The universe of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Dungeons & Dragons is always expanding. Players and Dungeon Masters alike can enjoy new settings, classes, races, and other novel features with every module, expansion, supplement, and homebrewed invention. One of the newest additions to the world of D&D is the Goliath, a type of playable character that is a mi🐲x between a giant and a human.
The Goliath is a race, not a class, so it might be the very first trait that you choose when laying out the foundation for a future character. Despite the reputation of the Goliath to lean into a hack and slash class, that isn't to say that they aren't versatile. Here are a few tips for building your Goliath in D&D.
Updated on March 28, 2022, by Kristy Ambrose: The Goliath has evolved a lot as a playable race since they were first introduced and have become more popular thanks to certain interesting character and class builds, but they are not yet included among the nine races in the D&D Player's Handbook. They're still exclusive to the Elemental Evil Player's Companion, except for the 4th edition that was published in 2009, but that doesn't mean that an enthusiastic player can't ask their DM to bring the race into any old module. We've updated this article to include some more specific information on putting together your Goliath.
10 🌼 Choose Three Names, As I💟s The Custom Of The Goliath
16♕8澳洲幸运5开奖网:Speaking🥂 of completing the first few spaces on your Goliath's character sheet, you might want to write small and save some space. Every Goliath has three names, and this is an important part of your character's backstory. Your character will have a given name along with a nickname and a clan name.
Nicknames are given to recognize memorable deeds, like Icewalker or Treecarver, and are often inspired by the rough, mountainous lands where the Goliaths live. Clan names t💧end to be longer, sometimes consisting of two names joined by a hyphen, and this can change as Goliath clans unite or break apart. These details also depend on location, so your DM migh༒t need to help you.
9 Read The D&D Supp💫lements About Goliaths
- Races of Stone, Supplement to the Player's Handbook, 3rd Edition. Reviews the two classic races of the Gnome and Dwarf and introduces the new Goliath race. The book also has some useful information for anyone playing the other races featured, along with plenty of inspiration when it comes to character development and creation. Includes information about Prestige Classes and character options, like ideal feats and stat bonuses.
- Player's Handbook 2, 4th Edition. Along with including the Goliath, other exotic races included in this supplement include the Deva, Half-orc, and Shifter. This version of the core rule book also includes different classes, like the Avenger and the Invoker, so depending on the module and the DM, there's some creative fun to be had with this handbook.
- Elemental Evil Player's Companion. The official home of the Goliath in the D&D literary universe, this volume contains information regarding the Goliath's background, culture, and habitat. It also includes essential informat🌌ion regarding ability score bonuses and other racial abilities.
- Volo's Guide to Monsters. The most recent volume in the D&D library to include the Goliath as a playable race. The first part of the book is about monsters, but the second part focuses on certain rare and exotic races, one of these being the Goliath.
8 ꩵ Roll A Tanꦺking Class
A Goliath character tends to be between six or seven feet tall and weighs about 300 pounds, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:so roles i🎃n the party are obvious from🐎 the start. Not only does the Goliath carry almost everything, but they're also expected to either do or take most of the damage in fighting situations.
- Fighter. Choose weapons, subclass, skills, and armor class proficiencies that are more about generating threat and defense than damage.
- Barbarian. The choices for armor here are limited, but there are Feats, Skills, and subclass choices that can improve that issue.
- Cleric. One of the most versatile classes in D&D, build this Goliath to hold aggro as opposed to heal. Depending on the party makeup and the player's experience level, this can also be a combo or support role.
- Paladin. Give your Goliath some handy healing, crowd control, or buffing spells along with the ability to wear heavy armor and use shields.
The Goliath can try and have a lower profile depending on their class, moral alignment, or general personality, but they're just too big for activities that require stealth or staying covert. An up-front fighting class is the best option.
7 Don't Bother With Casting Classes, Because Stats
Sorcerers, Wizards, and Mages are the main ✱spellcasting classes of D&D. Eaꦓch c♔lass differs when it comes to how they use their powers and where they acquire them, but what they have in common is the abilities required.
Intelligence and Charisma are the most important abilities for spellcasters, and Goliaths, unfortunately, don't have the required bonuses to be as successful as other races. The limited options available to casters when it comes to armor are another reason for a Goliath to avoid the spellcasting classes.
6 Healing Classes For Goliat⛎hs 🦩
There are combination classes available for the Goliath players that are keen on having a few spells in their repertoire. Paladins are one of the common tanking classes to begin with, so that's a good start. Let's go over the options for healing classes:
- Paladin. A class that's typically Lawful Good fits nicely with the Goliath, especially since it comes from a culture that values the Lawful alignment in social behavior. A Goliath Cleric might have an interesting backstory that involves an isolated monastic order.
- Cleric. A party always appreciates a Cleric who can both heal and take some hits, and since holy spells aren't hampered by armor this is an ideal choice for those that want to heal and wear plate.
- Druid. Animal companions and a variety of spells that can heal, harm, or protect make this combination class a natural choice for a Goliath in a DPS role that wants casting and melee fighting abilities.
5 🌼 Feats For Tanking,🅘 Health, And Opportunity
Every D&D player can customize their character 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:to a greater extent with Feats. Combine the Athlete skill you already have with r♍elated abilities for the optimal Goliath build.
- Grapple: Improves your skills in hand-to-hand combat, requires a strength of more than 13, which your Goliath will most definitely have.
- Martial Adept: Gives you the ability to perform more complex moves in combat and is ideal for any fighting class, a likely calling for any Goliath character.
- Skill Expert: Adds a bonus of +1 to Strength and Expertise, ideal for any Goliath build, and improves other Feats like Grapple.
- Heavy Armor Master: An obvious choice for Goliath's that are in a defensive role.
- War Caster: Even the most basic Fighters might have access to a cantrip or two, making this useful anyway, and if your Goliath is a caster of any kind, this is even more useful.
4 ও Moral Alignment Is Lawful 𒐪
Not every Goliath is of the exact same moral alignment, and of course, there are always the few characters that break the mold. This doesn't have to be Lawful Good, either, just Lawful, so there's plenty of room for nuance.
The exact alignment of your𒀰 Goliath will depend on the details in their backstory, so you could also be Neutral or even Evil. This is another factor that makes the Goliath a good fit with classes that are drawn to Lawful moral alignments, especially the Lawful Good paladin.
3 Take Advantage Of Extra Athleജtic Abilities
Once you get past the fact that you're not going to be the smartest or most beautiful member of your adventuring party, it's time to focus on what does make a Goliath strong, literally.
Your Strength is automatically increased by 2 and your Constitution by 1, plus you're a Natural Athlete, which means you're proficient in the Athletics skill. This is handy for virtually every activity associated with adventuring, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:like climbing, jumping, and swimming, giving y🦩ou a bonus should you meet a challenge while doing any athletic ꦡactivity.
2 Spells And Cantrips 🔯
Goliaths that choose a class with some spellcasting ability will be proficient in defensive magic, like basic healing spells o💧r abilities that can illuminate dark spaces. Certain subclasses ✨will also have access to magic, and nearby all chara🎃cters have access to a cantrip of some kind.
- Guidance. A divination spell Clerics, Druids, and Artificers can cast, the player touches one creature and give them an extra d4 roll on ability checks.
- Bless. Clerics and Paladins can touch a creature and give them an extra d4 roll on their saving throws. This can affect more than one creature at higher levels.
- Detect Poison. A spell known by Clerics, Paladins, Druids, and Rangers, this allows the players to detect poisonous traps, plants, or environments within a 30-foot radius.
- Spare The Dying. Only Clerics and Artificers can cast this spell, which can stabilize a creature with no hit points and keep them from dying.
1 Other Role-Playing Tips ♏
Goliaths have a unique way of speaking, dressing, and living their daily lives that sets them apart from other races. This is another instance when the details in Races Of Stone come in handy, but on the other hand, the module you're using or the game your DM is curating might have other possibilities available.
A Goliath doesn't have to be from the mountains, for example, but perhaps from a river valley, a harsh desert, or a vast subterranean cave network. The class of your Goliath might worship a specific deity that requires them to adhere to a set of rules or a specific moral alignment.