Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Malakh 04-29-08, 02:42 AM	I've been working on developing a setting for a potential future campaign. Part of what I want to include for the setting is a race of giants that are closer in strength to ogres while maintaining the feel of more intelligent giant races. I'd also like them to be a race that isn't too difficult for the players to deal with - so no huge level adjustment or racial hit dice. The closest thing I found to this was the half-ogre from Races of Destiny... but it didn't have the right feel. So I came up with this: Ash Giants Ash giants average eight feet in height, with the proportional build of a human that size. They take their name from the color of their skin, which is typically deep grey in coloration, though ash giants of lighter pigmentation are not unheard of. Ash giants have no body hair and tend to wear well made clothing that is most often white or otherwise pale in color. Females traditionally keep their heads covered by hoods, though there is no cultural taboo against leaving their heads bare. All ash giants have violet eyes, and their ears are slightly pointed, not unlike those of an elf. Ash Giant Racial Traits • +4 Strength, -2 Dexterity, +2 Constitution. Ash giants’ size makes them stronger and tougher than humans, but less agile. • Giant: As giants, ash giants are not subject to spells or effects that affect humanoids only, such as charm person or dominate person. Unlike other giants, ash giants gain no weapon or armor proficiency due to their creature type. • Large: As Large creatures, ash giants suffer a -1 size penalty on attack rolls and Armor Class. They also suffer a -4 size penalty on Hide checks. However, they can use larger weapons than humans can, and their lifting and carrying limits are twice those of Medium-size characters. • Ash giant base land speed is 40 feet. • Ash giant reach is 10 feet. • Low-Light Vision: Ash giants can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions. • +2 natural armor. • Fire resistance 5. • Omniscient Whispers (Su): Ash giants have a deep rooted connection with the spirits of their ancestors, who watch over and protect them from the land of the dead. Once per day an ash giant may take an immediate action to cast Shield of Faith on himself, with a caster level equal to his character level. • Automatic Languages: Common and Giant. Bonus Languages: Dwarven, Terran, and Ignan. • Favored Class: Fighter. • Level Adjustment: +2. They reside mainly in a desert waste, which relates to the coloration and the fire resistance. Does the level adjustment seem about correct? I'd like to keep it at +2 (or lower) if possible so people are willing to play as one.
Ogrebear 04-29-08, 08:28 AM	Reads really well. Only thing that jumped out at me was the 40 land speed being too high, though if the Half-Ogre is like that then cool. Possibly needs the stats balenced out with something? -2 cha and -2 wis to make them perhaps a little impulsive and scary?
Malakh 04-29-08, 11:44 AM	While the ogre and half-ogre were my inspiration for size, the physical stats are based off the Goliaths'. An int or wis hit doesn't quite fit with the flavor I'm going for, but I could see a -2 cha working. The 40 foot land speed is faster than the half-ogre, but the same speed as a normal one. In return the ash giant has lower physical stats and lower natural armor than them... though I don't really know what balances out ten feet of movement. Should I reduce the natural armor to +1 or something?
HernetheHunter 04-29-08, 05:20 PM	It reads really well and I think the LA would be good with a -2 Cha.
Qube 04-30-08, 10:34 AM	sounds balanced to me the way it is ...:thumbsup:
Malakh 05-02-08, 04:22 PM	Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate it. :)