What class works well with a Rune Giant?

[Major_Blackhart]

I was looking at Giants Revisited and saw the named Rune Giants, as well as the stats for Malziarax, a Rune Giant Fighter 4. Now, normally these types of guys manipulate the shadows that manipulate everybody else. They rarely take to the field themselves unless absolutely necessary, and really not many people want to face them head long.
Now, I'm looking at a couple of classes for this beast of an Overlord, and I keep falling onto a couple that are quite interesting, the biggest one of which is Weapon Master. The Arcane stuff is interesting, but I don't really see a Rune Giant as big an Arcane caster as some other races. Cleric could be a possibility as well, or perhaps Oracle of some sort, Ancestor maybe, though Rune Giants aren't exactly the type to put much faith in such things. So really, it's between Cleric and Fighter, specifically Weapon Master. I figure a weapon like Falchion, with an excellent critical range, would be a good choice. He would be the big bad of the campaign.

[Mudfoot]

Antipaladin? Warpriest? Bloodrager?

Not much point in going full caster, because they start at CR17 so even 8 levels of wizard (=CR21) doesn't make much impact at that level. So you want something that makes them even better at what they do while adding another dimension. Cleric, Magus or EK might work.

I'd probably go with AP, not least for the boost to saves without which he's a bit too subject to SoS spells. And he gets a pony.

[Lord Foul II]

I'd go bloodrager
But any of the first three the above poster mentioned would work great

[Major_Blackhart]

Hmm, I never thought of Magus. That's an awesome idea actually.

[Lord Foul II]

Not much int though
You're goin to want to use their wis 23 or their cha 18 if you're going to use mental stats at all
So war priest
However if you go magus take the 3rd party archetype that uses cha

[Ashram]

Maybe a myrmidarch magus so they can get weapon and armor training.

[Imbicatus]

Monk? They are so massive that even at low levels the unarmed strike damage is going to be high, or they could go weapon adept and use a tree as a gargantuan quarterstaff with perfect strike. Gargantuan Shuriken with flurry of blows is frightening...

[Major_Blackhart]

God flurry of blows! I forgot about that! I never play monk so it never even entered into my realm of thought.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

In pops Imbicatus with a Monk plug. Man does that guy like the monk class.

I will throw in my option of a Ranger. Give him the FE of the majority race of the party.

Make him a switch hitter style. With the proper build...give him all the good stuff... Let him carry a Great-sword/club with Bane for the same majority of race in the Party.

Now you have a huge health and Big hitter BBEG....now lets give him a pet.

Perhaps a massive wolf, Roc, or some badass tiger. (remember pet shares Favored Enemies)

Build him a lair....make it his favorite terrain. Now your giant is going to have a nice high initiative. Make sure to have warning alarms so your big baddie can buff himself and his pet. =) Use the normal resist energy to groups favorite element, Gravity bow, Animal growth your pet and obscuring mist him...have him lay in wait for ambush.

Use a lesser rod of Quicken for a Entangle on the group first round, Sic your pet on and then full-attack the weakest looking PC or the Ranged damage dealer...... Start at range with a bow or Rocks...make it hard for them to get to you and widdle them down just to have them have to fight you in melee.

[Cap. Darling]

I vote for Monk as well they have really good stats and that is what you need to make the monk good. Stuvning first is gonna be great with 20 hidtige and +10 racial bonus on wis. With a monks robe ond that feat that give half other levels to unarmed damage he will do, assuming 4 levels, damage as a level 19 gargantuan monk 8 or 9d6. throw on the dragon style feats he will be wicked.
Edit: Alternatly make him a Zen Archer and remember to give him a adabtive bow for 5 times 4d6+15 even if you dont give him better stats.

[Sir Eldon's Head]

Abyssal blood Rager. Then he can grow even more.

[aceDiamond]

Even a straight up barbarian could bring some major hurt. Armed with Superstition, Spell Sunder, and Eater of Magic, you've almost got an antimagic giant.

[Major_Blackhart]

Yeah, but Rune Giants have a tendency towards law, and I'd like to keep that trend. Not saying that he can't be Chaotic or Neutral evil, but I don't think Rune Giants in general would be willing to submit to someone who's a barely controlled savage like barbarians have a tendency to be. They respect control, tactical acumen, intelligence, all of that stuff way too much. A renegade Rune Giant, definitely could do so, no doubt about it, but a normal rune giant I kinda doubt, especially an overlord.

[Imbicatus]

Fruian Thistlefoot wrote:

In pops Imbicatus with a Monk plug. Man does that guy like the monk class.

I do, it's my favorite class. I also like Druids, Fighters, Magi, and Rogues. But you have to admit, a Rune Giant has the perfect stats for a monk, and would be terrifying.

[Lincoln Hills]

It's true. The 'disadvantages' of a giant disappear when he suddenly starts getting a monk's saving throws and other special defenses. And the "weaknesses" of a monk are mostly the result of MAD, a problem that a rune giant just doesn't have. (To my sorrow, the one time I put a giant monk - stone giant in my case - in a campaign, the party knew better than to attack him. Darn.)

I can also recommend cleric (those low-level buffs and the capacity to heal up much faster between fights are both nice) or barbarian (brutal - just brutal.) Taking an archery-oriented class can be brutal if you focus on options that will enhance a giant's rock-throwing abilities.

To my sorrow, the shortage of Colossal camels and horses means that Cavalier probably isn't the best fit. ;)

[wraithstrike]

Major_Blackhart wrote:

Yeah, but Rune Giants have a tendency towards law, and I'd like to keep that trend. Not saying that he can't be Chaotic or Neutral evil, but I don't think Rune Giants in general would be willing to submit to someone who's a barely controlled savage like barbarians have a tendency to be. They respect control, tactical acumen, intelligence, all of that stuff way too much. A renegade Rune Giant, definitely could do so, no doubt about it, but a normal rune giant I kinda doubt, especially an overlord.

That is the flavor the book gives you, but you can change that. I had a barbarian with a pretty decent diplomacy modifier before. He was the ex-leader of a tribe of barbarians.

[Rakshaka]

Not saying you should do this, but it'd be funny to have him get a few levels of Gunslinger. Imagine the shock when he pulls out a cannon from his belt like a gun and begins firing it!