Giant Template

[Thomas Long 175]

Not sure I understand. When you apply the giant template you change the size and apply all stat adjustments that go with it, then apply stat adjustments from the template itself?

Giant Template

So increasing a crocodile from large to huge gives him +8 STR, -2 DEX, +4 CON, +3 NAT ARMOR, then a further +4 STR and CON, and -2 DEX?

I'm assuming the template just gives the +4 STR CON and -2 Dex and +3 Nat Armor but I thought I'd ask

[Gauss]

This is a case of d20pfsrd being somewhat incorrect. You only get the template section, not the Table: Size Changes section. The Table: Size Changes section is pulled from a different section of the rules (Adding Racial Hit Dice) and should not be used with the Giant or Young Templates.

- Gauss

[Wolf Munroe]

I'm wanting to apply the giant simple template and I run into a similar issue.

The first thing the giant simple template says to do is to increase the size category. Since I'm ignoring the other stuff for increasing the size category (that +8 STR, -2 DEX, +4 CON from changing size), should I give the creature a -1 to AC and attack for increasing from medium to large?

I'm looking at the sample Brute Wight on d20pfsrd and it doesn't use the AC penalty or attack penalty. Is there a first-party example of the template being applied somewhere?

[Christopk-K]

I had just this question. Thank you :-)

Gauss wrote:

This is a case of d20pfsrd being somewhat incorrect. You only get the template section, not the Table: Size Changes section. The Table: Size Changes section is pulled from a different section of the rules (Adding Racial Hit Dice) and should not be used with the Giant or Young Templates.

- Gauss

[SheepishEidolon]

Giant template is more handy for GMs because it's always the same bonuses, no matter what the initial (and target) size is. It's roughly an average of the different lines, even though each line is significantly different from the template.

So it depends on what you want. If you want just a fast, limited power-up for a creature, giant template is relatively useful (though the little size modifiers to AC, AB etc. can be a pain). But if you plan to turn a creature into a much bigger one, you probably want to deal with increasing HD significantly and then use the size table.

[Cuup]

When the Giant Simple Template says to change the creature's size, it's referring to the following changes: their size modifier to AC, attack rolls, CMB/CMD, fly checks, and stealth checks, as well as their space/reach. You then go on to modify the creature's damage die, Natural armor, and ability scores as specified by the TEMPLATE, not the universal size-change table.