A bestiary entry.
OSRIC 2.2 contains more than a dozen different species of giants—enough to cover a range of mythologies. In Eíre, however, there are only two: the giant and the cyclops.
Giant
A giant resembles a stocky, thick-boned human scaled up to three times normal height (including the extremes, 15–21 feet tall). They possess Strength of 14–20 (but with an additional +1 to damage, and multiplying the final encumbrance values by ×3), usually rolled as 2d4+12 (plus 1d100 on a result of 18), and Dexterity of 2d4+1 (even the most agile of giants has some difficulties). Most giants are solitary.
Giant. Large (18 ft. tall, 2.5 tons), movement rates 180 ft.; HD 8+8 (before Constitution), AC 12; Attack stomp or kick 1d8+1 (before Strength), bite 1d6 (before Strength), or grab 1d4+1 (before Strength); Special rock-throwing, vicious attack, scent; Defenses immune to most human-scale poisons and potions; Align any, Int Medium-Low (2d6+1). XP 1200+12/hp.
Frequency: Rare.
No. Encountered: 1.
Lair Probability: 50%.
Treasure: Magical (d%: 01–15, three items; 16–35, two items; 36–65, one item; 66+, no items), monetary (d%: 01–12, 2d10×100 gold + 1d10 gems + 1d6 jewelry, 13–30, 2d10×100 gold + 1d10 gems; 31–50, 2d10×100 gold; 51+, nothing).
The above is a giant with no gear at all. Thick hide armor (often from a bear) improves AC to 8 against like-sized opponents (against smaller opponents, it does the same if the legs are covered; if the legs are not covered, improve AC to 10). A small giant-sized club (one-handed) deals 2d4+1 damage (before Strength); a two-handed giant club deals 2d6+2 (before Strength). A giant can wield most two-handed human weapons as one-handed weapons—these deal their normal damage, and if increased slightly in size and mass for the giant’s hands, deal an additional +1 damage before Strength. Other than clubs, most weapons cannot be scaled up to two-handed for a giant.
Rock-Throwing. Most giants are excellent rock-throwers, gaining +2 to hit. The stone size and distance depends on Strength (the values below do include the bonus damage from Strength):
STR 11–13. 1d4+1, increment 5 ft. (Useful for Cyclops, below.)
STR 14–15. 1d6+1, increment 5 ft.
STR 16. 1d8+2, increment 5 ft.
STR 17. 1d8+2, increment 10 ft.
STR 18. 2d6+3, increment 10 ft.
18.01. 2d6+4, increment 10 ft.
18.51. 2d6+4, increment 10 ft.
18.76. 2d6+5, increment 15 ft.
18.91. 2d6+6, increment 15 ft.
STR 19. 2d6+7, increment 20 ft.
STR 20. 2d8+8, increment 20 ft.
Vicious Attack. A giant who hits a medium or smaller creature with a grab on a natural roll of 18 or better can immediately make a “vicious attack.” This may include lifting the victim to the giant’s mouth and making a bite attack (1d6 + Strength damage), slamming the victim against nearby objects or punching the victim (2d4+1 + Strength damage), attempting a second grab with the other hand (normal damage, and then dealing 2d8+1 + Strength damage automatically on the following round, as the giant strains the victim’s back), or any similar thing. A giant with a pit of lava nearby, for example, might simply drop the victim into the pit.
Scent. Giants have an incredible sense of smell. They can detect other creatures, humanoids, and the like at 60 ft. unless special precautions are taken, and can identify specific individuals they have smelled before. This does not guarantee the ability to find a thief or the like, of course—the giant may know the individual is present, but not where.
Cyclops
Cyclops are slightly smaller than giants (twice human height), and have the normal human range of Strength (3d6, but with the same +1 to damage and ×3 encumbrance; a cyclops with at least a Strength of 11 can throw rocks as a giant, as well). They possess a single, central eye instead of a human’s two. Cyclops have 3d6 Intelligence, and have the capacity to become quite skilled smiths, architects, and engineers.
Cyclops are very rare, but otherwise identical to giants … most believe that they are not actually a separate species, but a common mutation (stunted, but smarter) of the more typical giant.
unworthycudgel 