Goliaths are large, rugged humanoids that inhabit the tallest, most inhospitable mountain ranges, higher than even most dwarves find tolerable. These daring nomads follow herds of wild sheep and other game up and down the mountain slopes, fearlessly braving cliffs and ledges to survive.
Standing 7 to 8 feet tall, goliaths are large, muscular people with pale gray skin covered in darker patterns and dotted with bony growths called lithoderms. Goliath women typically have long black hair, while male goliaths are usually hairless. Goliaths take pride in their body markings, and prefer light clothing that shows off as much skin as possible. Although they are a spartan people, many goliaths wear jewelry such as ear, nose, or brow rings.
Goliaths push themselves to the point of foolhardiness, competing against their clanmates and their own past achievements. Competition is the heart of goliath culture, ranging from friendly games like races and tug-of-war to deadly serious attempts to prove themselves best at combat. Just as important is the concept of a level playing ground, and goliaths look down on other races' kings and lords who hoard wealth without having earned it. Goliaths who cannot or will not push themselves this way are seen as lazy and useless and face exile. A few such exiles become adventurers; most die in the wild. Few goliaths reach old age.
Goliaths can be found in mountain ranges throughout Golarion's northern hemisphere, from Varisia to Casmaron to Tian Xia, but their homeland is thought to be the Rimethirst Mountains between Avistan and the Crown of the World. This forbidding range is home to the only known goliath city in the world: Thella-Lu, in the Plain of Standing Stones. This sprawling tent city's population fluctuates constantly as nomadic goliath clans come and go, trading dwarven or giantcraft goods and engaging in every conceivable sport and game.
GOLIATH
CR: 1/2
XP: 200
Goliath barbarian 1
N Medium humanoid (goliath)
Init: +1; Perception +1
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AC: 15, touch 11, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +1 Dex)
hp: 16 (1 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +1
Defensive Abilities: Stone's endurance (1d12+3)
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Speed: 30 ft. (40 ft. base)
Melee: Greataxe +4 (1d12+4/19-20)
Ranged: Longbow +2 (1d8/x3)
Special Attacks: Rage (7 rounds/day)
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Str 17, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8
Base Atk: +1; CMB: +4; CMD: 15
Feats: Power Attack
Skills: Acrobatics +2, Climb +4, Sense Motive +4, Survival +5; Racial Modifiers: +2 Sense Motive
Languages: Common, Gol-Kaa
SQ: Fast movement, mountaineer, powerful build
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Environment: Cold mountains
Organization: Solitary, pair, gang (2-4), clan (11-20 plus 2 sergeants of 3rd level and 1 leader of 3rd-6th-level), or tribe (30-100 plus 150% noncombatants plus 1 sergeant of 3rd level per 10 adults, 1 lieutenant of 5th level per 20 adults, and 1 leader of 7th level per 30 adults)
Treasure: NPC gear (greatsword, longbow, 20 arrows, hide armor, other treasure)
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Mountaineer (Ex): Goliaths are skilled at climbing and navigating narrow ledges. Goliaths are immune to altitude sickness and do not lose their Dexterity bonus to AC when making Climb or Acrobatics checks to cross narrow or slippery surfaces.
Powerful Build (Ex): Goliaths count as one size larger when determining their carrying capacity and the weight they can push, drag, or lift. The benefts of this racial trait stack with the effects of powers, abilities, and spells that change the subject’s size category.
Stone's Endurance (Ex): Goliaths can focus themselves to occasionally shrug off injury. Once per day as an immediate action, when a goliath takes damage, he can roll 1d12 + his Constitution modifier, and reduce the damage by that total.
GOLIATH CHARACTERS (9 RP)
+2 Strength, +2 Constitution (2 RP)
Medium: Goliaths are Medium creatures.
Normal Speed: Goliaths have a base speed of 30 feet.
Athletic (1 RP): Acrobatics and Climb are always class skills for goliaths.
Insightful (2 RP): Goliaths receive a +2 racial bonus on Sense Motive checks.
Mountaineer (1 RP): See above.
Powerful Build (1 RP): See above.
Stone's Endurance (2 RP): See above.
Languages: Goliaths begin play speaking Common and Gol-Kaa. Goliaths with high Intelligence scores can choose from the following: Aklo, Dwarven, Giant, Orc, Sylvan, and Terran.
I've been meaning to get around to the goliath for years, almost since I began this blog. Debuting in Races of Stone, one of my favorite D&D 3E sourcebooks, goliaths have maintained a minor but enduring presence in the World's Oldest Roleplaying Game ever since. You'll note my Pathfinder version is based most heavily on the 5E goliath, even stealing racial traits word-for-word, because the 3E version was far too powerful for essentially an add-on core race in my opinion. The race point cost for powerful build and stone's endurance are extremely tentative; I am open to suggestions for adjustment.
