Giants
Changing pace for a moment, I turned my attention to the Monster Manual. I immediately noticed an entry that irritated me to no end. The theme is once again: Why was this change needed?
For a long time, the six base types of giants have been: Cloud, Fire, Frost, Hill, Stone, and Storm. For some reason, the starter giants are now: Death, Earth, Hill, Fire and Storm. In addition, the Storm giants are now Evil, in the past they were good. In fact, all of the five types of giants presented in the book are Evil or Chaotic Evil. This is again a departure from the past, and one that is unnecessary.
To the two new types of giants; I don't mind the Death giant since it plays into the Shadowfell storyline. Although I would not have used it to replace one of the classic giants types. The Earth giant appears more of an elemental, and is in no way the Stone giants of old. I find these giants less interesting than the Death giants and not at all useful.
I promise next time a positive review of some part of the first three manuals.