| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 29 Aug 2016 : 21:02:12
Not the book, but that was the first place I looked. What I'm wondering is whether giants possess a tradition among them for producing excellent smiths for the forging of weapons and armor and whatnots.
They must. It's not as if they can use the product of lesser (smaller) folk. |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| AuldDragon |
Posted - 04 Sep 2016 : 22:40:32
quote:
Originally posted by sleyvas
Yeah, I'd agree with this assessment. I don't see Frost Giants being comfortable around a forge's heat. While I think they'd appreciate and purchase weapons of iron forged by other giants, I don't see them doing so often. Ironically though, I can see them creating basic lead weapons and depending on their mass to overcome their fine make, as it melts as a MUCH lower temperature. By that, I mean things like a lead club, a lead mace, lead ballista bolts, lead sling bullets.
Frost giants are modeled after Norse/Viking stereotypes, and canonically prefer axes and chain mail; they would need access to iron for those items. Wrought iron equipment could be made at lower temperatures than steel, so they would probably favor weapons of that type, I think. Frost giants aren't vulnerable to heat and fire, so I think they would just be more uncomfortable than humans are, as opposed to actually harmed by it; one or two members of the tribe could put up with it in order to better equip their people.
Lead really only saw usage in weapons as sling shot and weights in Roman war darts, so I'm not so sure that would make a good metal for frost giants to use, especially when they prefer axes. I believe the lead mace heads we've found have been primarily decorative, as lead is a soft and would probably deform in usage, making it less effective even than an iron or stone mace head.
Jeff |
| sleyvas |
Posted - 02 Sep 2016 : 13:33:25
quote:
Originally posted by AuldDragon
quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
I mostly agree, but I think Frost Giants (as their Fire cousins), being influenced - or influencing - vikings, would have a nice metalwork technique. Probably the Fire Giants are better forgers, though.
While listed with the same intelligence, it seems to me Frost Giants tend to be described as less intelligent/more barbarous in general. In addition, they are cold-dwelling and cold-loving creatures, and would dislike the hot flames of a forge. Fire giants are more similar to dwarves than humans, and have much better access to ores and forge-friendly environments. That to me says that in general, frost giants will have metal equipment, but it will be of poorer quality and workmanship than that of the fire giants.
Jeff
Yeah, I'd agree with this assessment. I don't see Frost Giants being comfortable around a forge's heat. While I think they'd appreciate and purchase weapons of iron forged by other giants, I don't see them doing so often. Ironically though, I can see them creating basic lead weapons and depending on their mass to overcome their fine make, as it melts as a MUCH lower temperature. By that, I mean things like a lead club, a lead mace, lead ballista bolts, lead sling bullets. |
| AuldDragon |
Posted - 02 Sep 2016 : 08:25:48
quote:
Originally posted by Barastir
I mostly agree, but I think Frost Giants (as their Fire cousins), being influenced - or influencing - vikings, would have a nice metalwork technique. Probably the Fire Giants are better forgers, though.
While listed with the same intelligence, it seems to me Frost Giants tend to be described as less intelligent/more barbarous in general. In addition, they are cold-dwelling and cold-loving creatures, and would dislike the hot flames of a forge. Fire giants are more similar to dwarves than humans, and have much better access to ores and forge-friendly environments. That to me says that in general, frost giants will have metal equipment, but it will be of poorer quality and workmanship than that of the fire giants.
Jeff |
| Barastir |
Posted - 01 Sep 2016 : 11:37:38
quote:
Originally posted by AuldDragon
Frost giants (...) produce a lot of metalwork, but it is generally low-quality.
I mostly agree, but I think Frost Giants (as their Fire cousins), being influenced - or influencing - vikings, would have a nice metalwork technique. Probably the Fire Giants are better forgers, though. |
| AuldDragon |
Posted - 30 Aug 2016 : 00:11:49
It would depend a lot on the breed and the community specifics (there are more and less advanced communities of most giants), but I would say the general guidelines for the larger communities would be as follows:
Storm giants and firbolg would generally produce high-quality metalwork the most often, and voadkyn would have smiths similar to elves.
Cloud giants and fire giants produce high metalwork at lower rates, partly because there are a lot more "primitive" tribes than those above. Fog giants would produce high-quality work less often, with an emphasis on silverwork.
Frost giants and verbeeg produce a lot of metalwork, but it is generally low-quality.
Jungle giants produce high-quality non-metal/natural weapons, and desert giants could produce high-quality weapons if they have the opportunity to do so (so such items are usually prized heirlooms).
Stone giants and some cyclops (those modeled after Hephaestus's assistants) can be excellent smiths, but usually aren't on their own.
Hill giants, ettins, mountain giants, cyclopskin, island giants, ogre giants, and fomorians would never produce much metalwork, even of low quality, except fomorians, who would produce crude blunt metal weapons.
That's my opinion based on the culture and capabilities generally ascribed to the various giants.
Jeff |
| Wrigley |
Posted - 29 Aug 2016 : 23:56:07
If you are talking about hill giants and verbegs they haven't got any culture even before. However more advanced giants like stone, cloud and storm giants had and probably have their culture and technology advanced at least to the human level. There should be cloud cities in the sky where you can find forges and jeweleries. Also Fire giants are known for their skill at forge to this day and in Underdark are sought for it. |
| Gary Dallison |
Posted - 29 Aug 2016 : 22:13:06
I like to think of giants as a fallen race. Once their empires covered most of central and northern faerun before the dragons broke it apart and the elves and dwarves forced them into small isolated kingdoms.
They built huge fortresses (like the citadel of the raven and darkhold). They must have crafted mighty weapons and rune magic.
But that was many thousands of years ago. Now the humans have taken the last few strongholds they had and the remainder of giants live in small family units.
So yes they did once, but now most have lost that skill altogether or only retain a crude vestige of it. |
| Artemas Entreri |
Posted - 29 Aug 2016 : 22:03:31
Some of the more "advanced" giants might, but most species seem content to hurl stones and use other primitive weapons. |
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