I love the idea of a child of Tiamat. Take custom origin, and for the free feat take Gift of the Chromatic Dragon. This lets you do a mini version of the 6th level feature at level 1, gaining that +1d4 elemental damage and reaction elemental resistance. When you rage and shift you are transforming into a large grey scale dragonborn, and once you finally get the elemental cleaver feature at 6th level, you can start adding color to your scales. Shifting what chromatic dragon you turn into.
See, for me, every feature this subclass gets is very evocative for me, so elemental cleaver being at level 6 is fine for me, because everything the subclass does is cool. I think 6 is a fine level for it. Most of my DND takes place between levels 5-10, so it works out.
You could argue that the acid damage is in relation to Hill Giants? Hear me out... thry are all about eating practically anything so their body breaks it down with potent stomach acid. Thats at least my reasoning behind it. Also this subclass sounds brilliant if i play in SKT cuz you can fit into the story but not become an MC. Another quirky reflavor concept which is similar to the hulk idea, arcane Bane.
I'm currently playing a Goliath Path of the Giant barbarian in a homebrewed campaign. It's been so much fun. DM has allowed the use of oversized weapons leading to some truly outrageous damage output. Especially when paired with the Enlarge/Reduce spell which the party wizard is regularly casting on me. I'm sure it is easy to imagine but he is easily the primary damage dealer of the party.
I love that you gives barbarians more chances to incorporate their bonus action. Also, typically a barbarian is centered with the biggest bad, and they can get locked in and unable to engage other enemies on the battlefield. That thrown weapon ability makes it EASY to damage minions that are hurting your friends, while still getting the big bad to focus on you.
It's the most fun I've ever had at high level. Giff pure build to 16, thunder hammer with sharpshooter. You're just a sticky swamp of advantage melee or a 60 foot range threat. Went cloud giant route for reaction vanishing. This is possibly the most menacing melee character I've ever built.
I agree with everything that you've presented, but you forgot to mention the ability to reliably use oversized weapons! Thematically speaking, this has to be one of the pillars of the subclass!
Personally I love using this to represent the Japanese Myth of Oni, or at least the Oni in fiction that isn't DnD. They tend to be associated with wild partying, destruction, and all sorts of mystical arts, as well as elemental power. Have your character either raised by a friendly Oni, born with their heritage, or cursed by them with the Haunted One Background, and this is how they use it, becoming more Oni like normally but when they channel their power it POURS out. Go Tiefling, Orc or Goliath and have the Oni curse give the Tiefling Oni-Like horns all the time, and the Orc/Goliath nub like ones that become full when they rage, and you have a proper Japanese Ogre. Throwing weapons? Well, throwing works, but just as easy is flavoring it as FLINGING the energy at the opponent.
What I can see out of place about this subclass is the idea you never receive any damage resistances, when see how much of juggernaut tanks are the giants it make sense to have that gift of being a tank, but you don’t get it here
“Path of the Giant” would be a perfect subclass for the Gruul Clans, imagine a Half-Orc or Minotaur warrior capable of growing to the size of a Giant and leveling an enemy stronghold with ease.
After some thinking I really want to do a storm dragonborn, leaning more into the half dragon side of it. My character's parents would be a storm giant and a blue storm dragon. While giants and dragons often don't do well together these two did. Leaving to the birth of my dragonborn. He would take a few levels of tempest cleric at least to be able to get his channel divinity. And taking the path of the giant. So as he rages he grows, lighting and thunder as he Bodies the storm. He set out on an adventure to grow his strength. He's definitely not the smartest, and rather chaotically neutral. His party members and his experiences will decide if he will grow to be a blessed rain or a tyrant typhoon. Personally love the visual and think it would be a fun character
Path of the Giant + Tavern Brawler = The Incredible Hulk Player - "Im going to Rage with my bonus action, then I am going to grab Orc #1 by his legs and use him as an improvised weapon against Orc #2. I just need to know if they both take damage?" DM - "Uhhhhh..."
New to dnd; and instead of going for something easy; trying something that should be fun/challenging.... Going to try a Giant barbarian, who's an accident prone pacifist. Rethinking grappling as failed hugs and rage as a tantrum. We haven't started campaign yet; hope it goes well. feel free to give me advice. This IS my first time Also i got the dm to let me roll for a giant 3 foot canary....since im miner backround and I don't want to crush it XD
I love the idea of a child of Tiamat. Take custom origin, and for the free feat take Gift of the Chromatic Dragon. This lets you do a mini version of the 6th level feature at level 1, gaining that +1d4 elemental damage and reaction elemental resistance. When you rage and shift you are transforming into a large grey scale dragonborn, and once you finally get the elemental cleaver feature at 6th level, you can start adding color to your scales. Shifting what chromatic dragon you turn into.
That is honestly a great concept
See, for me, every feature this subclass gets is very evocative for me, so elemental cleaver being at level 6 is fine for me, because everything the subclass does is cool. I think 6 is a fine level for it. Most of my DND takes place between levels 5-10, so it works out.
You could argue that the acid damage is in relation to Hill Giants? Hear me out... thry are all about eating practically anything so their body breaks it down with potent stomach acid. Thats at least my reasoning behind it.
Also this subclass sounds brilliant if i play in SKT cuz you can fit into the story but not become an MC.
Another quirky reflavor concept which is similar to the hulk idea, arcane Bane.
What would the stone giants have? Bludgeoning or force damage?
I'm currently playing a Goliath Path of the Giant barbarian in a homebrewed campaign. It's been so much fun. DM has allowed the use of oversized weapons leading to some truly outrageous damage output. Especially when paired with the Enlarge/Reduce spell which the party wizard is regularly casting on me. I'm sure it is easy to imagine but he is easily the primary damage dealer of the party.
I love that you gives barbarians more chances to incorporate their bonus action. Also, typically a barbarian is centered with the biggest bad, and they can get locked in and unable to engage other enemies on the battlefield. That thrown weapon ability makes it EASY to damage minions that are hurting your friends, while still getting the big bad to focus on you.
It's the most fun I've ever had at high level. Giff pure build to 16, thunder hammer with sharpshooter. You're just a sticky swamp of advantage melee or a 60 foot range threat. Went cloud giant route for reaction vanishing. This is possibly the most menacing melee character I've ever built.
Raging Brother of the Rune Knight😊.
I agree with everything that you've presented, but you forgot to mention the ability to reliably use oversized weapons! Thematically speaking, this has to be one of the pillars of the subclass!
Personally I love using this to represent the Japanese Myth of Oni, or at least the Oni in fiction that isn't DnD. They tend to be associated with wild partying, destruction, and all sorts of mystical arts, as well as elemental power. Have your character either raised by a friendly Oni, born with their heritage, or cursed by them with the Haunted One Background, and this is how they use it, becoming more Oni like normally but when they channel their power it POURS out. Go Tiefling, Orc or Goliath and have the Oni curse give the Tiefling Oni-Like horns all the time, and the Orc/Goliath nub like ones that become full when they rage, and you have a proper Japanese Ogre. Throwing weapons? Well, throwing works, but just as easy is flavoring it as FLINGING the energy at the opponent.
A giant barbarian plasmoid with tavern brawler = playable gelatinous cube.
Ooo some fun ideas!
What I can see out of place about this subclass is the idea you never receive any damage resistances, when see how much of juggernaut tanks are the giants it make sense to have that gift of being a tank, but you don’t get it here
“Path of the Giant” would be a perfect subclass for the Gruul Clans, imagine a Half-Orc or Minotaur warrior capable of growing to the size of a Giant and leveling an enemy stronghold with ease.
All I’m gonna say is my bugbear with a glaive and poll-arm tactics.
After some thinking I really want to do a storm dragonborn, leaning more into the half dragon side of it.
My character's parents would be a storm giant and a blue storm dragon.
While giants and dragons often don't do well together these two did. Leaving to the birth of my dragonborn.
He would take a few levels of tempest cleric at least to be able to get his channel divinity.
And taking the path of the giant. So as he rages he grows, lighting and thunder as he Bodies the storm. He set out on an adventure to grow his strength.
He's definitely not the smartest, and rather chaotically neutral. His party members and his experiences will decide if he will grow to be a blessed rain or a tyrant typhoon.
Personally love the visual and think it would be a fun character
Path of the Giant + Tavern Brawler = The Incredible Hulk
Player - "Im going to Rage with my bonus action, then I am going to grab Orc #1 by his legs and use him as an improvised weapon against Orc #2. I just need to know if they both take damage?"
DM - "Uhhhhh..."
Is that graphic a Goblin in a Haversack?
Maybe 😬
New to dnd; and instead of going for something easy; trying something that should be fun/challenging.... Going to try a Giant barbarian, who's an accident prone pacifist. Rethinking grappling as failed hugs and rage as a tantrum. We haven't started campaign yet; hope it goes well. feel free to give me advice. This IS my first time
Also i got the dm to let me roll for a giant 3 foot canary....since im miner backround and I don't want to crush it XD
All I can think about is a Gruul anarchist who wants to smash things as a giant.
First