| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 02:45:50
Yesterday one of my players asked what ECL a Firbolg would be. I thought there Giantkin they'd probably have an ECL around the same as an Ogre or maybe a little higher. I remebered from 2ed that the Giantkin where lesser giants and not as strong as a real Giant,so I dug through my manual until I found its stats in MM2 and wohoooooo.
The ECL for Firbolg is 18!
More Bizarely its got a strength of 36! Which means its stronger than every giant except Storm Giants!
What on earth happaned to the Firbolg? |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Chyron |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 17:06:52
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert...
And while I'm certainly no expert on draconic legends, I'm not recalling any tales (outside of modern fantasy fiction) that had dragons breathing anything other than fire...
It is my impression that the some of the original Gygax dragons were based somewhat on some Chinese folklore. Many are the tales of them being able to prew forth a variety of effects based on their title. Some were lords of rivers, some of the sky, some of the various oceans etc...and as such they had different powers, could speak and were albe to shift forms and do magic. Of course Tolkien's Smaug was an intelligent talker too. So it seemed that the orginal design blended Western European forms with some Far Eastern characteristics. |
| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 16:59:32
Well, dragons breathing fire is purely western mythology. The Oriental dragons didn't have breath weapons (or wings, of course), though they had so much mana they didn't need it.
Of course, there is a dragon with a non-fire breath weapon. The real-life komodo dragon. Its breath is so bad it can make some small creatures faint.  |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 16:34:40
quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
I don't remember any stats for the 2e firbolg, mosty because I never saw any. However, I remember them from at least one FR novel, which described them as the least of the giantkin.
Giant, Firbolg, page 136 of the 2nd edition Monstrous Manual. According to it, they are the most powerful of all the giant-kin. 10.5 feet tall, 800 pounds, 13+7 HD...
quote:
Originally posted by Bookwyrm
Of course, I'm a bit confused on the name. The Irish firbolgs weren't giants in any of the versions I've read . . . .
'Tis true. Of course, in Greco-Roman mythology, gorgons weren't evil metallic bulls, either.
And while I'm certainly no expert on draconic legends, I'm not recalling any tales (outside of modern fantasy fiction) that had dragons breathing anything other than fire...
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| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 16:11:24
I don't remember any stats for the 2e firbolg, mosty because I never saw any. However, I remember them from at least one FR novel, which described them as the least of the giantkin.
Of course, I'm a bit confused on the name. The Irish firbolgs weren't giants in any of the versions I've read . . . . |
| Dargoth |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 15:43:50
quote:
Originally posted by Arivia
It's mainly due to its 13 HD-That's 13 out of the 18 ECL-And the +5 LA isn't too bad; they do have that huge Strength bonus, as you've stated.
My point is that the 3ed Firbolg doesnt resemble the 2ed version, The 2ed version was around the same level as a Hill Giant |
| Arivia |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 15:20:35
It's mainly due to its 13 HD-That's 13 out of the 18 ECL-And the +5 LA isn't too bad; they do have that huge Strength bonus, as you've stated. |
| D-brane |
Posted - 07 May 2004 : 06:08:30
Don't forget that they are over 10-feet tall and weigh more than 800 pounds. Those stats must also be taken into consideration afterall, since firbolgs do make rather imposing opponents.
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