Gigantean Creature (CR varies)[3pp]

As titans are to halflings so gigantean creatures are to normal specimens of their kinds. The world trembles beneath the steps of these huge and terrible creatures as they move.

Giganteans are aberrant, super-sized versions of normal creatures. The massive creatures sometimes have sympathy for their smaller cousins, but there can also be as much enmity between them as there is between dwarves and giants.

The origins of giganteans are varied. They can be produced by very powerful magic, or a seminal event (such as the impact of a strange meteor) could cause an entire population to grow into giganteans. and once a tribe of giganteans comes into existence, it could potentially grow (in numbers and size) for generations, protected or trapped by some natural or magical barrier.

Creating a Gigantean

Gigantean” is an inherited or acquired template that can be added to any creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A gigantean uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Challenge Rating: Increase the base creature’s CR by +1 for every 4 HD added, except for creatures of the dragon, outsider, magical beast, and monstrous humanoid type. For dragons and outsiders, increase the CR by +1 per 2 additional HD. For magical beasts and monstrous humanoids, increase the CR by +1 per 3 additional HD. Then compare the gigantean to creatures with Challenge Ratings up to 3 higher to determine whether the CR you have assigned is reasonable.

Size: A gigantean creature’s size increases by up to four categories over that of the base creature as indicated on Table 2-23 (maximum Colossal; see the Table 2-25 for new dimensions). Creatures of different size categories that increase to the same size category because of the table’s upper limit retain their proportions to one another within their new size category. Thus, a gigantean human is smaller than a gigantean ogre, and a gigantean Colossal creature is larger than the normal Colossal version.

Table 2-23: Gigantean Modifiers
Old Size New Size Natural AC Bonus Racial HD Multiplier Str Dex Con
Fine Medium +0 ×6 +10 -8 +2
Diminutive Large +2 ×6 +18 -8 +6
Tiny Huge +5 ×6 +24 -8 +10
Small Gargantuan +9 ×6 +28 -6 +14
Medium Colossal +14 ×6 +32 -4 +16
Large Colossal +12 ×4 +24 -2 +12
Huge Colossal +9 ×4 +16 +0 +8
Gargantuan Colossal +5 ×2 +8 +0 +4
Colossal Colossal +0 ×2 +0 +0 +0

Senses: The range of all senses increases by the value of the base creature’s value multiplied by the number of size categories gained.

Armor Class: The base creature’s size modifier to AC is replaced by one based on the gigantean’s new size. In addition, its natural armor bonus increases over that of the base creature by the amount indicated in Table 2-23.

Hit Dice: The gigantean creature gains racial Hit Dice depending on the number of size categories it gained. Multiply the base creature’s racial HD by the racial HD multiplier in Table 2-23 for its new total racial HD.

Hit Dice gained from character classes are not multiplied, though they still count normally toward the creature’s character level. If all a creature’s HD are from class levels, the creature has 1 racial HD for the purpose of the multiplication. If the base creature is Fine to Medium size and has 2 or fewer racial HD, ignore the multipliers—its gigantean version simply has 15 HD.

Bonus hit points for certain creature types are sometimes based on size (such as for constructs). In this case, use the normal bonus hit points for the creature’s new size.

Saving Throws: The gigantean’s base save bonuses increase with its additional racial Hit Dice. Replace the portion of each of the base creature’s save bonuses derived from racial HD with a new one based on its type, its new racial HD, and new ability scores.

Speed: Each of the gigantean’s speeds increases with its size. Multiply each of the base creature’s speeds by the number of size categories the gigantean version gained.

Attacks: The gigantean retains all the base creature’s attacks and its weapon and armor proficiencies. Its bonus on attack rolls changes based on its new base attack bonus, its new Strength modifier, and its new size modifier.

Scale up the base damage once for each size category of difference between the base creature and the gigantean (see Table 2-24). Ability score damage, drain and energy damage also scale up in the same manner, but negative levels bestowed via attacks do not increase.

Table 2-24: Gigantean Damage
Old Damage New Damage Old Damage New Damage
1 1d2 1d10 2d8
1d2 1d3 2d6 3d6
1d3 1d4 2d8 3d8
1d4 1d6 4d6 6d6
1d6 1d8 4d8 6d8
1d8 2d6

Space/Reach: The gigantean has a space and reach appropriate to its new size, as described in Table 2-25. If the base creature had greater than normal reach for its size, add 5 feet to the reach indicated on the table.

Special Attacks: Except for spells and spell-like abilities, the ranges, areas, and damage of the base creature’s Special attacks change. To find the new range and area, add the value of the base creature’s value multiplied by the number of size categories gained. If the special attack deals hit point damage, its base damage increases as described on Table 2-24. In addition, changes in ability scores may change special attack DCs.

A gigantean gains the trample special ability. To determine the base trample damage of a creature that does not have a slam attack, use the slam (See Natural Attacks) for a creature of the gigantean’s size.

Abilities: The gigantean’s ability scores change based on its size change, as given on Table 2-23. If the base creature has the undead or construct type ignore the bonuses to Constitution.

BAB: The gigantean’s base attack bonus increases with its additional Hit Dice. Replace the portion of the base creature’s base attack bonus derived from racial HD with a new one based on its type and its new racial HD.

CMB/CMD: The gigantean’s CMB and CMD change based on its new size as well as its new Strength and Dexterity.

Feats: The gigantean retains the base creature’s bonus feats, but it loses all other feats the base creature had. Recalculate the number of feat slots the gigantean has based on its character level (racial and class HD) and assign feats as desired, giving preference to the feats that the base creature possessed. The gigantean must still meet any prerequisites for feats chosen to fill vacant feat slots.

Skills: Ignore the base creature’s skill modifiers. Recalculate skill points for the gigantean’s racial Hit Dice according to its type then purchase its skills afresh, treating the base creature’s skills as class skills. The gigantean retains any skill points gained from class levels and any racial skill bonuses the base creature has. New size modifiers and new ability scores all modify skills.

Special Qualities: If the base creature is Gargantuan or Colossal, the gigantean gains the massive special quality.

Massive (Ex)

Because giganteans are so massive, uneven ground and other terrain features that form difficult terrain generally pose no significant hindrance to a gigantean’s movement, though areas of forest or settlements are considered difficult terrain to a gigantean. A Huge or smaller creature can move through any square occupied by a gigantean, or vice-versa. A gigantean can make attacks of opportunity only against foes that are Huge or larger, and can be flanked only by Huge or larger foes. A gigantean gains a bonus for being on higher ground only if its entire space is on higher ground than that of its target. It’s possible for a Huge or smaller creature to climb a gigantean—this generally requires a successful DC 30 check, and unlike the normal rules about gigantean and attacks of opportunity, a Small or larger creature that climbs on a gigantean’s body provokes an attack of opportunity from the monster.

Table 2-25: Gigantean Sizes
Old Size New Size New Size Range New Space/Reach (Tall) New Space/Reach (Long)
Fine Medium 4 ft.-8 ft. 5 ft./5 ft. 5 ft./5 ft.
Diminutive Large 8 ft.-16 ft. 10 ft./10 ft. 10 ft./10 ft.
Tiny Huge 16 ft.-32 ft. 15 ft./15 ft. 15 ft./10 ft.
Small Gargantuan 32 ft.-64 ft. 20 ft./20 ft. 20 ft./15 ft.
Medium Colossal 64 ft.+ 30 ft./30 ft. 30 ft./20 ft.
Large Colossal 64 ft.+ 30 ft./30 ft. 30 ft./20 ft.
Huge Colossal 64 ft.+ 30 ft./30 ft. 30 ft./20 ft.
Gargantuan Colossal 64 ft.+ 30 ft./30 ft. 30 ft./20 ft.
Colossal Colossal 64 ft.+ 30 ft./30 ft. 30 ft./20 ft.

Using the Gigantean Template

The gigantean template can create a wealth of interesting monsters, especially when applied to small creatures with few HD. It can also make for creatures with very high Challenge Ratings, so before applying the template, check to see whether the resulting creature will be of a CR you can use. If the creature gains fewer HD than called for, it will have a lower CR, and the reverse is also true. If you want to add more or fewer additional Hit Dice when you apply this template to a monster, there’s no reason you can’t do so. If you decide to grant fewer additional HD, be sure that the ability modifications don’t make the creature too dangerous for its decreased CR.

If you apply the gigantean template and the resulting creature is not deadly enough, consider adding a breath weapon as a dragon of the same size, SR equal to 10 +CR,. or even spell turning as a constant spell, turning 1d4+4 levels of spell each turn. Each of these increases the final CR by +1.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Advanced Bestiary, Copyright 2014, Green Ronin Publishing, LLC; Author Jeff Hersh, Developer Owen K.C. Stephens

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