Goliaths: A Giant Overhaul
The Goliath, first introduced in 3.5e, has always been described as half giants, or at least related to giants. Despite this, they've only ever shared characteristics with stone giants. This overhaul seeks to re-imagine goliaths as proper half giants, with the giant half being whichever flavor you like.
Hardy Folk
At the highest mountain peaks — far above the slopes where trees grow and where the air is thin and the frigid winds howl — and in the deepest depths of the earth- beyond the Underdark, where magma flows and the air scorches your skin- live the reclusive goliaths. Few folk can claim to have seen a goliath, and fewer still can claim friendship with them. Goliaths wander a myriad of different realms, from harsh mountains to lowland valleys, and everything in between. Their bodies look like those of their giant relatives, with relative strength to match. Their spirits have a natural wanderlust, making them nomads who wander from place to place. Their hearts are infused with the singular mindedness of their ancestors, leaving each goliath with the responsibility to earn a place in the tribe or die trying.
Driven Competitors
Every day brings a new challenge to a goliath. A single mistake can bring doom to an entire tribe, while an individual’s heroic effort can ensure the entire group’s survival.
Goliaths thus place a premium on self-sufficiency and individual skill. They have a compulsion to keep score, counting their deeds and tallying their accomplishments to compare to others. Goliaths love to win, but they see defeat as a prod to improve their skills.
This dedication to competition has a dark side. Goliaths are ferocious competitors, but above all else they are driven to outdo their past efforts. If a goliath slays a dragon, he or she might seek out a larger, more powerful wyrm to battle. Few goliath adventurers reach old age, as most die attempting to surpass their past accomplishments.
Fair Play
For goliaths, competition exists only when it is supported by a level playing field. Competition measures talent, dedication, and effort. Those factors determine survival in their home territory, not reliance on magic items, money, or other elements that can tip the balance one way or the other. Goliaths happily rely on such benefits, but they are careful to remember that such an advantage can always be lost. A goliath who relies too much on them can grow complacent, a recipe for disaster in the dangerous locales they call their homes.
This trait manifests most strongly when goliaths interact with other folk. The relationship between peasants and nobles puzzles goliaths. If a king lacks the intelligence or leadership to lead, then clearly the most talented person in the kingdom should take his place. Goliaths rarely keep such opinions to themselves, and mock folk who rely on society’s structures or rules to maintain power.
Survival of the Fittest
Among goliaths, any adult who can’t contribute to the tribe is expelled. A lone goliath has little chance of survival, especially an older or weaker one. Goliaths have little pity for adults who can’t take care of themselves, though a sick or injured individual is treated, as a result of the goliath concept of fair play.
A permanently injured goliath is still expected to pull his or her weight in the tribe. Typically, such a goliath dies attempting to keep up, or the goliath slips away in the night to seek the cold will of fate.
In some ways, the goliath drive to outdo themselves feeds into the grim inevitability of their decline and death. A goliath would much rather die in battle, at the peak of strength and skill, than endure the slow decay of old age. Few folk have ever meet an elderly goliath, and even those goliaths who have left their people grapple with the urge to give up their lives as their physical skills decay.
Because of their risk-taking, goliath tribes suffer from a chronic lack of the experience offered by long- term leaders. They hope for innate wisdom in their leadership, for they can rarely count on a wisdom grown with age.
Goliath Names
Every goliath has three names: a birth name assigned by the newborn’s mother and father, a nickname assigned by the tribal chief, and a family or clan name. A birth name is up to three syllables long. Clan names are five syllables or more and end in a vowel.
Birth names are rarely linked to gender. Goliaths see females and males as equal in all things, and they find societies with roles divided by gender to be puzzling or worthy of mockery. To a goliath, the person who is best at a job should be the one tasked with doing it.
A goliath’s nickname is a description that can change on the whim of a chieftain or tribal elder. It refers to a notable deed, either a success or failure, committed by the goliath. Goliaths assign and use nicknames with their friends of other races, and change them to refer to an individual’s notable deeds.
Goliaths present all three names when identifying themselves, in the order of birth name, nickname, and clan name. In casual conversation, they use their nickname.
Birth Names: Aukan, Eglath, Gae-Al, Gauthak, Ilikan, Keothi, Kuori, Lo-Kag, Manneo, Maveith, Nalla, Orilo, Paavu, Pethani, Thalai, Thotham, Uthal, Vaunea, Vimak
Nicknames: Bearkiller, Dawncaller, Fearless, Flintfinder, Horncarver, Keeneye, Lonehunter, Longleaper, Rootsmasher, Skywatcher, Steadyhand, Threadtwister, Twice-Orphaned, Twistedlimb, Wordpainter
Clan Names: Anakalathai, Elanithino, Gathakanathi, Kalagiano, Katho-Olavi, Kolae-Gileana, Ogolakanu, Thuliaga, Thunukalathi, Vaimei-Laga
Subrace
Goliaths are divided into 8 subraces, based on what type of giant they descend from: ogre goliaths, hill goliaths, troll goliaths, oni goliaths, stone goliaths, frost goliaths, cloud goliaths, fire goliaths, and storm goliaths. Choose one of the subraces presented below.
Goliath Traits
Goliaths share a number of traits in common with each other.
Ability Score Increase
Increase one ability score by 2 and increase a different one by 1, or increase three different ability scores by 1.
Age
While giant's lifespan is accordance with the Ordning, goliaths have no such restrictions. They enter adulthood in their late teens and can live for up to 400 years.
Size
Goliaths are between 7 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 280 and 340 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Powerful Build
You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.
Runic Magic
Your giant blood gives you an innate understanding and ability to use the magic of giants: Runes. All goliaths know the Gigantism Runic Invocation, and gain an additional one based on subrace. Regardless of what runic invocation you use, you have a number of uses of this ability equal to your proficiency bonus, and regain all uses when you finish a long rest.
Runic Invocation: Gigantism
Using a rune, you can cause your giant blood to flare up and manifest, causing you to increase in size for 1 minute. Your size doubles in all dimensions, and your weight is multiplied by eight. This growth increases your size by one category - from Medium to Large, for example. If there isn't enough room for you to double your size, you attain the maximum possible size in the space available. Until the effect ends, you also has advantage on Strength Checks and Strength Saving Throws. Your Weapons also grow to match your new size. While these Weapons are enlarged, your Attacks with them deal 1d4 extra damage. Your unarmed strikes also benefit from this extra damage.
Natural Athlete
You have proficiency in the Athletics skill.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and Giant.
Ogre Goliath
As an ogre goliath, you are quick to anger, and have a propensity for violence. Your heavy body makes you slow, but you make up for it by with sheer muscle and fortitude. Ogre goliaths tend to have more fat than other goliaths, save hill goliaths, and their thick skin ranges in tone, from tans to greens.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 25 feet.
Darkvision
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness as shades of gray.
Dense Body
Your thick skin and blubbery body grants you extra fortitude. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.
Runic Invocation: Furious Strike
Once per turn, when you hit a creature with a melee weapon attack, you can use a rune to invoke the rage of your ogre ancestors. Your attack deals extra damage equal to your level.
Hill Goliath
Hill goliaths may be related to the most dimwitted of giants, but that holds no bearing over their capabilities. What they do have in common is their strength and sheer gluttony. Not every hill goliath's gluttony manifests as constant eating; hill goliaths have addictive personalities, always have something that they enjoy in excess. Hill goliaths are the most rotund of all goliaths, and have skin and hair in any normal human tone and hue.
Simplistic Survivor
You have proficiency in the Survival skill.
Fortified Stomach
Your ancestor's ability to consume just about anything has passed on to you. You have advantage on saving throws against poison and disease, and you have resistance to poison damage. Additionally, consuming spoiled or rotten food has no adverse affect on you.
Runic Invocation: Voracious Bite
Once per turn, when you take the attack action, you can use a rune to embody your hill giant ancestor's hunger. You can replace one of your weapon attacks with a special bite. Your bite is a natural weapon, which counts as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficient. You add your Constitution modifier or Strength modifier, to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with this bite. It deals 1d10 piercing damage on a hit, and you regain hit points equal to the piercing damage dealt.
Troll Goliath
Your giant ancestors are trolls, granting you unnatural constitution, and a physiology different to any other goliath. Their skin is thick and rubbery, ranging in shades of green, while their hair is almost always black.
Darkvision
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness as shades of gray.
Tough Hide
Your thick, unnatural skin gives you a certain amount of protection. When you aren't wearing armor, you can add your Constitution modifier to your AC, instead of Dexterity.
Keen Smell
You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Runic Invocation: Regeneration
As an action, you can use a rune to stimulate your troll blood, regenerating like your ancestors do. You regain hit points equal to your level. Your severed body members (fingers, legs, and so on), if any, are restored after 30 minutes. If you have the severed part and hold it to the stump, the rune instantaneously causes the limb to knit to the stump.
Oni Goliath
Oni goliaths have some innate magic, thanks to their oni blood. Much like their ancestors, they are natural tricksters and deceivers, and share their ancestors tendency to covet magic, often becoming warlocks or wizards. Oni goliaths bear the same blue or green skin as their ancestors, as well as hair that is either white or black. Every oni goliath has a pair of ivory horns that grows from their forehead.
Darkvision
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness as shades of gray.
Natural Deceiver
You have proficiency in the Deception skill.
Oni Magic
Your Oni ancestry gives you some innate magical talent. You know the Ray of Frost cantrip. Once you reach 5th level you can cast the Disguise Self and Invisibility spells with this trait. Once you cast either of these spells with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using any spell slots you have.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells (choose the ability when you gain this subrace).
Runic Invocation: Oni Flight
As an action, you can use a rune to access your ancestor's ability to fly. For 1 minute, you gain a flying speed equal to your walking speed.
Stone Goliath
Stone goliaths are the most traditional and common type of goliath; stone grey skin, a body that looks like it's carved from stone, and bearing facial tattoos. Stone goliaths value art, much as their ancestors do, but that doesn't make them any less tough.
Darkvision
You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness as shades of gray.
Artisan's Craft
You are proficient with a set of artisan's tools of your choice.
Mountain Born
You are acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet.
Seer's Eyes
You have proficiency in the Perception skill.
Runic Invocation: Stone's Endurance
You can use a rune to make your skin as hard as stone. When you take damage, you can use your reaction to roll a d12. Add your Constitution modifier to the number rolled, and reduce the damage by that total.
Frost Goliath
You descend from frost giants, hardy creatures who live in incredibly harsh conditions, amongst snow capped mountains and frigid, icy wastelands. Their skin appears in many different shades of blue, striking against their white hair. Many frost goliaths sport beards and long hair, much like their giant ancestors.
Frigid Soul
Your frost giant heritage gives you resistance to cold damage.
Frost Giant Weapon Training
You have proficiency with the handaxe, battleaxe, greataxe, and net.
Nomadic Herder
You have proficiency in the Animal Handling skill.
Runic Invocation: Winter's Heart
As an action, you can use a rune to fortify yourself against the cold that your ancestors thrive in. For 1 minute, you are immune to cold damage.
Cloud Goliath
Cloud goliaths, like their giant relatives, have a affinity for magic. Taking after their ancestors, they are often hard pressed to care about anything besides themselves, preferring to play tricks on others instead of helping them. Their skin comes in light tones, ranging from soft pinks to pale gray. Their hair is most often silver or blue.
Amongst the Clouds
You are acclimated to high altitude, including elevations above 20,000 feet. Additionally, you can hold your breath for up to 30 minutes.
Cloud Giant Magic
Your cloud giant ancestry gives you innate magical ability. You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level you can cast the Feather Fall spell with this trait. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Misty Step spell with this trait. Once you cast either of these spells with this trait, you can’t cast that spell with it again until you finish a long rest. You can also cast these spells using any spell slots you have.
Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells (choose the ability when you gain this subrace).
Keen Smell
You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Runic Invocation: Wind Aura
As an action, you can use a rune to call the wind to yourself, protecting you. A magical aura of wind surrounds you. The aura is a 10-foot-radius sphere that lasts for 1 minute. While the aura is in effect, you gain a +2 bonus to your AC against ranged attacks, and all open flames within the aura are extinguished unless they are magical.
Fire Goliath
Fire goliaths are fiery, just like their ancestors. They are quick to fight, but back it up with their sheer capability in combat. Beyond that, they follow in their heritage's footsteps, working with metal, and many of the best mortal smiths are fire goliaths. Fire goliaths skin tends to be darker- browns, greys, and deep reds. They almost always have fiery red hair to match their temperament.
Burning Soul
Your fire giant heritage gives you resistance to fire damage.
Ignite
You have the ability to start fires with a touch. As an action, you can magically ignite a flammable object you touch with your hand— an object such as a torch, a piece of tinder, or the hem of drapes.
Master of Smithing and War
You have proficiency with medium armor and shields, as well as with the greatsword and longsword. Finally, you have proficiency with smith's tools.
Runic Invocation: Magma's Heart
As an action, you can use a rune to fortify yourself against the heat that your ancestors dwell in. For 1 minute, you are immune to fire damage.
Storm Goliath
Descended from the mightiest of giants, storm goliaths are equally as reclusive and rare as their ancestors. Their innate ability to peer into the future can cause them to seem distant, but most are simply in a contemplative state. Storm goliaths, like their progenitors, also like to collect knowledge, especially that of magic. Storm goliaths skin ranges in shade, from purple-gray to (rarely) violet. Their hair comes in the same range of shades, and their eyes are often a brilliant color; emerald green, stormy silver, or brilliant purple.
Amphibious
You can breathe both air and water. Additionally, you have a swim speed equal to your walking speed.
Thunderous Soul
Your storm giant heritage gives your resistance to lightning and thunder damage.
Vast Knowledge
You are proficient in your choice of the Arcana, History, Nature, or Religion skill.
Runic Invocation: Perceive Fate
As a reaction, when a creature within 30 feet of you makes an attack, ability check, or saving throw, you can use a rune to peer into the future, like your ancestors can. Roll a d6, and then apply the number rolled to the d20 roll, as a bonus or penalty (your choice).