative years.

 

[green slime]

Yes, esp when their weapons are so large that Medium sized creatures have a dickens in wielding them.

...?

Enlarge Person
Transmutation
Level: Sor/Wiz 1, Strength 1
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 round
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One humanoid creature
Duration: 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell causes instant growth of a humanoid creature, doubling its height and multiplying its weight by 8. This increase changes the creature’s size category to the next larger one. The target gains a +2 size bonus to Strength, a –2 size penalty to Dexterity (to a minimum of 1), and a –1 penalty on attack rolls and AC due to its increased size.

A humanoid creature whose size increases to Large has a space of 10 feet and a natural reach of 10 feet. This spell does not change the target’s speed.

If insufficient room is available for the desired growth, the creature attains the maximum possible size and may make a Strength check (using its increased Strength) to burst any enclosures in the process. If it fails, it is constrained without harm by the materials enclosing it— the spell cannot be used to crush a creature by increasing its size.

All equipment worn or carried by a creature is similarly enlarged by the spell. Melee and projectile weapons affected by this spell deal more damage. Other magical properties are not affected by this spell. Any enlarged item that leaves an enlarged creature’s possession (including a projectile or thrown weapon) instantly returns to its normal size. This means that thrown weapons deal their normal damage, and projectiles deal damage based on the size of the weapon that fired them. Magical properties of enlarged items are not increased by this spell.

Multiple magical effects that increase size do not stack,.
Enlarge person counters and dispels reduce person.
Enlarge person can be made permanent with a permanency spell.
Material Component:A pinch of powdered iron.

Frost Giants are.... Large.

So much for dickens, eh?

 

[VirgilCaine]

They'd probably let the players bring spreadsheets with power attack calculations on it, too.

Actually, that doesn't sound too bad of an idea, if the player is going to use it all the time.

Frost Giants are.... Large.

So much for dickens, eh?

Sure, if you have an X/day or permanent wondrous item, you're set. If not, well, you'll just have to whine for scrolls from the wizard.

 

[diaglo]

how much lightning and fire do frost giant item crafters see?

maybe they have cold weapons b/c that is what their magic is based on and what they know.