Half Giant Trait Feedback - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Half Giant Trait Feedback

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ultimate_cap
Jun 06, 2011 15:48:14 Going for something a little different with my half giants (note: they are monsters, not PCs), can I get a little feedback on this potential Trait I am playing around with...

Unstoppable
When the half giant reaches 0 hit points, make a save throw. If successful, he remains on his feet and is dazed. At the end of each of his turns, make a save throw. He will continue to fight this way until he fails a save throw, or is reduced to negative his bloodied value.

Design Notes
When I first wrote this up, I had it where "When reduced to 0 hit points...the half giant became dazed" (no save throw required) but decided I wanted that chance to exist that you could take them down without having to worry about them staying on thier feet forever (and thought it might be too tough that way as well).

Thoughts? Feedback welcome...thanks!
#2
ultimate_cap
Jun 07, 2011 16:03:28 Wow, gotta admit, I'm surprised there's not chit chat on this in the Dark Sun forum. Figured people would love to chat about half giants.

Basically just trying to make them more "Athas themed" (and not just carbon copy ogres), but either way works.
#3
mach4
Jun 07, 2011 19:46:16 Sorry, I am personally more of a fluffmonger and not particularly partial to 4th overall but negative it's bloodied state (unless that is something more typical of badger style monsters) sounds like a lot. Effectively tossing it 50% more health against a save it isn't as likely to fail often. I'd prefer the PCs to be the ones that work towards handing the killing blow for climactic purposes rather than feeling as if they just wore it down and it died. Just my two bits.
#4
ultimate_cap
Jun 08, 2011 9:22:52
Sorry, I am personally more of a fluffmonger and not particularly partial to 4th overall but negative it's bloodied state (unless that is something more typical of badger style monsters) sounds like a lot. Effectively tossing it 50% more health against a save it isn't as likely to fail often. I'd prefer the PCs to be the ones that work towards handing the killing blow for climactic purposes rather than feeling as if they just wore it down and it died. Just my two bits.

Thanks for the feedback Mach, and that was my concern as well, so it's nice to see it echoed. I'm still fine-tuning, but nice to get some thoughts on the matter from fellow gamers!
#5
Feetz
Jun 08, 2011 14:13:52 I agree that negative bloodied is a bit much. Have you looked at the Tareks? They have a triggered encounter power upon reaching 0 HP. It's similar to what you proposed. The Tarek makes a saving throw. If it succeeds it does not fall unconcious or die until the end of its next turn.
#6
ultimate_cap
Jun 08, 2011 14:24:10
I agree that negative bloodied is a bit much. Have you looked at the Tareks? They have a triggered encounter power upon reaching 0 HP. It's similar to what you proposed. The Tarek makes a saving throw. If it succeeds it does not fall unconcious or die until the end of its next turn.

Yep, I did look at that, but you know, I think I'm going to go a different route now. I really want something to distinguish them from ogres (which is what they are, mechancially), but it seems that "tarek mechanic" or similar "reach 0 and x happens" is so common, going to go a different route. Right now, comparing them to the Goliaths from the DSCC, and using those as a "brute baseline".

#7
Feetz
Jun 08, 2011 14:59:57 Let your fluff/description distinguish them. Unless you're showing your players the stat blocks they aren't going to know you reskinned a monster.
#8
ultimate_cap
Jun 08, 2011 16:33:09
Let your fluff/description distinguish them. Unless you're showing your players the stat blocks they aren't going to know you reskinned a monster.

Oh, I agree 100%, but...well...it's just me. I can be a little anal with my monster design. It's fun though, I like to be creative and come up with thing that mechancially distinguish one "large brute" from the next.

I'm acutally using orcs in my DS game (sunwarped). They have several mechanical powers that match thier traditional counterparts (for a recognizable touch of something familier)...as well as some nasty, Athasian themed, surprises. And they still have Savage Demise, which is one of the reasons I changed my mind about the half giant power. To many monsters with 0 hit point powers makes it now so unique.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ultimate_cap Jun 06, 2011 15:48:14	Going for something a little different with my half giants (note: they are monsters, not PCs), can I get a little feedback on this potential Trait I am playing around with... Unstoppable When the half giant reaches 0 hit points, make a save throw. If successful, he remains on his feet and is dazed. At the end of each of his turns, make a save throw. He will continue to fight this way until he fails a save throw, or is reduced to negative his bloodied value. Design Notes When I first wrote this up, I had it where "When reduced to 0 hit points...the half giant became dazed" (no save throw required) but decided I wanted that chance to exist that you could take them down without having to worry about them staying on thier feet forever (and thought it might be too tough that way as well). Thoughts? Feedback welcome...thanks!
#2 ultimate_cap Jun 07, 2011 16:03:28	Wow, gotta admit, I'm surprised there's not chit chat on this in the Dark Sun forum. Figured people would love to chat about half giants. Basically just trying to make them more "Athas themed" (and not just carbon copy ogres), but either way works.
#3 mach4 Jun 07, 2011 19:46:16	Sorry, I am personally more of a fluffmonger and not particularly partial to 4th overall but negative it's bloodied state (unless that is something more typical of badger style monsters) sounds like a lot. Effectively tossing it 50% more health against a save it isn't as likely to fail often. I'd prefer the PCs to be the ones that work towards handing the killing blow for climactic purposes rather than feeling as if they just wore it down and it died. Just my two bits.
#4 ultimate_cap Jun 08, 2011 9:22:52	Sorry, I am personally more of a fluffmonger and not particularly partial to 4th overall but negative it's bloodied state (unless that is something more typical of badger style monsters) sounds like a lot. Effectively tossing it 50% more health against a save it isn't as likely to fail often. I'd prefer the PCs to be the ones that work towards handing the killing blow for climactic purposes rather than feeling as if they just wore it down and it died. Just my two bits. Thanks for the feedback Mach, and that was my concern as well, so it's nice to see it echoed. I'm still fine-tuning, but nice to get some thoughts on the matter from fellow gamers!
#5 Feetz Jun 08, 2011 14:13:52	I agree that negative bloodied is a bit much. Have you looked at the Tareks? They have a triggered encounter power upon reaching 0 HP. It's similar to what you proposed. The Tarek makes a saving throw. If it succeeds it does not fall unconcious or die until the end of its next turn.
#6 ultimate_cap Jun 08, 2011 14:24:10	I agree that negative bloodied is a bit much. Have you looked at the Tareks? They have a triggered encounter power upon reaching 0 HP. It's similar to what you proposed. The Tarek makes a saving throw. If it succeeds it does not fall unconcious or die until the end of its next turn. Yep, I did look at that, but you know, I think I'm going to go a different route now. I really want something to distinguish them from ogres (which is what they are, mechancially), but it seems that "tarek mechanic" or similar "reach 0 and x happens" is so common, going to go a different route. Right now, comparing them to the Goliaths from the DSCC, and using those as a "brute baseline".
#7 Feetz Jun 08, 2011 14:59:57	Let your fluff/description distinguish them. Unless you're showing your players the stat blocks they aren't going to know you reskinned a monster.
#8 ultimate_cap Jun 08, 2011 16:33:09	Let your fluff/description distinguish them. Unless you're showing your players the stat blocks they aren't going to know you reskinned a monster. Oh, I agree 100%, but...well...it's just me. I can be a little anal with my monster design. It's fun though, I like to be creative and come up with thing that mechancially distinguish one "large brute" from the next. I'm acutally using orcs in my DS game (sunwarped). They have several mechanical powers that match thier traditional counterparts (for a recognizable touch of something familier)...as well as some nasty, Athasian themed, surprises. And they still have Savage Demise, which is one of the reasons I changed my mind about the half giant power. To many monsters with 0 hit point powers makes it now so unique.