Monster Dice Rolling for the Encounter Builder / Combat Tracker

The D&D Beyond Encounter Builder & Combat Tracker tools now have dice rolling for monsters!

As a frequent DM, I super appreciate this feature - the ability to easily manage all of the dice rolls for my monsters right there in the Combat Tracker.

If a monster statblock has a value that can be used for a dice roll, we've got you covered:

  • Hit Points
  • Ability Score checks, Proficiency checks, and Saving Throws
  • Attack rolls, Damage, and Healing
  • Recharge rolls for features
  • Other miscellaneous rolls (random eyebeams on a beholder)

You can access both the Encounter Builder & Combat Tracker from the Tools area on the mega menu at the top of the page. Existing encounters that you've built are available by clicking in My Encounters on the Collections area of the mega menu. Don't forget that you can select which dice set you're using by heading over to My Dice on the Collections area of the mega menu.

Note on the visibility of DM dice rolls: Whilst all of the rolls you make are recorded in the Game Log, as the DM, only you will see them - they are not broadcast to your players. We plan to implement options in future iterations for DMs who prefer for their players to be able to see the dice rolls.

As usual with new tools, this feature is currently available for subscribers, with the intent to move it to being available to everyone once we're happy that everything is stable in terms of performance and functionality. 

Screenshot of the D&D Beyond combat tracker, showing dice being rolled for the hit points of a monster
Rolling the Hit Dice of the monster, to generate its Hit Points, then updating the monster with that information.

 

Using Dice Rolling in the Combat Tracker

 When you're using either the Encounter Builder or Combat Tracker and click on a monster, you'll see the stat block for that monster displayed to the right of the list of combat participants.

The monster stat block now shows many places where dice rolls have been added - you can recognise them by the white background and red border around the dice expression.

To roll the dice, just left-click your mouse on the box!

Using the design you're familiar with from the character sheet, you can also right-click (long-press on a mobile/tablet) on a box to get further options, which depend on the type of dice roll being clicked on.

  • If it's an attack roll, ability score, proficiency, or saving throw - you'll have the option to roll with advantage or disadvantage, as well as the standard roll.
  • If it's damage - you'll have the option to roll for critical hits.
Part of the statblock for a beholder monster
Right-clicking on the Wisdom ability score of a Beholder and selecting to roll at disadvantage.

 

More Screenshots

Screenshot showing dice being rolled for the attack of a Wight in a combat. The mouse pointer shows that this attack is being made at advantage
Right-clicking on the attack bonus of the Wight to make an attack roll at advantage.

 

Screenshot showing many ten-sided dice being rolled for the breath weapon attack of an Ancient Gold Dragon
Rolling 13d10 fire damage for the breath weapon of an Ancient Gold Dragon.

 

How does this work and can my homebrew monsters use it?

All monsters, including homebrew ones, will be able to roll Hit Points, ability checks, saving throws, proficiencies automatically. That all happens behind the scenes.

Some of the more inquisitive among you may have already noted that when you create a copy of an official monsters for your own homebrew, they now have dice expressions within the Special Traits, Actions, Reactions, Description etc - we have a forum post that describes how this works and how you can add rollable tags to your homebrew monsters.

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