Gigant (3.5e Template)

Gigant


Giant sized and monstrous versions of normal creatures are not unheard of, from monstrous spiders to giants themselves. But the gigant is a different beast all together. They are not merely an enlarged form of a normally smaller-sized beast but possessed of immortal cells which regenerate rapidly and an endless hunger to devour all non-gigant biomass in their path. They would be completely unstoppable were it not for the universal fact all possess a weak point somewhere upon their bodies.

The nature of a gigant is one of mystery, for none know how they are created or what purpose they serve. They hunger and eat, but have no requirement to actually do so. They sometimes seem to act with single-minded purpose and desire, but programmed or desired by who or what is beyond knowing. They do not reproduce and yet more seem to re-appear in the strangest of places. While there are many versions of gigants from rats of unusual size to giant apes, the most troubling are a particular breed of giant humanoids. These nude giant lookalikes are mindless disturbed beings seem to prey on humanoids exclusively. Even worse, some have said sentient, or even sapient versions have been found.

Creating a Gigant
This is an inherited template which can be applied to any corporeal creature.

Size and Type
The creature increases any number of sizes (changing the CR as it does), to a minimum size of Large. They gain the benefits and penalties of the size change as appropriate. Humanoid creatures gain the Giant type, but keep their subtype and do not gain any Giant traits.

Speed
The creature gains a +10 bonus to all movement speeds, and any flight maneuverability drops by one (to a minimum of clumsy).

Armor Class
The creature's natural armor and dexterity modifier change as appropriate for their size change.

Attack
If the creature lacked any natural weapons, they gain a Bite attack (dealing 1d8 for a Large creature). If it is the only natural weapon they use in a round they add their Strength modifier and a half, as if using a two-handed weapon.

Special Attacks
Swallow Whole : A gigant gains swallow whole.

Unique Attacks : Each gigant possesses up to two unique attacks chosen from the list below.

Improved Grab : The gigant gains improved grab with one of its natural weapons.

Multigrapple : The gigant can grapple a creature up to two sizes smaller than it and still not be considered grappled, holding the creature in a single hand. It may do this as many times as it has grasping limbs, at which point once its hands are full it is considered grappling as normal.

Roar : The gigant can release a terrifying roar which shakes the morale of all who hear it. All creatures in 100 feet must make a Will save (DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha modifier) or become shaken for 1 round/level. A creature which saves becomes immune to that gigant's roar for 24 hours. Roaring can also communicate to other gigants in earshot (the roar being able to be heard up to 1 mile away), giving then new information and instructions able to be said in a sentence. It is up to the individual gigant if they choose to act upon them.

Rock Throwing : The gigant gains the rock throwing ability of a giant. They can launch rocks up to 100 ft away plus +50 ft for every size category larger than Large. A rock sized for a Large gigant (a small object) deals 1d8 + Strength and a half in damage, while progressively larger gigants throw larger rocks. Large objects thrown by gargantuan gigants apply their attack roll to every creature in a 10 foot square, Huge objects to everything in a 15 ft square, Gargantuan to everything in a 20 foot square, Colossal to everything in a 30 foot square, and so forth.

Steam Burst : This is a reactive attack which employs its heated body ability. When dealt damage to its weak point, it releases a burst of superheated steam which deals half the damage it received in fire damage back to its attacker (if adjunct), and releases an obscuring mist effect centered on the gigant. This is an immediate action, and once used it cannot be used for another 1d4 rounds.

Stomp : The gigant can stomp on the ground. It deals 4d6 damage (for Large gigants) to creatures in a 20 ft radius burst on the ground around it and knocks them prone, Reflex save DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Str modifier. A successful save halves the damage and negates the prone. The damage increases like a weapon of appropriate size (dealing 6d6 for Huge, 8d6 for Gargantuan, and so forth). The stomp may be used once every 1d4 rounds.

Sweep : As a full attack action the gigant may make a single attack to all creatures in a 180 degree sweep in its reach. Creatures in the area take damage unless they succeed on a Reflex save DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Str mod to negate. It may attempt to make a bull rush, grapple, or trip attempt while doing so, but doing so decreases the DC by -4, and it only affects those who failed the saving throw.

Trample : The gigant gains the trample ability.

Special Qualities
Climbing Surface : While a bad idea to climb due to their heated body, a gigant can be climbed provided it is large enough. Any creature two sizes smaller than it can make a grapple attempt against the gigant's touch AC. If successful they grab on, move into their space, and are considered grappled while the gigant is not considered grappled. The climbing creature is flatfooted but gains +4 AC against attacks made by the gigant against it. It may then scale the body as if it were a cliff (with a typically low DC if climbing by hairs or other gripping surfaces).

The gigant may use a move action to shake its body and force a climb check. The new DC is an opposed check of its touch AC plus its Strength modifier plus 1d20. If unsuccessful, you fall off.

Using this method, a creature can attempt to strike the weak point in melee without having to fly or fall from above.

Damage Reduction : Gigants have DR/magic equal to their HD.

Endure Elements : A gigant is always under the effect of endure elements.

Gigant Toughness : A gigant always have max hp per HD, and gains bonus hp as if they were a construct of the appropriate size. This stacks with what constructs already get in the case of construct gigants. Lastly, gigants count as fortifications and thus take no damage from ranged weapons unless they are siege weapons or unusually large (such as anything which would not be caught by Deflect Arrows).

Heated Body : The body of a gigant is unusually high in temperature, to the point where a gigant in vigorous motion expels steam and intense heat. Climbing or grappling the gigant, being grappled by the gigant, or any extended contact with the body deals 1d6 points of fire damage a round. Brief strikes by weapons is not enough to deal this damage.

Regeneration : Gigants have regeneration equal to 1/2 their HD. Nothing but striking the weak point (see below) bypasses this regeneration. They can even regenerate from Death effects (which sets their hp to -10).

Single-Minded : A gigant is a single-minded beast of destruction. They usually have a single purpose (such as eat all humans, or destroy any buildings higher than 10 feet) which they follow unless bothered from their task. So strong is this urge, that they are immune to all mind-affecting effects.

Weak Point : All gigants possess a weak point, typically on the back of their neck. Striking the weak point deals lethal damage. However most gigants are so tall a normal creature would have to be climbing or flying. In order to strike the weak point creatures must be able to strike at a range equal to their square size (10 ft for large, 15 ft for huge, 20 ft for gargantuan, and so forth). Large (long) and larger sizes have half the size.

Only attack rolls can hit the weak point. Area attacks and things without attack rolls can never target the weak point and deal lethal damage, even if the area fully contains the creature.

Even so, the weak point is small in comparison to the rest of the body. Attacking the weak point for lethal damage forces the attacker to take a -4 penalty. If the gigant fights defensively, it gains +4 AC to its weak point instead of the usual +2. If the gigant uses total defense, it gains +6 AC to its weak point instead of the usual +4.

Abilities
+4 Con, -8 Int (to a minimum of 1). This is in addition to the ability changes due to size. This template also robs the creature the ability to speak language, though it may still understand language and make vocal components.

Challenge Rating
+1 CR plus an additional +1 for every size increase from its original size.

Level Adjustment
Level Adjustment::--

Example Creature
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