Among the month-to-month OneD&D releases, I cannot forget that the entire line-up of official publications were also announced for the next two years.
Aside from a heist-themed book for the holiday season; we also were treated to a new sourcebook for next spring: “Bigby’s Glory of the Giants”!
Apparently, the book is getting a similar treatment as shown in “Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons”…providing some lore, campaign ideas, subclasses & monsters.
(it also begs the question: if a group of dragons is called a “treasury”; what is a group of giants called…? A titanic? A colossus?)
Anyway, I’m very excited personally for this publication…I think giants are a sweet monster type, on par with that of the titular dragons, and the prospect of expanding upon them is very appealing.
The subclasses from the Unearthed Arcana were very much my jam; and if we’ll be getting some more monster types for giants, it opens some new possibilities.
Kind of like how giants in D&D have elemental properties, I’m thinking that we’re due for a plant or forest-based giant (thinking specifically of the Ents from “Lord of the Rings”)
We also have the Oni (one of my favorite monsters to use in campaigns), with their emphasis on stealth, deception, and fixation with magical items…some variants might be welcome.
There is also ripe potential to expand on the particulars of The Ordning (or lack of; if continuing off of “Storm Kings Thunder”).
I like the notion of internal political or power-struggles between the varying hierarchies of giants.
Also…Bigby!
I’m absolutely HUNGRY to get some personality-injection to yet another famous wizard (nothing against Mordenkainen; but the guy has gotten so much exposure compared to the other famous mages). Let the hand-puns commence!
And on THAT note…SPELLS.
What are some of the thoughts or speculations for this upcoming giant-themed book?
I’m usually excited for new, non-setting books. And I’m interested to see what they do.
Personally, however, I have two problems with this one. For one, giants don’t do a lot for me. I’ve gone multiple campaigns without seeing one, and I don’t miss them. Maybe this can help fix that, if it makes them more interesting. The bigger problem is I don’t see myself getting a new book just a couple months before a new edition. Unless they really clear up the definition of backwards compatible so it’s clear whether or not it will be obsolete — or at least which parts will be made obsolete, and even then. Odds are against me wanting to pick up a book, knowing I’ll not likely start a new campaign before 5.5 drops. Until my group and I actually see 5.5, we won’t know if we’re going to switch or not, so the utility of next year’s books, in particular giants and deck of many things, is going to be questionable.
(it also begs the question: if a group of dragons is called a “treasury”; what is a group of giants called…? A titanic? A colossus?)
"Treasury" is not being used in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons to mean a number of Dragons. It means the book is a wealth of information for the reader or the contents should otherwise be cherished. It's archaic usage but treasury in this case means a compilation or collection or accumulation. For instance, there's at least one, maybe a number of books for elementary readers containing nursery rhymes, fairy tales and the like called "A Children's Treasury." They're not speaking of a group of children, but a wealth of words written for children. Similarly Glory in the giant's book is undoubtedly being used to say there will be words heaping praise upon giants.
But yeah, I'm curious about the book. Giants are frankly underutilized in my regular play outside the occasional ogre, but tying giants to runes has my interest, plus I don't really know anything about Bigby so curious as to whether the giant association is a "canonical" constant or a sorta retcon like we got with Tasha (and maybe we can do without the attedant rage this time).
And Xalthu does have a good point about the 5.5 timing, the workings of "backward compatibility" should be more clearly explicit by then I hope.
The use of the term “treasury” could also be a double entendre to mean the book is a treasury, and that “a compilation of collection or accumulation” of dragons is also a treasury. 🤷♂️ If that’s true then perhaps a group of Giants is called a “glory,” who knows?
(it also begs the question: if a group of dragons is called a “treasury”; what is a group of giants called…? A titanic? A colossus?)
"Treasury" is not being used in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons to mean a number of Dragons. It means the book is a wealth of information for the reader or the contents should otherwise be cherished. It's archaic usage but treasury in this case means a compilation or collection or accumulation. For instance, there's at least one, maybe a number of books for elementary readers containing nursery rhymes, fairy tales and the like called "A Children's Treasury." They're not speaking of a group of children, but a wealth of words written for children. Similarly Glory in the giant's book is undoubtedly being used to say there will be words heaping praise upon giants.
But yeah, I'm curious about the book. Giants are frankly underutilized in my regular play outside the occasional ogre, but tying giants to runes has my interest, plus I don't really know anything about Bigby so curious as to whether the giant association is a "canonical" constant or a sorta retcon like we got with Tasha (and maybe we can do without the attedant rage this time).
And Xalthu does have a good point about the 5.5 timing, the workings of "backward compatibility" should be more clearly explicit by then I hope.
Bigby's never had any special association with giants, but like most of the original archwizards of D&D he was a researcher who was always trying to find out new information about various non-human creatures and societies. So it's consistent that he'd be studying giants.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
The bigger problem is I don’t see myself getting a new book just a couple months before a new edition. Unless they really clear up the definition of backwards compatible so it’s clear whether or not it will be obsolete — or at least which parts will be made obsolete, and even then. Odds are against me wanting to pick up a book, knowing I’ll not likely start a new campaign before 5.5 drops. Until my group and I actually see 5.5, we won’t know if we’re going to switch or not, so the utility of next year’s books, in particular giants and deck of many things, is going to be questionable.
This is my issue as well. I will get this book for certain, but only because I have a particular love for Giants and the next campaign I intend to run will focus on Giants. BUT, this will be the last book I buy before the "new edition" is released.
Dunno where it was that I heard reference that a collection of dragons was called a “treasury”; it might have been a review article. Thought that was a fun little tidbit.
It is very likely that Bigby modeled his “Hand” spells after giants.
The bigger problem is I don’t see myself getting a new book just a couple months before a new edition. Unless they really clear up the definition of backwards compatible so it’s clear whether or not it will be obsolete — or at least which parts will be made obsolete, and even then. Odds are against me wanting to pick up a book, knowing I’ll not likely start a new campaign before 5.5 drops. Until my group and I actually see 5.5, we won’t know if we’re going to switch or not, so the utility of next year’s books, in particular giants and deck of many things, is going to be questionable.
This is my issue as well. I will get this book for certain, but only because I have a particular love for Giants and the next campaign I intend to run will focus on Giants. BUT, this will be the last book I buy before the "new edition" is released.
Same: I usually buy books with lots of monsters and lore in them, but the fact that a new edition is coming out shortly after the release of the book and I don't know how they will work together really complicates things. Also, I'm not especially happy with the quality & quantity of some of WotC recent productions, so I probably wouldn't be pre-ordering this book either way. Not only that, but does anyone remember that VGtM had lore + stat blocks for numerous giants, so I wonder how much (if any) of the content in Bigby's will just be reused content from that?
PS- Who was Bigby? I've heard the name, but I am not very familiar with him or his lore.
The bigger problem is I don’t see myself getting a new book just a couple months before a new edition. Unless they really clear up the definition of backwards compatible so it’s clear whether or not it will be obsolete — or at least which parts will be made obsolete, and even then. Odds are against me wanting to pick up a book, knowing I’ll not likely start a new campaign before 5.5 drops. Until my group and I actually see 5.5, we won’t know if we’re going to switch or not, so the utility of next year’s books, in particular giants and deck of many things, is going to be questionable.
This is my issue as well. I will get this book for certain, but only because I have a particular love for Giants and the next campaign I intend to run will focus on Giants. BUT, this will be the last book I buy before the "new edition" is released.
Same: I usually buy books with lots of monsters and lore in them, but the fact that a new edition is coming out shortly after the release of the book and I don't know how they will work together really complicates things. Also, I'm not especially happy with the quality & quantity of some of WotC recent productions, so I probably wouldn't be pre-ordering this book either way. Not only that, but does anyone remember that VGtM had lore + stat blocks for numerous giants, so I wonder how much (if any) of the content in Bigby's will just be reused content from that?
PS- Who was Bigby? I've heard the name, but I am not very familiar with him or his lore.
Take my account with a HUGE grain of salt, but…I believe that Bigby was once a member of the wizard group from Greyhawk (where Mordenkainen originally came from).
Apparently, he wasn’t exactly a good guy, starting out…though he eventually became an ally over time. Something about being a thief.
Again, not much to go off of; which is part of why I’m glad we’re getting a glimpse of his personality in this book.
Bigby was probably somebody’s character in Gary’s home game. Most of the named spells come from there. Mordenkainen was Gary’s. Melf was a “male elf” that they couldn’t think of a name for. Drawmij is Jim Ward backwards. Etc. Tasha is the exception, she was reportedly a little girl who wrote Gary a letter saying a spell that makes people laugh would be a cool idea.
Among the month-to-month OneD&D releases, I cannot forget that the entire line-up of official publications were also announced for the next two years.
Aside from a heist-themed book for the holiday season; we also were treated to a new sourcebook for next spring: “Bigby’s Glory of the Giants”!
Apparently, the book is getting a similar treatment as shown in “Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons”…providing some lore, campaign ideas, subclasses & monsters.
(it also begs the question: if a group of dragons is called a “treasury”; what is a group of giants called…? A titanic? A colossus?)
Anyway, I’m very excited personally for this publication…I think giants are a sweet monster type, on par with that of the titular dragons, and the prospect of expanding upon them is very appealing.
The subclasses from the Unearthed Arcana were very much my jam; and if we’ll be getting some more monster types for giants, it opens some new possibilities.
Kind of like how giants in D&D have elemental properties, I’m thinking that we’re due for a plant or forest-based giant (thinking specifically of the Ents from “Lord of the Rings”)
We also have the Oni (one of my favorite monsters to use in campaigns), with their emphasis on stealth, deception, and fixation with magical items…some variants might be welcome.
There is also ripe potential to expand on the particulars of The Ordning (or lack of; if continuing off of “Storm Kings Thunder”).
I like the notion of internal political or power-struggles between the varying hierarchies of giants.
Also…Bigby!
I’m absolutely HUNGRY to get some personality-injection to yet another famous wizard (nothing against Mordenkainen; but the guy has gotten so much exposure compared to the other famous mages). Let the hand-puns commence!
And on THAT note…SPELLS.
What are some of the thoughts or speculations for this upcoming giant-themed book?
I'm excited. Personally, hoping for a better final product than Fizban's, but that's just me.
imho, giants haven't gotten their deserved attention in 5e, despite having some really cool potential lore and statblocks. Here's what I'd like from the book:
ONI CONTENT!!! I don't care what it is, just give it to me. Oni are amazing enemies, phenomenal mini bosses often overlooked, and they deserve a spot in this book. I'd also like to see some variants on the Japanese Oni mage, maybe a more traditional take.
Other giants outside the ordning. I'd like to see some other examples of giants subraces or species that have their own culture outside the ordning.
Some new troll content would be nice, although we already have some good troll statblocks. I'd like to see more troll 'variety' introduced (maybe water trolls, rock trolls, bridge trolls), even if it's just a nod to more traditional fantasy. Idk. I like trolls.
I have to admit, I'm interested to see how Bigby plays into this. interesting character, glad he's getting some spotlight.
Decided to wait before posting here, I wanted to see everyone else's thoughts.
Oni, well, it was one of the first monsters I ever encountered/learned about in D&D, and I think they are very fun. As for Bigby, same as most people here: I just love learning lore and little things about these types of characters. Thanks Tony1Adobe and Xalthu for your comments, I didn't know most of that.
Hopefully the book has enough content, and that it is all full and rich with, well, everything. Giants, runes, I love it all. I've been in games where just traveling through giant civilizations is an experience of its own. Lots of potential here, I think.
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This interests me; I had a plan in the pipeline for my own expansion for Giants, so I will have to watch this closely to see whether it covers the themes and creations I was considering - I hope so, because I'd enjoy having the content without the rigmarol of having to make it myself!
Personally, I really dug Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and this book sounds cool too.
I've also been following some of the giant playtesting materials they've been posting on Unearthed Arcana, which is probably going to make it into the book (their "Giant Options" was posted in May 2022): https://dnd.wizards.com/unearthed-arcana/giant-options
Personally, I really dug Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and this book sounds cool too.
I've also been following some of the giant playtesting materials they've been posting on Unearthed Arcana, which is probably going to make it into the book (their "Giant Options" was posted in May 2022): https://dnd.wizards.com/unearthed-arcana/giant-options
Among the month-to-month OneD&D releases, I cannot forget that the entire line-up of official publications were also announced for the next two years.
Aside from a heist-themed book for the holiday season; we also were treated to a new sourcebook for next spring: “Bigby’s Glory of the Giants”!
Apparently, the book is getting a similar treatment as shown in “Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons”…providing some lore, campaign ideas, subclasses & monsters.
(it also begs the question: if a group of dragons is called a “treasury”; what is a group of giants called…? A titanic? A colossus?)
Anyway, I’m very excited personally for this publication…I think giants are a sweet monster type, on par with that of the titular dragons, and the prospect of expanding upon them is very appealing.
The subclasses from the Unearthed Arcana were very much my jam; and if we’ll be getting some more monster types for giants, it opens some new possibilities.
Kind of like how giants in D&D have elemental properties, I’m thinking that we’re due for a plant or forest-based giant (thinking specifically of the Ents from “Lord of the Rings”)
We also have the Oni (one of my favorite monsters to use in campaigns), with their emphasis on stealth, deception, and fixation with magical items…some variants might be welcome.
There is also ripe potential to expand on the particulars of The Ordning (or lack of; if continuing off of “Storm Kings Thunder”).
I like the notion of internal political or power-struggles between the varying hierarchies of giants.
Also…Bigby!
I’m absolutely HUNGRY to get some personality-injection to yet another famous wizard (nothing against Mordenkainen; but the guy has gotten so much exposure compared to the other famous mages). Let the hand-puns commence!
And on THAT note…SPELLS.
What are some of the thoughts or speculations for this upcoming giant-themed book?
I’m usually excited for new, non-setting books. And I’m interested to see what they do.
Personally, however, I have two problems with this one. For one, giants don’t do a lot for me. I’ve gone multiple campaigns without seeing one, and I don’t miss them. Maybe this can help fix that, if it makes them more interesting.
The bigger problem is I don’t see myself getting a new book just a couple months before a new edition. Unless they really clear up the definition of backwards compatible so it’s clear whether or not it will be obsolete — or at least which parts will be made obsolete, and even then. Odds are against me wanting to pick up a book, knowing I’ll not likely start a new campaign before 5.5 drops. Until my group and I actually see 5.5, we won’t know if we’re going to switch or not, so the utility of next year’s books, in particular giants and deck of many things, is going to be questionable.
"Treasury" is not being used in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons to mean a number of Dragons. It means the book is a wealth of information for the reader or the contents should otherwise be cherished. It's archaic usage but treasury in this case means a compilation or collection or accumulation. For instance, there's at least one, maybe a number of books for elementary readers containing nursery rhymes, fairy tales and the like called "A Children's Treasury." They're not speaking of a group of children, but a wealth of words written for children. Similarly Glory in the giant's book is undoubtedly being used to say there will be words heaping praise upon giants.
But yeah, I'm curious about the book. Giants are frankly underutilized in my regular play outside the occasional ogre, but tying giants to runes has my interest, plus I don't really know anything about Bigby so curious as to whether the giant association is a "canonical" constant or a sorta retcon like we got with Tasha (and maybe we can do without the attedant rage this time).
And Xalthu does have a good point about the 5.5 timing, the workings of "backward compatibility" should be more clearly explicit by then I hope.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
The use of the term “treasury” could also be a double entendre to mean the book is a treasury, and that “a compilation of collection or accumulation” of dragons is also a treasury. 🤷♂️ If that’s true then perhaps a group of Giants is called a “glory,” who knows?
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Bigby's never had any special association with giants, but like most of the original archwizards of D&D he was a researcher who was always trying to find out new information about various non-human creatures and societies. So it's consistent that he'd be studying giants.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
Plus "Big Hand" :)
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
A Moot of Giants, perhaps?
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
This is my issue as well. I will get this book for certain, but only because I have a particular love for Giants and the next campaign I intend to run will focus on Giants. BUT, this will be the last book I buy before the "new edition" is released.
She/Her Player and Dungeon Master
Both “moot” or “glory” seem fitting.
Dunno where it was that I heard reference that a collection of dragons was called a “treasury”; it might have been a review article. Thought that was a fun little tidbit.
It is very likely that Bigby modeled his “Hand” spells after giants.
Same: I usually buy books with lots of monsters and lore in them, but the fact that a new edition is coming out shortly after the release of the book and I don't know how they will work together really complicates things. Also, I'm not especially happy with the quality & quantity of some of WotC recent productions, so I probably wouldn't be pre-ordering this book either way. Not only that, but does anyone remember that VGtM had lore + stat blocks for numerous giants, so I wonder how much (if any) of the content in Bigby's will just be reused content from that?
PS- Who was Bigby? I've heard the name, but I am not very familiar with him or his lore.
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HERE.Take my account with a HUGE grain of salt, but…I believe that Bigby was once a member of the wizard group from Greyhawk (where Mordenkainen originally came from).
Apparently, he wasn’t exactly a good guy, starting out…though he eventually became an ally over time. Something about being a thief.
Again, not much to go off of; which is part of why I’m glad we’re getting a glimpse of his personality in this book.
Bigby was probably somebody’s character in Gary’s home game. Most of the named spells come from there. Mordenkainen was Gary’s. Melf was a “male elf” that they couldn’t think of a name for. Drawmij is Jim Ward backwards. Etc. Tasha is the exception, she was reportedly a little girl who wrote Gary a letter saying a spell that makes people laugh would be a cool idea.
I'm excited. Personally, hoping for a better final product than Fizban's, but that's just me.
imho, giants haven't gotten their deserved attention in 5e, despite having some really cool potential lore and statblocks. Here's what I'd like from the book:
I have to admit, I'm interested to see how Bigby plays into this. interesting character, glad he's getting some spotlight.
Updog
Decided to wait before posting here, I wanted to see everyone else's thoughts.
Oni, well, it was one of the first monsters I ever encountered/learned about in D&D, and I think they are very fun. As for Bigby, same as most people here: I just love learning lore and little things about these types of characters. Thanks Tony1Adobe and Xalthu for your comments, I didn't know most of that.
Hopefully the book has enough content, and that it is all full and rich with, well, everything. Giants, runes, I love it all. I've been in games where just traveling through giant civilizations is an experience of its own. Lots of potential here, I think.
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It may also be due to “God of War: Ragnarok” being just around the corner; but I’m hankering for some RUNES.
Giant Magic sort of fascinates me. Can’t wait.
Also…if Harshnag makes a cameo; it may not be a bad thing, either.
YESSS, runes.
And Harshnag, golly, I wonder...
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...and started me on my way into my next chapter in life...
⌞╚════════════ Extended Signature ════════════╝⌟
This interests me; I had a plan in the pipeline for my own expansion for Giants, so I will have to watch this closely to see whether it covers the themes and creations I was considering - I hope so, because I'd enjoy having the content without the rigmarol of having to make it myself!
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Personally, I really dug Fizban's Treasury of Dragons and this book sounds cool too.
I've also been following some of the giant playtesting materials they've been posting on Unearthed Arcana, which is probably going to make it into the book (their "Giant Options" was posted in May 2022): https://dnd.wizards.com/unearthed-arcana/giant-options
Also, found this pretty decent write up about what to expect and more background on Bigby (didn't know some of this stuff about him): https://dungeonsanddragonsfan.com/2022/12/10/bigby-presents-glory-of-the-giants/
All in all, I'm stoked. GIANTS... SMASH!
SMASH!