G2: Glacial Rift of the Frost Giant Jarl

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Elendur

Feb 23, 2005 11:03:26
This friday night is 'fight night' with the party entering the the environs of the Glacial Rift. Any advice on running this module? In some ways it looks more straightforward than G1, since the layout is more standard dungeon-like. I don't have to worry about the interplay between the two map levels as much. In G1 the party is faced with a golden opportunity with the celebration going on in the main hall, but it was unclear how the place reconfigures after that. Here, from the first combat the whole place is going to be prepared for intruders. The monsters are significantly upgraded, so multiple forays into rift will be required. The party leveled up, but frost giants are a big step up from hill giants.

Also any advice on how to roleplay frost giants? I played hill giants like the standare big dumb thugs, and fire giants as big evil dwarves(which unfortunately sound like pirates, don't ask me why). What do frost giants sound and act like. They seem kind of like big vikings, but the only scandinavian flavor I know is the swedish chef.

Any tips?
#2

Mortepierre

Feb 23, 2005 13:29:37
For some reason, Frost Giants are always depicted as giant blue-skinned vickings. So, let's go that way.

The net has dozens of sites dedicated to the vicking culture. A simple google search will uncover as many as you need. If you happen to have the old (2E) HR1 Vickings Campaign Sourcebook, that would save you some time (it's available as pdf on RPGNow btw)

Frost Giants have always struck me as survivors in the best sense of the term. The land where they live hasn't many readily available resources. Even gathering enough food to keep your clan fed is a daily challenge to them. Hunting is obviously their favorite activity (both for food and to gather the furs they use in their clothing).

Since they wear armor and use metal weapons, it means either they have smiths (which means an access to raw minerals) OR that they have a deal with a race that can produce those for them (fire giants, duergars, etc..).

Mead/ale will be an important part of their culture.. but where do they get it? It's not like a land of ice is suited to it. Answering that question might yield a better understanding of their relationship with other cultures (for instance, having to rely on hill giants for ale and on fire giants for metal tools).

The creatures they share their lair with aren't dumb beasts so remember not to treat them that way. Polar bears make for strong pets!

Winter wolves are hunting partners, not slaves. Remorhaz should be a sacred beast, probably a companion of the Jarl or the shaman.

White dragons will rarely be kept as 'pet' because even a giant realize that sooner or later the dragon will outgrow them and have its revenge. Thus, only young ones will be found.

This is a culture of warrior, tough as nails, who value strength and stamina. They will have a code of conduct but one 'civilized' folks would view as barbaric. Yet, they will stick to it. Without one, their civilization wouldn't have been able to endure for so long.

Hope this helps
#3

grodog

Feb 23, 2005 22:11:29
This friday night is 'fight night' with the party entering the the environs of the Glacial Rift. Any advice on running this module? In some ways it looks more straightforward than G1, since the layout is more standard dungeon-like.

I would actually say the opposite: the giants in G2 should be trying to toss PCs off into the rift left-and-right, which would effectively split the party, and allow other giants to hurl boulders down on those below too---perhaps while they're stuck fighting the remorahz ;)

I don't have to worry about the interplay between the two map levels as much.

Think of the rift as an opportunity instead of a worry :D
#4

Elendur

Feb 23, 2005 23:53:40
I would actually say the opposite: the giants in G2 should be trying to toss PCs off into the rift left-and-right, which would effectively split the party, and allow other giants to hurl boulders down on those below too---perhaps while they're stuck fighting the remorahz ;)

I like the flinging PC's into the rift idea, mainly because I really want them to fight the remoraz and white puddings. I just like weird monsters. But aren't frost giants encountered inside caves along the rim?
#5

clobberintime

Feb 24, 2005 10:50:33
Yeah if you give them class levels make it barbarian and runecaster/cleric. Throw in at least one Berserker type warrior. I think that they would not be very patient and would want to be aggressive in hunting down the PCs once the alarm is raised.

Remember grapple, trip, bull rush etc... are the best friends of the 'huge' humanoid, and especially useful against spell casters.
#6

cwslyclgh

Feb 24, 2005 12:12:40
Just thought that I would point out that frost giants are not Blue skinned, except in Bad art, and overated Forgotten Realms novels.

in 1-2 edition they are described as having dead-white or ivory colored skin and blue or light yellow hair... and although the picture of the frost giant in the 3e monster manual gives him a bluish cast to his skin the actual desription says that his skin is "snowy white" and that he has light blue hair.

sorry, but I had to get that off of my chest... it is just something that bothers me.
#7

Elendur

Feb 24, 2005 13:12:56
Well shucks, both the D&D mini AND Steve Jackson's cardboard heroes cutouts I'll be using to represent the giants have them as blue skinned. As well as the pics from both the MM and Frostburn. So I guess I'll have to go with that.

I won't have any trouble running the frosties in combat, I've become familiar with the strongarm tactics giants like to use, as you mentioned above.

What I'm looking for is some "schtick" in speech and action I can use to RP the giants in an entertaining fashion. Like using some Norse mythological references in their exclamations, etc.
#8

zombiegleemax

Mar 03, 2005 12:36:15
I remember the first time I played in G2. The DM was excellent at having all the inhabitants of the rift work together defending their homes once the alarm was raised.

One thing I would say to remember. Keep in mind what happens if the party Magic User throws a fireball while in the rift. Our party was un-pleasantly surprised by the amount of fog, cave-ins and slick, icy footings it caused.
#9

Elendur

Mar 03, 2005 14:04:11
Cool, do you remember any specifics? Tactics the giants used? What about the dragons?
#10

zombiegleemax

Mar 03, 2005 21:09:43
I don't remember any specifics, other than the giants seemed to come at us from all sides. So Iwould say any sort of coordinated defense is possible. After all it IS their home the giants are defending.

The dragons if I recall correctly (this was back in '88), pretty much ignored what was happening until we were forced back into their cave. Imagine a surprise breath weapon attack on an already weakened party... BRRRRrrrrrrr.
#11

Elendur

Mar 04, 2005 11:33:23
One thing that is irking me about running this module in 3.5 is the maps seem too small. Many cave passages are 10 ft, but frost giants have a 10 ft space so can only attack one at a time.
#12

grodog

Mar 05, 2005 0:13:22
For giantish tactics, you should read up on Jason Zavoda's "Nosnra's Saga" story, now apparently at Harvester's Heroes (I need to update my links...), which is chock-full of giantish fun.

I also recommend digging up the article about G3 in The Dragon 19, page 6---this details one group of tourney players' activities in that module, as well as giantish tactics and responses to PC incursions.

Both are well-worth digging up for inspiration, even though neither deals with G2 directly.

PS: easy solution on the map scale: increase it to 1 square = 20'---they are giants after all!