Firbolg (Dungeons & Dragons)

Firbolg
Characteristics
Alignment	True Neutral
Type	Giant
Image	Wizards.com image
Publication history
Source books	3.5E Monster Manual II, 3E Monster Manual 1, Monstrous Compendium Annual 1, 2E Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the firbolg is a giant.

Publication history

The firbolg first appeared in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983) under the "giant" entry.^[1]

The firbolg appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),^[2] and in the Monstrous Manual (1993) under the "giant" entry.^[3] The firbolg appeared as a player character race in The Complete Book of Humanoids (1993).^[4] The firbolg of the Forgotten Realms setting was detailed in Giantcraft (1995).^[5]

The firbolg appeared in the third edition Monster Manual II (2002)^[6] as both a monster stats and a playable race.

The firbolg appeared in the fourth edition Monster Manual 2 (2009).

In 2016, the firbolg appeared as a playable race for the fifth edition in Volo's Guide to Monsters.

Description

A firbolg is a reclusive giant that prefers to avoid contact with other sentient races. Among their own kind, they live in colonies, which are usually found in forests or caverns and watched by guard towers. Although they do farm, they prefer a more hunter-gatherer lifestyle, rather than the brigand/raider lifestyle of many other giants.

Firbolgs resemble humans, and men sport great, thick beards. Their skin is pink, and their hair, though it comes in many colors, is usually either red or blonde.

When reintroduced for the fifth edition, firbolgs were changed to more closely resemble elves, in such a way that a goliath resembles a human. They often have blue or green-shaded skin, and fur along their arms. They also have a high affinity for nature magic, often becoming druids or rangers.

Firbolgs primarily worship the goddess Hiatea, and are usually neutral in alignment. .

References