Half Giant / Powerful Build Q.... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Half Giant / Powerful Build Q.... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ynnen
01-26-08, 02:41 PM Ok, I've searched through pages of posts and figured it'd be quicker to post the question and get a straight answer.

For the record, does the Half-Giant "Powerful Build" racial ability increase their unarmed strike damage -- i.e., are they treated as Large size for unarmed combat? This is so key to a monk, but for the life of me, I couldn't find it anywhere... It applies to manufactured weapons, so it makes sense to me that it'd apply to unarmed strikes -- but that's far from definitive.

Powerful Build: The physical stature of half-giants lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger.

Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him.

A half-giant is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A half-giant can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.

And since our group are rules' sticklers, does anyone have a link to an official FAQ or statement clarifying whether it does or does not apply to unarmed combat?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Einvaldurinn_mikli
01-26-08, 04:01 PM It does not. It's not stated in the text for powerful build and as such does not increase their unarmed damage.
RobbyPants
01-26-08, 04:11 PM It's a common house rule to allow it, but Einvaldurinn_mikli is right: by RAW, it does not increase unamred strike damage.
Ovistavin
01-28-08, 10:54 AM Here is the FAQ entry:

Does the powerful build racial trait change the damage
the character deals with unarmed strikes and natural
weapons?
No. The powerful build racial trait allows the character to
“use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without
penalty” but doesn’t say anything about changing the damage
dealt by his unarmed strikes or natural weapons.
Ages_Defiance
01-30-08, 03:23 PM i would allow it because if you look at it realistically there hands are bigger. how do you think they wield these bigger weapons. i think the autor kinda meant for it to be understood by them counting as one size larger for everything except penalties and real size.
Orenmir
01-30-08, 04:43 PM i would allow it because if you look at it realistically there hands are bigger. how do you think they wield these bigger weapons. i think the autor kinda meant for it to be understood by them counting as one size larger for everything except penalties and real size.

I agree with you. The physical attribute that allows a race with Powerful Build to use a large weapon also allows its unarmed strike to be considered large. What is that attribute? I've heard people call it "leverage" or "bigger hands"... call it what you want. It is a completely reasonable houserule that is in no way unbalancing. As a matter of fact, I believe it retains balance with those Powerful Build characters that use a weapon.
mvincent
01-30-08, 05:21 PM Heh, I guess that technically, half-giants could just use large sized gauntlets.

"You know what they say about big hands and big feet, don'tcha?
...big shoes and big gloves..."

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ynnen 01-26-08, 02:41 PM	Ok, I've searched through pages of posts and figured it'd be quicker to post the question and get a straight answer. For the record, does the Half-Giant "Powerful Build" racial ability increase their unarmed strike damage -- i.e., are they treated as Large size for unarmed combat? This is so key to a monk, but for the life of me, I couldn't find it anywhere... It applies to manufactured weapons, so it makes sense to me that it'd apply to unarmed strikes -- but that's far from definitive. Powerful Build: The physical stature of half-giants lets them function in many ways as if they were one size category larger. Whenever a half-giant is subject to a size modifier or special size modifier for an opposed check (such as during grapple checks, bull rush attempts, and trip attempts), the half-giant is treated as one size larger if doing so is advantageous to him. A half-giant is also considered to be one size larger when determining whether a creature’s special attacks based on size (such as improved grab or swallow whole) can affect him. A half-giant can use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty. However, his space and reach remain those of a creature of his actual size. The benefits of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category. And since our group are rules' sticklers, does anyone have a link to an official FAQ or statement clarifying whether it does or does not apply to unarmed combat? Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Einvaldurinn_mikli 01-26-08, 04:01 PM	It does not. It's not stated in the text for powerful build and as such does not increase their unarmed damage.
RobbyPants 01-26-08, 04:11 PM	It's a common house rule to allow it, but Einvaldurinn_mikli is right: by RAW, it does not increase unamred strike damage.
Ovistavin 01-28-08, 10:54 AM	Here is the FAQ entry: Does the powerful build racial trait change the damage the character deals with unarmed strikes and natural weapons? No. The powerful build racial trait allows the character to “use weapons designed for a creature one size larger without penalty” but doesn’t say anything about changing the damage dealt by his unarmed strikes or natural weapons.
Ages_Defiance 01-30-08, 03:23 PM	i would allow it because if you look at it realistically there hands are bigger. how do you think they wield these bigger weapons. i think the autor kinda meant for it to be understood by them counting as one size larger for everything except penalties and real size.
Orenmir 01-30-08, 04:43 PM	i would allow it because if you look at it realistically there hands are bigger. how do you think they wield these bigger weapons. i think the autor kinda meant for it to be understood by them counting as one size larger for everything except penalties and real size. I agree with you. The physical attribute that allows a race with Powerful Build to use a large weapon also allows its unarmed strike to be considered large. What is that attribute? I've heard people call it "leverage" or "bigger hands"... call it what you want. It is a completely reasonable houserule that is in no way unbalancing. As a matter of fact, I believe it retains balance with those Powerful Build characters that use a weapon.
mvincent 01-30-08, 05:21 PM	Heh, I guess that technically, half-giants could just use large sized gauntlets. "You know what they say about big hands and big feet, don'tcha? ...big shoes and big gloves..."