I think it's rather unsurprising that Formorians've 'stood the test of time' throughout all of D&D's editions, considering they go back waaaay longer than that. Their mythological origins go back like, thousands of years.
one of the coolest ways to run fomorians in my opinion would be to place them in a super magical stronghold they can use none of the magical features of, generations of backstabbing and degrading has caused them to forget how to make use of it. This could allow the characters to make use of the magic and turn the magic against the giants, allowing the characters to take on a fight they normally would be to low level to survive.
My homebrew headcannon for the Fomorians is that Annam All-Father had another child, and that the Fomorians used to be called Gloom Giants. They were like tall drow, but were smaller even than Hill giants, and as such were quite low in the Ordning. But unlike Hill giants, they were intelligent enough to resent their placement. They sought to even the playing field using stealth, trickery, and magic, even going as far as to seek alliance with the Court of Unseelie fey to increase their standing. They failed. Their treachery was revealed to Annam All-Father by the Fey. As punishment, Annam cast them out of the Ordning, twisted their bodies to rob them of their natural dexterity, and wiped the memory of their god from living record. I'm currently running a campaign that uses this homebrew, with a cured Fomorian/Gloom Giant causing havoc. Picture a 13 foot tall drow with Jack Skellington's dimensions, wielding throwing knives the size of long swords. He hates other giants and fey, but also is just generally a dick.
Ive tried myself creating a Fomorian 'Cured One', an individual who rejected the constant evil of their kind and in return the curse reflected that in their outer self. They're gaze attack would bring our the best in others, encouraging good actions while surpressing evil. They wouldn't be very common, since other Fomorians would likely just attack them out of jealousy or torture them back into madness trying to find out how they did it.
@esperthebard I imagined them as being similar to the noble Fomorians, but far more humble, like commoners clothes. They still have one glowing eye, signifying that they are still under the effect of the curse.
They always looked to me like that one lunatic, who yells at the supermarket, "someone stole my plastic spoon!!". A great conclusion to a great video, Esper!
Good overview, its definitely inspiring me to include them in my next session somehow. My players are getting more interested in the Fae and the Realm Faerie, so that'd fit in just nicely.
Great theme choice, Esper! Btw - Michael Moorcock's "The Silver Hand Trilogy" from the Corum saga (love it so much!) features Fhoi Myore as atrocious gods of Limbo and it's great how they are depicted.
Hey! how does this idea sound like for future? Most evil demons, Kobold Press edition? (Demons from Creature Codex and Tome of Beasts-books. Chemosh Demon Lord of Conquest from Creature Codex is one of my favorite DND demon lords right now)
As a huge fan of Kobold Press, I would not mind seeing its content getting love. I'd even offer helping out if possible (though I'm not well-versed on their demon lords).
In the 2e Celtic handbook the story of the legendary king of the fomorians had an eye so massive it was several feet across and required 4 other fomorians to help open it. Once the eye of Balor was open it could kill or petrify his enemies. Favored of the now dead king Fomorians could have one of the gaze attacks. Fomorians being numerous to fight for the celts the book encourages you to use ettins cyclops and hill giants to add verity in statblocks for encounters . It also adds to use ogers and mongrelmen for Fomorian children. Tho the 5e statblock I don't think fits there is a suggestion to use for exceptionally intelligent fomorians to use a verbeeg statblock. In this particular book fomorians pull from the druid list when choosing spells kinda neat. Fomorians are found in groups of 12 or lair in 12 rather in this book good god that's a lot of giants. Thanks for the video, funny I was brushing up on this topic today😅 😅😅😅
This video brings to mind another race of giants from 40 years ago. The Chaos Giants. From another non DnD booklet. A competitor back in those days. Good stuff. I can see the Fomorian Giants selling themselves to Hags, Necromancers, or a pod of Warlocks for a steady source of food and opportunities. Swearing fealty, not to harm its master, to a greater power seems likely for a reliable source of questionable entertainment.
@@tysondennis1016 Sure. Even reading it know I'm eager to toy with it because it was first, untested draft, based on Shadow subclass. 1st level: *Body deformation - some type of deformation characteristic for Formorians [not explicit disadvantage on Charisma checks but maybe it should be] *Fomorian hunter - enhancened darkvision and adv for stealth. *Giant Constitution - 4 temporary hit points after killing 6lvl * Spriggan Servant - summons Spriggan [36 HP, 15AC, shatter once per day, enlarge once per day, +5 to hit] 14lvl *Warp of Earth and Water - mid distance teleportation through elements assisiated with Formorians. I didn't developed features for 18th level since my hero was 6lvl fighter/14 lvl sorcerer multiclass, but it should be some kind of Fomorian form similar to Shadow's Umbral Form. As for my hero, his backstory was that he was Eldarin warrior battling Formorians in Feydark as a part of Oberon's army, his capitain. One time he found himself abbandoned by allies and was held by Evil Eye, but was rescued by Oberon just in time to prevent the curse to take him completly. Yet the curse changed him - gave him some abilities, but caused rejection among his people.
I'm disappointed that you never mentioned their history in Irish mythology. I figured if anyone were to mention it, it would've been you. I'm running a game heavily inspired by the Book of Invasions, and it would have been nice to hear what you'd have to say about the Fomorians both before and after the Tuatha de Dannan.
In the lore Annam wasn't a very faithful husband either all the giant gods he fathered came from a different wife and the giant races were from Othea and himself. Othea also had an affair with the god of trolls which created the ogre race as another way to get back at Annam. Over all not a very healthy relationship
Funny thing is I have been doing my own research on fomorians since I am playing a dullahan paladin inspired by irish fey. Who wants to try and give the fomorians a chance at redemption since they may not all be evil and not all should be cursed for the sin of their ancestors. Dm is even working with me on it.
I say that power unneeded brings nothing but disaster. Let's hope that the nobles are able to temper themselves into a force of good now that they got such a nasty reflection to learn from.
@@esperthebard P Jackson's, I suppose. The goblin king in the Rankin Bass version was more akin to a hob-goblin, while the other resembled nothing so much as a particularly disgusting ogre.
Honestly I think the idea of racial curses could be an interesting existential conflict, to see an entire species being reduced to be mocked and stagnate for things that entire generations of them never did. It could be interesting to have it question the morality of the supposed arbitrators of justice.
I‘ve always disliked the fomorians from a flavour perspective since in Irish mythology they are the predecessors to humans in a way, the arch enemies of basically their gods the tuatha de dannan. Their king is Balor evil eye, a giant whose described as so big that multiple other fomorians have to hold up his eyelids and his gaze is said to despoil anything he looks upon, he is said to be the father of Lugh the god of war and the sun and the closest thing to a prime deity of Ireland (if I recall correctly). From what I‘ve read (years ago to be fair) it is never quite certain if they come from underground or from below the sea, just from beneath, so i‘d always imagined them as some weird giants that are mixed with marine biology (shark teeth, octopus arms, pincers) In dnd they are just some wet ass meatbags
The Fir Bolgs were in the scrum with the Fomorians and the Tuatha De Dannan too. Fir Bolgs translates to "Bag Men". But the Tuatha De Dannan were the predecessors of the humans, the Milesians aka the Gaels.
@@bluebird3281Ohhhhhh yeah, been a while I probably should read up on the book of invasions and the Cycles again, man dnd really just be putting celtic myth in their stuff and not even making it interesting or fresh
That happens with deep thinkers. I think he is seeing a vast dimension open to him in his recent years. Having a child can open a man's eyes, mind and soul far more than they previously thought possible. He is having a very spiritual experience. I hope he finds The Truth. It's there.
I think it's rather unsurprising that Formorians've 'stood the test of time' throughout all of D&D's editions, considering they go back waaaay longer than that. Their mythological origins go back like, thousands of years.
"Giant elves"...
This phrase better not awaken something in me!
Perhaps you should ask yourself why it was there.
@@RachDarastrix2can’t have said it better myself
one of the coolest ways to run fomorians in my opinion would be to place them in a super magical stronghold they can use none of the magical features of, generations of backstabbing and degrading has caused them to forget how to make use of it.
This could allow the characters to make use of the magic and turn the magic against the giants, allowing the characters to take on a fight they normally would be to low level to survive.
My homebrew headcannon for the Fomorians is that Annam All-Father had another child, and that the Fomorians used to be called Gloom Giants. They were like tall drow, but were smaller even than Hill giants, and as such were quite low in the Ordning. But unlike Hill giants, they were intelligent enough to resent their placement. They sought to even the playing field using stealth, trickery, and magic, even going as far as to seek alliance with the Court of Unseelie fey to increase their standing.
They failed. Their treachery was revealed to Annam All-Father by the Fey. As punishment, Annam cast them out of the Ordning, twisted their bodies to rob them of their natural dexterity, and wiped the memory of their god from living record.
I'm currently running a campaign that uses this homebrew, with a cured Fomorian/Gloom Giant causing havoc. Picture a 13 foot tall drow with Jack Skellington's dimensions, wielding throwing knives the size of long swords. He hates other giants and fey, but also is just generally a dick.
Ive tried myself creating a Fomorian 'Cured One', an individual who rejected the constant evil of their kind and in return the curse reflected that in their outer self. They're gaze attack would bring our the best in others, encouraging good actions while surpressing evil. They wouldn't be very common, since other Fomorians would likely just attack them out of jealousy or torture them back into madness trying to find out how they did it.
That's quite interesting. What did they look like? A return to the original look of the fomorians, or somethjng different altogether?
@esperthebard I imagined them as being similar to the noble Fomorians, but far more humble, like commoners clothes. They still have one glowing eye, signifying that they are still under the effect of the curse.
Wow thats an impressive concept. Good job :3
They always looked to me like that one lunatic, who yells at the supermarket, "someone stole my plastic spoon!!".
A great conclusion to a great video, Esper!
😂😂😂
This was a magnificent essay. Thank you so much for your excellent work.
Are you watching me? How'd you know I just added a Formorian to my next encounter with no idea what it is?
YO HE DID MY MONSTER
I see them as the narcissists of giants.
Thank you for the great suggestion!
@@esperthebard and thank you for the great analysis
Hell yeah
Good overview, its definitely inspiring me to include them in my next session somehow. My players are getting more interested in the Fae and the Realm Faerie, so that'd fit in just nicely.
Appreciate the content. Great Video my dude.
this reminds me of the fall of the Irda into the cursed Ogre of the Dragonlance setting
Great theme choice, Esper! Btw - Michael Moorcock's "The Silver Hand Trilogy" from the Corum saga (love it so much!) features Fhoi Myore as atrocious gods of Limbo and it's great how they are depicted.
Hey! how does this idea sound like for future? Most evil demons, Kobold Press edition? (Demons from Creature Codex and Tome of Beasts-books.
Chemosh Demon Lord of Conquest from Creature Codex is one of my favorite DND demon lords right now)
As a huge fan of Kobold Press, I would not mind seeing its content getting love. I'd even offer helping out if possible (though I'm not well-versed on their demon lords).
In the 2e Celtic handbook the story of the legendary king of the fomorians had an eye so massive it was several feet across and required 4 other fomorians to help open it. Once the eye of Balor was open it could kill or petrify his enemies. Favored of the now dead king Fomorians could have one of the gaze attacks. Fomorians being numerous to fight for the celts the book encourages you to use ettins cyclops and hill giants to add verity in statblocks for encounters . It also adds to use ogers and mongrelmen for Fomorian children. Tho the 5e statblock I don't think fits there is a suggestion to use for exceptionally intelligent fomorians to use a verbeeg statblock. In this particular book fomorians pull from the druid list when choosing spells kinda neat. Fomorians are found in groups of 12 or lair in 12 rather in this book good god that's a lot of giants. Thanks for the video, funny I was brushing up on this topic today😅 😅😅😅
This video brings to mind another race of giants from 40 years ago.
The Chaos Giants. From another non DnD booklet. A competitor back in those days. Good stuff.
I can see the Fomorian Giants selling themselves to Hags, Necromancers, or a pod of Warlocks for a steady source of food and opportunities. Swearing fealty, not to harm its master, to a greater power seems likely for a reliable source of questionable entertainment.
I've tried to make Fomorian Sorcerer subclass for my PC, turned out quite OP 😂
Can you describe the Fomorian Sorcerer's features?
@@tysondennis1016 Sure. Even reading it know I'm eager to toy with it because it was first, untested draft, based on Shadow subclass.
1st level:
*Body deformation - some type of deformation characteristic for Formorians [not explicit disadvantage on Charisma checks but maybe it should be]
*Fomorian hunter - enhancened darkvision and adv for stealth.
*Giant Constitution - 4 temporary hit points after killing
6lvl
* Spriggan Servant - summons Spriggan [36 HP, 15AC, shatter once per day, enlarge once per day, +5 to hit]
14lvl
*Warp of Earth and Water - mid distance teleportation through elements assisiated with Formorians.
I didn't developed features for 18th level since my hero was 6lvl fighter/14 lvl sorcerer multiclass, but it should be some kind of Fomorian form similar to Shadow's Umbral Form.
As for my hero, his backstory was that he was Eldarin warrior battling Formorians in Feydark as a part of Oberon's army, his capitain. One time he found himself abbandoned by allies and was held by Evil Eye, but was rescued by Oberon just in time to prevent the curse to take him completly. Yet the curse changed him - gave him some abilities, but caused rejection among his people.
A Fomorian will tell you that he was cursed, but he will never tell you why he was cursed.
Your soul is an ancient one, 👁see it your eyes and hear it in your voice 🥷🏼☀️ you have great wisdom love from "Italy" ❤
anche per te
My latest regret in life is that I didn’t discover and subscribe to this channel years ago.
Damn Esper, you got beautiful blue eyes!
Fun fact fomorrians make use of cyclops minions to make gear for them. They also like to live in the feydark which is the underdark of the fey wild
The uncursed Formorian has story potential I could see one trying to undue the curse bet tthat would be a wild story
You should do a video where you make upgraded mechanics and designs for monstrosities like you did with the owlbear
Awesome thanks
A good old video on oozes and Juiblex? They are my favorite monsters(and throughout the edition there are so many!).
Oozes are great. I already did a big oozes ranking video.
@esperthebard ohh yes, I have seen that one. This video was different, in a good way. A good focus on a very unique type of creature.
I'm disappointed that you never mentioned their history in Irish mythology. I figured if anyone were to mention it, it would've been you. I'm running a game heavily inspired by the Book of Invasions, and it would have been nice to hear what you'd have to say about the Fomorians both before and after the Tuatha de Dannan.
Would you be willing to do a tier list on the underdark species?
That's an interesting idea. I'll consider it.
@@esperthebard 😃😀😄😁😆🙂😊☺😌
In the lore Annam wasn't a very faithful husband either all the giant gods he fathered came from a different wife and the giant races were from Othea and himself. Othea also had an affair with the god of trolls which created the ogre race as another way to get back at Annam. Over all not a very healthy relationship
Funny thing is I have been doing my own research on fomorians since I am playing a dullahan paladin inspired by irish fey. Who wants to try and give the fomorians a chance at redemption since they may not all be evil and not all should be cursed for the sin of their ancestors. Dm is even working with me on it.
Bro looks like Kevin Sorbo's nephew.
Informative and inspiring
I say that power unneeded brings nothing but disaster. Let's hope that the nobles are able to temper themselves into a force of good now that they got such a nasty reflection to learn from.
I had a roommate like a Fomorian. Everything was my fault and he did nothing wrong. What a prick, I couldn't imagine if he was 15 feet tall.
Fomorians: Hag giants
Yes! Or servants of.....
Nice Video but I Had hoped the erinnyes wins
I'm pretty sure most of this video was about real life, and how to be an adult therein, rather than specifically d&d.
Reminds me of the king goblin from the hobbit movie.
Rankin/Bass or Jackson?
@@esperthebard P Jackson's, I suppose. The goblin king in the Rankin Bass version was more akin to a hob-goblin, while the other resembled nothing so much as a particularly disgusting ogre.
Jackson"s
Honestly I think the idea of racial curses could be an interesting existential conflict, to see an entire species being reduced to be mocked and stagnate for things that entire generations of them never did. It could be interesting to have it question the morality of the supposed arbitrators of justice.
I don’t think the forces of justice cursed the giants. Rather the fay did, they are not just and the stories of fey assholery are many and varied.
I‘ve always disliked the fomorians from a flavour perspective since in Irish mythology they are the predecessors to humans in a way, the arch enemies of basically their gods the tuatha de dannan.
Their king is Balor evil eye, a giant whose described as so big that multiple other fomorians have to hold up his eyelids and his gaze is said to despoil anything he looks upon, he is said to be the father of Lugh the god of war and the sun and the closest thing to a prime deity of Ireland (if I recall correctly).
From what I‘ve read (years ago to be fair) it is never quite certain if they come from underground or from below the sea, just from beneath, so i‘d always imagined them as some weird giants that are mixed with marine biology (shark teeth, octopus arms, pincers)
In dnd they are just some wet ass meatbags
The Fir Bolgs were in the scrum with the Fomorians and the Tuatha De Dannan too. Fir Bolgs translates to "Bag Men".
But the Tuatha De Dannan were the predecessors of the humans, the Milesians aka the Gaels.
@@bluebird3281Ohhhhhh yeah, been a while I probably should read up on the book of invasions and the Cycles again, man dnd really just be putting celtic myth in their stuff and not even making it interesting or fresh
I thought the fomorians were ant people?
Formian are the ant people.
That's formians, not fomorians. I know because I was confused for a while myself at one point.
FYI: Stage directions use brackets, not parentheses-- especially in 1985, when people still knew how to write scripts. [SMH]
For the algo gods
Am I the only person wondering why Esper blinks so much in this video?
I didn’t notice till I read your comment but now I am wondering that myself lol
That happens with deep thinkers. I think he is seeing a vast dimension open to him in his recent years. Having a child can open a man's eyes, mind and soul far more than they previously thought possible. He is having a very spiritual experience. I hope he finds The Truth. It's there.
Great video, you look like Kevin Sorbo on meth. Keep up the good work!
What a horrible person you are. 😢
May your Depends give you negative energy blains for eons without end.