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Returning 35 results for 'bad bards diffusing cost reality'.
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Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
damage if he fails. He can't use this trait if he's incapacitated.
Second-Story Work. Climbing does not cost Viari extra movement. Additionally, when he makes a running jump, the distance he covers
adventurer was nearly cut short during a battle of which the bards still sing. Unleashing a devastating attack with the aptly named Apocalypse Dagger, the rogue destroyed a giant single-handedly — and lost
Bard
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
of song, speech, and the magic they contain. Bards say that the multiverse was spoken into existence, that the words of the gods gave it shape, and that echoes of these primordial Words of Creation
still resound throughout the cosmos. The music of bards is an attempt to snatch and harness those echoes, subtly woven into their spells and powers. The greatest strength of bards is their sheer
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
always straining to peer into another reality that seems to be just beyond my senses.
5
I’m uneasy if I can’t see plants growing or feel soil beneath my feet.
6
Seeing illness
conclave has a deeper connection to the Worldsoul than I do.
6
I’m trying to atone for the life of crime I led before I joined the Selesnya, but I find it hard to give up my bad habits
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
knowledge, rather than brute force. Harper agents are often proficient in Investigation, enabling them to be adept at snooping and spying. They often seek aid from other Harpers, sympathetic bards and
try to help those in need, no matter what the personal cost. (Good)
3
Change. We must help bring about the changes the gods are constantly working in the world. (Chaotic)
4
Power. I hope
Species
Acquisitions Incorporated
.
Reality is a descent into chaos punctuated by brief flashes of order, whence we arose and so imagine it to be the norm rather than a distant outlier. That-Which-Endures held entropy back for a mere instant
turned the color of jade and their blood began to flow black. Their ears grew pointed, and they gained a limited form of telepathy — but at the cost of forgetting their history. The underground homes
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
everywhere in the world around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should
ward off diseases if they are worn.
Don’t stand inside a ring of stones, mushrooms, or any other kind of circle.
Seeing a shooting star before a battle is bad luck. To ward it off, you must
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Creating a Bard Bards thrive on stories, whether those stories are true or not. Your character’s background and motivations are not as important as the stories that he or she tells about them
a story. Some bards acquire their magical music through extraordinary means, including the inspiration of fey or other supernatural creatures. Did you serve an apprenticeship, studying under a master
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
Umizu Residents of the city-state of Umizu enjoy their fair share of luck, but good fortune comes at a cost: a season of bad luck that arrives with the yearly monsoon. During this time, locals pray
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
Beholders: Bad Dreams Come True To those who would seek to conquer beholders or merely understand them, nearly everything about their quarry is unfathomable. These bizarre creatures are possessed of
alien intelligence, inhuman forms of perception, and the ability to shape reality through force of will — or even by their mere presence. Inside the comfortable confines of its subterranean lair, a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
agents include sophisticated bards, zealous paladins, talented mages, and grizzled warriors. They are chosen primarily for their loyalty and are experts in observation, stealth, innuendo, and combat
’ Alliance fights the things that the shopkeeper in his bed has never even heard of. We remove threats before the town mayor even knows about it. We make bad things go away. That’s what we’re good at.”
Rameel Jos
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Harpers Any smart, non-evil character can join the Harpers of Waterdeep. Bards and wizards are especially welcome. Harpers are altruists who work behind the scenes to keep power out of the hands of
locations such as the City of the Dead. Harper support comes in these ways: The Harpers make common and uncommon potions and scrolls available to the adventurers at a reduced or deferred cost
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
firmly in the world by associating the class with a particular race or culture. For example, you might decide that bards, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards represent the magical traditions of four
. You could break that down still further: bards of the College of Lore could be high elves, and bards of the College of War could be wood elves. Gnomes discovered the school of illusion, so all wizards
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
fireballs and magical flames at its foes.
Death slaadi are rumored to have a stench so bad it can be deadly. In reality, they can cast the cloudkill spell.
Inexperienced scholars and adventurers
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
are recurring obstacles on the path to discovery, gnomes revel in the search. They savor the acquisition of new knowledge, realizing it might come at a cost, and even a series of bad results in experiments doesn’t dissuade a gnome from following their chosen path.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Consequences As a DM, you can use a variety of approaches when adjudicating success and failure to tailor the game to your liking. Success at a Cost When a character fails a D20 Test by only 1 or 2
, you can offer to let the character succeed at the cost of a complication or hindrance. Such complications can run along any of the following lines: A character gets her sword past an enemy’s defenses
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Creating a Bard Bards thrive on stories, whether those stories are true or not. Your character’s background and motivations are not as important as the stories that he or she tells about them
a story. Some bards acquire their magical music through extraordinary means, including the inspiration of fey or other supernatural creatures. Did you serve an apprenticeship, studying under a master
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
city of Sharn, which is both the cultural heart of Breland and a nexus for intrigue and diplomacy. Bards have much to gain from the company of other bards, as they exchange news, stories, and songs
. For this purpose, long ago a group of the finest bards in Sharn founded the Circle of Song, an alliance of entertainers and adventurers. The Circle of Song is an informal organization, open to any
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
character astray, especially if the object of the research is known to the rival. The rival might plant false information, bribe sages to give bad advice, or steal key tomes needed to find the truth. In
would have opened it. 4 A sage becomes obsessed with convincing you of a number of strange theories about reality.* 5 Your actions cause you to be banned from a library until you make reparations.* 6 You uncovered useful lore, but only by promising to complete a dangerous task in return. *Might involve a rival
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
vengeance. Viari’s career as an adventurer was nearly cut short during a battle of which the bards still sing. Unleashing a devastating attack with the aptly named Apocalypse Dagger, the rogue destroyed a
saving throw, and only half damage if he fails. He can’t use this trait if he’s incapacitated.
Second-Story Work. Climbing does not cost Viari extra movement. Additionally, when he makes a running jump
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
free to do so; the only real cost is the time it takes. With enough attempts and enough time, a character should eventually succeed at the task. To speed things up, assume that a character spending
something, think of it in terms of what a very high or low score in those two abilities might mean.
A character with a high Wisdom but low Intelligence is aware of the surroundings but is bad at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
expression. “Bad things have been happening at the carnival for a while. People and things have been going missing. My bosses know more than they’re telling, but their hands are tied somehow. You’re the first
characters give back the watch. Burly offers to assist where he can, but he doesn’t want Witch and Light to know that he plotted against them, because it would cost him his job and his home. He also
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
destiny from the Underworld, Klothys now endeavors to undo the cosmic damage caused by Heliod, Xenagos, and ambitious mortals in recent years. The ways in which they ravaged reality to realize their
selfish dreams has threatened Theros, and only by untangling the strands of destiny can Klothys set things right. The status quo she seeks to restore, however, comes with a cost in mortal casualties and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Scholars, wizards, druids, and bards of other races have different ideas about how halflings escape peril, suggesting that by virtue of something in their nature, they occupy a special place in the
off bad luck or to bring good fortune. Villages or even families might have superstitions observed by no one else, such as the following:
For a safe journey through a forest, leave a few seeds or a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
place, and gives it an iron token that it can use to confide in her. Over time, “Granny” convinces the child that it’s okay to have bad thoughts and do bad deeds — starting with breaking things or
wandering outside without permission, then graduating to pushing someone down the stairs or setting a house on fire. Sooner or later, the child’s family and community become terrified of the “bad seed” and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Reality Dawns When Kas reveals himself, a cacophony erupts downstairs. Sleeping characters are awakened, and otherwise occupied characters hear the following: Violent slamming and terrible crashes
. Alustriel correctly supposes that Kas plans to find Vecna and co-opt the lich-god’s ritual to become the most powerful being in existence. This outcome is as bad as Vecna ruling the multiverse, as far as
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
animosity. They have bad blood with the Harmonium, who view the Fated as wrongheaded and dangerous, and Factol Darkwood and Factol Montgomery of the Society of Sensation are bitter rivals. Fraternity of
laws of Sigil, all the while searching for hidden truths that dictate reality. Guvners gather detailed records of every portal and key they find in Sigil and pay well for such information
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
damage is a bad wound for the enemy, say: “You swing wildly, and the knight brings his shield up just a second too late. Your blade catches him along the jaw, drawing a deep gash. He recoils, bleeding
fictional reality of the game and in terms of the rules of the game. This means that when an enemy with a Crossbow takes the Ready action to cover the area in front of a door, the players should have a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
decision, follow through with it knowing your path is just. Redemption. So you feel bad about having done something, and then you have to do something to feel better? Why don’t you just kill and eat
level, you can shield others from harm at the cost of your own health. When a creature within 10 feet of you takes damage, you can use your reaction to magically take that damage, instead of that creature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
have to. (Good)
4 Knowledge. I seek out dangerous secrets so that I can know the nature of reality. (Neutral)
5 Power. The best thing about knowing a secret is getting to use it against
the god’s influence in the world in a concrete way through acts such as these: Keeping a dangerous secret despite personal cost Revealing a critical truth at an important moment Mediating a major
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
angels are paragons of goodness, wisdom, and mercy. The reality is that angels aren’t immune to the temptations of corruption, and the necessities of political machination can compromise the best of them
they have been known to accept decades of losses as a reasonable cost for a more significant victory many years later. These warleaders have the statistics of planetars or solars (as presented in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
ballroom’s stage is filled with set pieces, props, and costumes. Treasure. Among the many other instruments stored here is Quill’s instrument of the bards (Cli lyre), which is kept in an ornate wooden case
ability to warp reality and bring to life things from their imagination. Renekor dreamed itself into Wisteria Vale from the Underdark. The beholder believes that the village and its residents are its own
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
, and there are fewer traders coming out of the city nowadays. The recent orc wars have cost the kingdom dearly, both in warriors and in leadership. In a short time, our long-ruling king, Harbromm
known written copies have ever been reported. Only a privileged few non-dwarves have ever heard the Dirge in its entirety, and dwarf bards who want to perform this epic must demonstrate great skill in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
gate-towns come knocking on their doors, residents feign ignorance or offer up false clues to throw off the nose of justice. Residents remain smugly aloof, fending off bounty hunters like bad suitors
brain three times the size of its body and cost the rat its fur. The Node hovers above the ground, held aloft by its own intellect. The rat swears vengeance against the Lady of Pain, promising untold
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
character feels responsible for protecting. They must be rescued at any cost. The captives are held in area E11 of the Temple of Eternal Flame. The character earns inspiration for reaching the temple and
fire cultists but never took up arms with them. Now the character wants to stop the villains before they give all mercenaries a bad name. The character earns inspiration for clearing out Scarlet Moon Hall and again for reaching the Temple of Eternal Flame.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
townsfolk. Chaotic Neutral. (CN) creatures follow their whims, holding their personal freedom above all else. Many rogues and bards are chaotic neutral. Lawful Evil. (LE) creatures methodically take
boastfulness and has a fear of heights resulting from a bad fall during her career as a thief. Artemis Entreri is always prepared for the worst and moves with a quick, precise confidence.
Consider their






