Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants is a 5e sourcebook released on August 15, 2023․ It explores giant history, cultures, and offers player options, narrated by Bigby․
Overview
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants is a comprehensive 5e sourcebook that delves into the fascinating world of giants, offering rich lore, player options, and DM tools․ Narrated by Bigby the Great, this book explores giant history, cultures, and societies, while providing new character options like a barbarian subclass, backgrounds, and feats․ It also includes maps, encounters, and magic items tied to giant themes․ Priced at $69․95 for physical and $10 for digital, it’s a valuable addition for both players and DMs, with art assets and Roll20 compatibility enhancing its utility․
Publication Details
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants was officially released on August 15, 2023, by Wizards of the Coast․ Priced at $69․95 for the physical edition and $10 for the digital version, it offers a cost-effective option for players and DMs․ The book is also available on platforms like Roll20, with an addon containing maps, handouts, and rollable tables․ This sourcebook is part of the 5e ecosystem, making it a valuable resource for enhancing giant-focused campaigns․
Character Creation and Player Options
Glory of the Giants introduces a Barbarian subclass, two new backgrounds, and eight feats, allowing players to embrace giant-themed abilities, runic magic, and elemental power․
Barbarian Subclass
The Barbarian subclass in Glory of the Giants allows players to harness the primal power of giants․ This subclass emphasizes raw strength, resilience, and elemental fury, with abilities that reflect the towering might of giant ancestors․ Players can channel the ferocity of storm giants or the unyielding endurance of stone giants, gaining unique features that evolve as they level up․ The subclass seamlessly integrates with the giants’ lore, offering a thrilling way for barbarians to embody the glory and fury of these legendary beings in their campaigns․
New Backgrounds and Feats
Glory of the Giants introduces two new backgrounds deeply tied to giant cultures, allowing players to embrace the legacy of these towering beings․ These backgrounds provide unique starting abilities and traits, such as connections to runic magic or elemental attunement․ Additionally, the book features eight new feats that emphasize giant-themed abilities, including mastery of runic magic and elemental power․ These feats are designed to be accessed through the new backgrounds, offering players a cohesive way to embody the strength and mystique of giants in their characters․
Giant Lore and History
Exploring the origins and societal structures of giants, Glory of the Giants delves into their rich history and cultural significance in the D&D multiverse, narrated by Bigby․
Mythology and Society
Giant mythology traces their lineage to Annam All-Father, with Cloud Giants residing in high altitudes and others inhabiting diverse elemental realms․ Their societal hierarchy reflects power and elemental affinity․ Bigby’s narrative unveils their cultural depth, from noble True Giants to the enigmatic Cloud Giants, shaping their roles in D&D lore․ This section explores their societal structures and mythological significance, emphasizing their impact on the world’s history and interactions with other races, providing a rich backdrop for both players and DMs to integrate giants into their campaigns meaningfully․
Giant Hierarchy
The giant hierarchy, known as the ordning, places True Giants at the pinnacle, tracing their lineage to Annam All-Father․ Cloud Giants, residing in high altitudes, follow, with others occupying elemental realms․ This structure reflects power and affinity, shaping their societal roles․ The ordning influences interactions and conflicts, with True Giants often leading․ This hierarchy provides depth for integrating giants into campaigns, offering clear societal tiers for DMs and players to explore, enhancing world-building and storytelling opportunities․
DM Tools and Resources
Glory of the Giants equips DMs with maps, handouts, and rollable tables, plus giant-themed adventure hooks and encounters․ It also introduces new monsters and treasures, enhancing campaign prep․
Adventure Hooks and Encounters
Glory of the Giants offers DMs a wealth of adventure hooks and encounters, including high-level quests and dynamic scenarios․ It features a free 16th-level adventure, rare in 5e, and provides tools to craft immersive giant-themed experiences․ Maps, handouts, and rollable tables enhance storytelling, while new monsters and treasures add depth․ The book also includes giant-specific sites, like cloud castles, to inspire unique encounters; These resources help DMs create thrilling, high-stakes adventures that bring the majesty and danger of giants to life in their campaigns․ Prepare for epic showdowns and unforgettable journeys․
Maps and Encounters
Glory of the Giants includes detailed maps of giant-built sites, such as cloud castles and ancient ruins, to enhance your campaigns․ These maps are accompanied by handouts and rollable tables, making it easy to integrate them into your games․ The addon provides immersive encounter locations, complete with unique descriptions and challenges․ Additionally, it features treasures and trinkets tied to giant lore, adding depth to your adventures․ These resources empower DMs to craft dynamic, visually rich experiences that bring the world of giants to life in breathtaking detail․
Magic Items and Artifacts
Glory of the Giants features 30+ unique magic items, including three legendary artifacts tied to giant lore, emphasizing runic magic and elemental power․
Runic Magic Items
Glory of the Giants introduces a collection of runic magic items deeply tied to giant lore, reflecting their elemental power and cultural significance․ These items are designed to resonate with the giant’s connection to Annam, the All-Father, and their hierarchical society․ Players can wield runestone-etched weapons, jewelry imbued with primal forces, and artifacts that channel the raw might of the giants․ The items are complemented by new feats and backgrounds, creating a cohesive system for characters to embrace giant heritage․ This section enriches both players and DMs with unique, thematically consistent treasure options․
Legendary Artifacts
Glory of the Giants showcases a trio of legendary artifacts tied to the lore of giant-kind, each imbued with immense power and historical significance․ These artifacts are not mere treasures but keystones of giant culture, reflecting their elemental dominion and societal hierarchy․ The storm giant’s relic, for instance, channels the raw force of the elements, while a cloud giant’s crown grants dominion over the skies․ These artifacts are narrative devices, tying players and DMs into the rich tapestry of giant history and lore, offering opportunities for epic storytelling and world-shaping events․
Book Structure and Layout
Glory of the Giants is structured into four main chapters, focusing on character creation, giant lore, adventures, and enclaves, ensuring a logical flow for both players and DMs․
The book is concise at 160 pages, with rich visuals and clear organization, complemented by digital addons like maps and rollable tables for enhanced gameplay integration․
Content Organization
Glory of the Giants is divided into four chapters, each focusing on distinct aspects of giants in D&D․ The first chapter delves into character creation, offering new subclasses and backgrounds․ Chapter two explores giant lore, detailing their mythology and societal structures․ Chapter three provides adventure hooks and encounters, while chapter four highlights giant enclaves and their unique traits․ The book is concise, with 160 pages, ensuring a focused and immersive experience for players and DMs, complemented by visuals and digital addons like maps and rollable tables for seamless integration into campaigns․
Visual Design
Glory of the Giants features stunning illustrations that bring the majesty and diversity of giants to life․ The book’s layout is clean and organized, with artwork by renowned artists like Ilya Shkipin․ Digital versions include exclusive assets on Roll20, such as maps, handouts, and rollable tables․ The visual design enhances the thematic experience, immersing players and DMs in the world of giants through vibrant depictions of their cultures, environments, and magical artifacts, creating a visually captivating companion for any D&D campaign․
Controversies and Reception
Glory of the Giants faced backlash over AI’s alleged role in its development, sparking debates about creativity and authenticity in official D&D content․ Its higher price point also drew criticism, dividing fans and critics on its value and impact on the 5e ecosystem․
AI Usage in Development
The development of Glory of the Giants sparked controversy when evidence suggested AI tools were used in its creation․ Prominent D&D content creator NevernotDM highlighted concerns about AI-generated content, questioning its impact on creativity and consistency․ While Wizards of the Coast did not formally confirm AI usage, the debate ignited discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in tabletop RPG development․ This controversy overshadowed the book’s release, with some fans expressing skepticism about its authenticity․ The issue remains a polarizing topic within the D&D community, reflecting broader concerns about AI in creative industries․
Pricing and Availability
The physical edition is priced at $59․95, while the digital version costs $10 when purchased together․ It was released on August 15, 2023․
Editions and Pricing
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants is available in both physical and digital formats․ The physical edition is priced at $59․95, while the digital version costs $10 when purchased alongside the physical copy․ This dual-purchase option offers significant savings for fans seeking both versions․ The book was officially released on August 15, 2023, and can be found on the official D&D store and platforms like Roll20․ The digital version is exclusively available through Roll20 and cannot be downloaded separately, ensuring it remains tied to the platform․
Role in the 5e Ecosystem
Glory of the Giants fills a unique niche in the 5e ecosystem by dedicating itself entirely to giant lore and mechanics․ It provides players with giant-themed character options and DMs with tools to integrate giants into campaigns seamlessly․ The book’s focus on high-level content addresses the scarcity of official high-level adventures in 5e․ Its release marks a shift in pricing for 5e sourcebooks, being the first to adopt a higher price point․ This supplement enhances both storytelling and gameplay, making it a valuable addition for fans of giant-centric narratives and mechanics․
Art and Visuals
The art in Glory of the Giants is a wondrous blend of traditional and digital media, capturing the grandeur and majesty of giants․ Detailed illustrations of giant-built sites, treasure hoards, and iconic monsters immerse players and DMs alike․ The Roll20-exclusive art pack enhances virtual tabletop experiences with high-quality visuals․ Vibrant depictions of runic magic and elemental powers bring the giants’ primal strength to life․ The artwork, contributed by renowned artists like Ilya Shkipin, adds depth and authenticity to the lore, making the book a visual masterpiece that complements its rich narrative and gameplay content․
Player and DM Reception
Players and DMs have expressed enthusiasm for Glory of the Giants, praising its rich giant lore and creative player options․ The barbarian subclass and runic magic feats are particularly popular, offering unique playstyles․ DMs appreciate the high-level adventure hooks and detailed maps, which enhance giant encounters․ However, some critics note the book’s shorter length compared to other 5e sourcebooks․ Despite this, the content is deemed high-quality, with vibrant visuals and immersive storytelling․ The controversy over AI usage in development has sparked debates but hasn’t overshadowed the book’s value to the D&D ecosystem․
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