As for stat adds, we could indeed be getting yet another +2 Str, +2 Con race. Alongside Orcs, Minotaurs, and Warforged.
Power? No idea, but I hope it is less "bleh" than Warforged Resolve. x.x
=edit=
Shifters have +2 Str, +2 Wis, so therefore I guess that Goloaths will be different. As I said before, I hope they are still gental giants.
there already is a sort of powerful build ability. Bugbears and Minotaurs have it and I'm guessing Goliath's will as well.
As for stat adds, we could indeed be getting yet another +2 Str, +2 Con race. Alongside Orcs, Minotaurs, and Warforged.
You're right. "Oversized: You can use weapons of your size or one size larger than you as if they were your size." I need to familiarize myself with the new books a little more. Someone said in another thread that the Half-Giant is done and the Goliath is taking its place. Seems like they are going in that direction.
Skill bonuses? +2 Nature, +2 Athletics?
Let me think about a power... I'll probably write one terribly out of balance.
but...
How bout something like dwarven resilience, maybe not as a minor action but Goliaths being able to use Second Wind as a move action so they can stand their ground and still attack.
and maybe something like this...
Tremendous Bash
Encounter
Standard Action Melee Weapon
Attack: Strength vs. AC
Hit: Strength Modifier damage, and the target is pushed 1 square. as is knocked prone.
Just thinking out loud... ideas?
Average Height: 7' - 8'
Average Weight: 280-340lbs
Ability Scores+2 Str, +2 Con
Size: Medium
Speed: 6
Vision: Normal
Languages: Common, Giant
Skill Bonuses: +2 Athletics, +2 Nature
Oversized
Mountain Movement: When climbing you use your full speed, and treat all jumps as if you had a running start. When making an athletics skill check, roll twice and take the best result.
Throw your Weight Around: Any power that pushes, pulls, or slides a creature is increased by 1 square. They also receive a +2 to all Bull Rush attempts.
This is my take on Goliaths. I'm thinking, and would like, that they'd be like dwarves and not have any encounter powers. Of course, I'm probably wrong.
Fastball Special for the win!
[b]
Throw your Weight Around: Any power that pushes, pulls, or slides a creature is increased by 1 square. They also receive a +2 to all Bull Rush attempts.
"Throw your Weight Around" I like that, cool.
Let me refresh your memory.
Stomp
Psychokinesis
Level: Psychic warrior 1
Display: Auditory and visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 20 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped spread
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Power Resistance: No
Power Points: 1
Your foot stomp precipitates a psychokinetic shock wave that travels along the ground, toppling creatures and loose objects. The shock wave affects only creatures standing on the ground within the power’s area. Creatures that fail their saves are thrown to the ground, become prone, and take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage.
Augment: For every additional power point you spend, this power’s nonlethal damage increases by 1d4 points.
They could very easily turn that into a racial power for Goliaths. Close blast or burst that does 1d6 and knocks enemies prone? It would be pretty awesome.
"Throw your Weight Around" I like that, cool.
Agreed, very funky. Goliath control-defenders ftw.
Solid Blow
Encounter, Not an Action
Trigger: You roll damage for an attack with the Weapon keyword.
Effect: Reroll the damage roll. Take the higher value.
I'm not sold on psychic Goliaths; squishing them together with Dark Sun Half-Giants would be a mistake I think.
...
I'm not sold on psychic Goliaths; squishing them together with Dark Sun Half-Giants would be a mistake I think.
Well, consider that races only seem to be tied to particular power sources in flavour. Individual goliaths don't have to be "psychic"/psionic, per se, and I don't think most of them will be anyway.
Plus, a large-sized player race (like Half-Giants) is problematic.
Personally, I would bet that they are going to give Goliaths an encounter power very similar to stomp in 3.5. You know, that power that half-giants got as a racial ability?
Let me refresh your memory.
Stomp
Psychokinesis
Level: Psychic warrior 1
Display: Auditory and visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 20 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped spread
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Power Resistance: No
Power Points: 1
Your foot stomp precipitates a psychokinetic shock wave that travels along the ground, toppling creatures and loose objects. The shock wave affects only creatures standing on the ground within the power’s area. Creatures that fail their saves are thrown to the ground, become prone, and take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage.
Augment: For every additional power point you spend, this power’s nonlethal damage increases by 1d4 points.
They could very easily turn that into a racial power for Goliaths. Close blast or burst that does 1d6 and knocks enemies prone? It would be pretty awesome.
I actually hope you're right about this, but only if they make it a close burst 1 & not a blast effect. IMO, shockwaves from an impact like that should always radiate outwards from the source, like water ripples or earthquake tremors. It just makes more sense than some DBZ-style attack that travels in a straight line across the surface of the ground. Sure, this is fantasy where anything goes, but why re-invent the physics when a more natural effect works just fine?
Also, it doesn't need to be psionic in any way, when making it a force or thunder effect works so much easier & fits the flavor of the attack better.
Shock Wave (standard;recharge [die 5,6])
Close burst 2; +12 vs. Fortitude; 1d6 +6 damage, and the target is pushed 1 square and is knocked prone.
Maybe start with that... weaken it...
Earthen Stomp Goliath Racial Power
Flavor Text
Encounter•Primal
Target All creatures in burst (allies too).
Standard Action (maybe move) Close Burst 1
Attack: Strength +2 vs. Reflex
Hit:Target is knocked prone.
too powerful?
Personally, I would bet that they are going to give Goliaths an encounter power very similar to stomp in 3.5. You know, that power that half-giants got as a racial ability?
Let me refresh your memory.
Stomp
Psychokinesis
Level: Psychic warrior 1
Display: Auditory and visual
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: 20 ft.
Area: Cone-shaped spread
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex negates
Power Resistance: No
Power Points: 1
Your foot stomp precipitates a psychokinetic shock wave that travels along the ground, toppling creatures and loose objects. The shock wave affects only creatures standing on the ground within the power’s area. Creatures that fail their saves are thrown to the ground, become prone, and take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage.
Augment: For every additional power point you spend, this power’s nonlethal damage increases by 1d4 points.
They could very easily turn that into a racial power for Goliaths. Close blast or burst that does 1d6 and knocks enemies prone? It would be pretty awesome.
Shy not just give that to half-giants?
Here is what the Galeb Duhr has in the new MM....
Shock Wave (standard;recharge [die 5,6])
Close burst 2; +12 vs. Fortitude; 1d6 +6 damage, and the target is pushed 1 square and is knocked prone.
Maybe start with that... weaken it...
Earthen Stomp Goliath Racial Power
Flavor Text
Encounter•Primal
Target All creatures in burst (allies too).
Standard Action (maybe move) Close Burst 1
Attack: Strength +2 vs. Reflex
Hit:Target is knocked prone.
too powerful?
Change the defense to fort and get rid of the Primal keyword(I don't believe any racial abilities have power sources actually), and you just more or less described the Earthsoul Gensai racial ability of Earthshock(they get to choose between using str, con or dex and it also increases to a +4 bonus at 21st level). Oh and Earthshock only effects enemies. So probably not too powerful, but a bit too similar to an already existing one.
Change the defense to fort and get rid of the Primal keyword(I don't believe any racial abilities have power sources actually), and you just more or less described the Earthsoul Gensai racial ability of Earthshock(they get to choose between using str, con or dex and it also increases to a +4 bonus at 21st level). Oh and Earthshock only effects enemies. So probably not too powerful, but a bit too similar to an already existing one.
Arrgh.
Seeing this is just one more reason why I'm gonna go nuts until next week when Chapters finally puts the Realms Campaign book on their shelves.
Arrgh.
Seeing this is just one more reason why I'm gonna go nuts until next week when Chapters finally puts the Realms Campaign book on their shelves.
Umm bad news man, the Gensai PC write up won't be there. They are in the Player's Guide. So you have another week+about a month before you get all the Gensai goodness. However in the meantime you can get their base stats for them from here(which is where I got the Earthshock ability from).
Instead of a Psionic power, the stomp could be a primal power.
...Same problem.
Like Ranadiel pointed out, racial powers can be flavoured however they like, (eg: they can be "psychic"-themed powers), but they never have a power source keyword. (eg: A "psychic"-themed racial power never has the Psionic keyword; it might have the Psychic keyword if it deals psychic-type damage, but this is a damage keyword, not a power source keyword.)
Let's see...
Ability Scores: +2 STR, +2 CON
Size: Medium
Speed: 6 squares
Vision: Normal
Skill Bonuses: +2 Athletics, +2 Insight
+1 Will Defense
Bonus Feat: Long Jumper
Bonus Feat: Sure Climber
Oversized
Fling Ally - Goliath Racial Power
Encounter
Move Action - Melee 1
Target: One willing adjacent ally
Effect: You push the target 5 squares.
Umm bad news man, the Gensai PC write up won't be there. They are in the Player's Guide. So you have another week+about a month before you get all the Gensai goodness. However in the meantime you can get their base stats for them from here(which is where I got the Earthshock ability from).
Preordering the FR Player's Guide & Adventurer's Vault today (I love paydays), but in the meantime, thanks for the link.