If there are parts of the game you prefer not to handle yourself, assign them to players who enjoy them. If you don’t want to break your narrative stride by looking up a rule, designate another player to be the rulebook reference expert. If you don’t like tracking Initiative, ask another player to do so.
Wondrous Item, common As a Bonus Action, you can press this iron shirt button against a piece of fabric and use the command word, “hold.” When you do, the button magically attaches to the cloth, fixing itself in place even if it is defying gravity. The button must be attached to a piece of fabric that is either unworn or worn by a willing creature. It can hold up to 500 pounds of weight and…
Once you’ve chosen the DM, follow the instructions below to begin play.
A passage appears at a point that you can see on a wooden, plaster, or stone surface (such as a wall, ceiling, or floor) within range and lasts for the duration. You choose the opening’s dimensions: up to 5 feet wide, 8 feet tall, and 20 feet deep. The passage creates no instability in a structure surrounding it. When the opening disappears, any creatures or objects still in the passage created…
The Ruinbound are mutants that can be born to any humanoid species that has contact with the Daelkyr or their minions. A Ruinbound is born with a personal symbiont—an unnatural entity bound to the child. Unlike most symbionts, this entity cannot be separated from its host, and the two are permanently fused. Many Ruinbound have additional disturbing mutations; you can roll on the Ruinbound…
MonkeyDM Publishing accepts no liability for injury, loss of limb, mutilation, beheading, loss of sanity, or entrapment in madness caused by joining the hunts described in this book. Any attempt at curing the scourge, communing with Old Ones, or understanding the Eldritch Truth is not cautioned by MonkeyDM Publishing or any of their partners.
Wondrous Item, rare (requires attunement) This bone button is found on an article of clothing, such as a shirt or coat, and is carved with the tiny image of a devil. It must be attached to clothing that you wear to attune to it. You gain a +1 bonus to saving throws, and it has the following properties. Improbable Luck. When you fail a saving throw while wearing the button, you can choose to…
“Zool” (after Zuul from Ghostbusters) As we moved over the rollin’ scrub, we came across somethin’ remarkable. A lone dinosaur feeding on scrub, entirely oblivious to us. Few times in my life had I ever come across such an unyieldin’ amount of muscle and armour. When I first saw this thing, I knew it was built for one thing and one thing only – defence. We studied it in detail. Armoured back,…
From a distance, will-o’-wisps look like lanterns bobbing in the dark. Through the windows of abandoned structures or around the bends of treacherous paths, these spirits tempt the curious into peril. Once their prey is vulnerable, will-o’-wisps feed on the life force of those they lay low. Roll on or choose a result from the Will-o’-Wisp Ambushes table to inspire how a will-o’-wisp imperils its…
Camouflaged as rock formations, ropers are aberrant ambushers that lurk in wait for smaller creatures. These bizarre subterranean hunters extend their rubbery tentacles to explore and prod their surroundings, often reaching beyond their fields of vision. Should they encounter prey, these limbs ensnare victims and drag them close to ropers’ toothy maws. If these tentacles are severed, ropers…
Armor (ring mail), legendary You have a +3 bonus to AC while wearing this armor. This armor is leather armor with heavy rings sewn into it. The rings help reinforce the armor against blows from swords and axes. Ring mail is inferior to chain mail, and it's usually worn only by those who can't afford better armor.
For many years it was assumed that ankylosaurs used their clubs exclusively to fight off predators. However, recent studies of Zuul ’s holotype have revealed that several healed injuries were likely the result of tail-club attacks from other Zuul. This indicates that it engaged in intraspecific combat, although its club was undoubtedly also used as a defensive weapon. Additionally, an…
List of Stat Block from the Dr Dhrolin’s Dictionary of Dinosaurs.
If the characters decline, read or paraphrase: “Hmm, not what I expected. Oh, well! Maybe next time.” Dardew shrugs and disappears with a puff of smoke. At your discretion, Dardew might return later to reissue his invitation, perhaps offering an important insight or piece of information in return for the characters’ participation.
Transmutation Cantrip (Bard, Druid, Sorcerer, Wizard) Casting Time: Action Range: 120 feet Components: S, M (a copper wire) Duration: 1 round You point toward a creature within range and whisper a message. The target (and only the target) hears the message and can reply in a whisper that only you can hear. You can cast this spell through solid objects if you are familiar with the target and know…
The preceding example of play shows how one Dungeon Master might run an encounter, but no two DMs run the game in exactly the same way—and that’s how it should be! You’ll be most successful as a DM if you choose a play style that works best for you and your players. The Rule of Fun D&D; is a game, and everyone should have fun playing it. Everyone shares equal responsibility in moving the game…
If the characters accept Dardew’s invitation, he magically transports them to the Hellfire Dome. Read or paraphrase the following text: “That’s the spirit!” Dardew laughs and claps his hands, and a cloud of red smoke engulfs you. The characters begin the games in area H1 of the Hellfire Dome.
After dealing with the consequences of failed checks, move to the next challenge.
Armor (ring mail), very rare You have a +2 bonus to AC while wearing this armor. This armor is leather armor with heavy rings sewn into it. The rings help reinforce the armor against blows from swords and axes. Ring mail is inferior to chain mail, and it's usually worn only by those who can't afford better armor.
Dragonmark Feat (Prerequisite: Eberron Campaign, Can’t Have Another Dragonmark Feat) You gain the following benefits. Wild Intuition. When you make an Intelligence (Nature) or Wisdom (Animal Handling) check, you can roll 1d4 and add the number rolled to the ability check. Primal Connection. You always have the Animal Friendship and Speak with Animals spells prepared. You can cast each spell…
You conjure a pillar of spellfire in a 20-foot-radius, 20-foot-high Cylinder centered on a point within range. The area of the Cylinder is Bright Light, and each creature in it when it appears makes a Constitution saving throw, taking 4d10 Radiant damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one. A creature also makes this save when it enters the spell’s area for the first time…
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Dark Bargains can also come about during play in a campaign. There might be times where inscrutable powers have their own designs and see an opportunity for a character to further those ends in exchange for gifts. Others might be willing to negotiate a bargain as an alternative price to death or worse. In these cases, the GM might alter terms of the bargains, such as increasing, lessening, or…
Take a break from being the DM if you need to recharge your creative juices, plan out the next arc of your campaign, or finish up the adventure you’re working on. By taking a break, you create an opportunity for another player to assume the DM role for a session or two. If not everyone can make it to a scheduled session, that can also be an opportunity for a different DM to run a short adventure.
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