Segev
2021-10-05, 11:23 AM
In another thread, the discussion on homogenization of PC races by both early 5e's reduction of all stat mods to no more than a +2 and a +1 (with the occasional second +2) and TCE's removal of stat mods from races entirely led me to speculate on how you could further tighten 5e's bounded accuracy by reducing all creatures to 20 or less in all stats, and replacing the high stat values with specialized traits that would represent them appropriately without breaking bounded accuracy except precisely where desired. One of the most iconic "very high strength" groups of creatures are giants and ogres, since they have items named after their famed strength. So I figured I'd tackle redressing them to "PC scale" strength, and creating iconic features that could be lifted directly by items that grant them.
Change the monsters' base strength scores to the following, then give them the listed traits. The magic items can grant either just the traits, or the traits and the strength score, depending on how you feel about stat-boosting items and how important the raw underlying number is (and whether the math of the traits alone represents sufficient boost).
Ogre - 14 Strength; Ogre Power: Ignore all disadvantage on Strength checks and saving throws. As a reaction, you may give yourself Advantage on a Strength check, saving throw, or Strength-based attack roll.
Hill Giant - 15 Strength; Hill Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d4 to the result of any Strength check or save
Stone Giant - 16 Strength; Stone Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d6 to the result of any Strength check or save
Frost Giant - 17 Strength; Frost Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d8 to the result of any Strength check or save
Fire Giant - 18 Strength; Fire Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d10 to the result of any Strength check or save
Cloud Giant - 19 Strength; Cloud Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d12 to the result of any Strength check or save
Storm Giant - 20 Strength; Storm Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d20 to the result of any Strength check or save
Notably, these still break bounded accuracy on the saves and the stat/skill checks, but do not do so on attack rolls nor damage. It may be desirable to allow them to add the bonus die to strength-based damage rolls, too.
Change the monsters' base strength scores to the following, then give them the listed traits. The magic items can grant either just the traits, or the traits and the strength score, depending on how you feel about stat-boosting items and how important the raw underlying number is (and whether the math of the traits alone represents sufficient boost).
Ogre - 14 Strength; Ogre Power: Ignore all disadvantage on Strength checks and saving throws. As a reaction, you may give yourself Advantage on a Strength check, saving throw, or Strength-based attack roll.
Hill Giant - 15 Strength; Hill Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d4 to the result of any Strength check or save
Stone Giant - 16 Strength; Stone Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d6 to the result of any Strength check or save
Frost Giant - 17 Strength; Frost Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d8 to the result of any Strength check or save
Fire Giant - 18 Strength; Fire Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d10 to the result of any Strength check or save
Cloud Giant - 19 Strength; Cloud Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d12 to the result of any Strength check or save
Storm Giant - 20 Strength; Storm Giant Strength: Counts as one size category larger for purposes of carrying and Strength checks, and adds +1d20 to the result of any Strength check or save
Notably, these still break bounded accuracy on the saves and the stat/skill checks, but do not do so on attack rolls nor damage. It may be desirable to allow them to add the bonus die to strength-based damage rolls, too.