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Returning 35 results for 'bad branch diffusing conquest rules'.
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
branch to seal the promise.
“The Kindly Lord does not issue invitations to their court lightly. I suggest you accept.”
—Gwyddion, messenger of Talion
High Fae
Ageless and
operate under inviolable rules of their own: gifts must always be repaid, promises must be honored, and outright lies must never be spoken (though misdirection and riddles are always welcome). To
Species
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
Hadozees’ progenitors were mammals no bigger than house cats. Hunted by larger natural predators, they took to the trees and evolved wing-like flaps that enabled them to glide from branch to
branch.
Today, hadozees are sapient, bipedal beings eager to leave behind the fearsome predators of their home world and explore other worlds.
In addition to being natural climbers, hadozees have feet
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
birdfolk. Only when they roost on a branch or walk across the ground is their Humanoid nature clear. Standing upright, aarakocra are typically about 5 feet tall, and they have long, narrow legs that
At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation
Criminal / Spy
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society
.
4
I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying.
5
I turn tail and run when things look bad.
6
An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.
Aarakocra
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
.
Beak and Feather
From below, aarakocra look much like large birds. Only when they descend to roost on a branch or walk across the ground does their humanoid appearance reveal itself. Standing
aarakocra. To be grounded, trapped underground, or imprisoned by the cold, unyielding earth is a torment few aarakocra can withstand. Even when perched on a high branch or at rest in their mountaintop
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies: One
tail and run when things look bad.
6
An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Iuz Iuz (EYE-ooze or eye-OOZE) is a cambion and the son of Iggwilv and Graz’zt (see chapter 6). He is every bit as evil as his father and as bent on conquest as his mother at her very worst. He rules
Orc
Legacy
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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->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
between relying on their bonuses and abilities and paying attention to the game and immersing themselves in its world. Remember that dice don’t run your game — you do. Dice are like rules. They’re
bad die roll foiling the character’s plans. By the same token, a bad plan or unfortunate circumstances can transform the easiest task into an impossibility, or at least impose disadvantage.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
life in the domain. The following families are Borca’s most prominent, though dozens of lesser branch families orbit each: Boritsi. The Boritsi name is a mark of quality and innovation, appearing across
agriculture—particularly rearing pigs. Treacherous branch families have warred among themselves since the loss of nearly the entire main family. Eris. The elderly Tolashara Eris claims to be the last of her
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Table Rules Ideally, players come to the gaming table with the same goal: to have a fun time together. This section gives recommendations for table rules you can establish to help meet that goal
. Here are some fundamentals: Foster respect. Don’t bring personal conflicts to the table or let disagreements escalate into bad feelings. Don’t touch others’ dice if they’re sensitive about it. Avoid
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Embedded in the wall at the end of the westward hallway is an arch gate (see “Gates”). Close inspection reveals the image of a dead tree carved into its keystone. The rules of this gate are as follows
: Touching the arch with a dead twig or branch causes the gate to open for 1 minute. Characters must be 8th level or higher to pass through this gate (see “Jhesiyra Kestellharp”). The first creature to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Rules House rules include optional rules, such as those presented in chapter 9 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and rules you create. If you plan to use any house rules, session zero is a good time to
discuss those rules with the players and solicit their input. House rules are best presented as experiments, and time will tell if they’re good for your game. If you introduce a house rule in session
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
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 react to them. As a race, orcs
stones, mushrooms, or any other kind of circle. Seeing a shooting star before a battle is bad luck. To ward it off, you must swallow a stone. A tribute of elf ears brings favor from Gruumsh. If you bury
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
Introducing the Game Once the players have familiarized themselves with their characters, you’re ready to introduce the game. Now that you’re familiar with your characters and the basics of the rules
, we’re going to play a short adventure to introduce you to Dungeons & Dragons. As the Dungeon Master, I tell you what’s going on in the world around you, and I use the rules and dice rolls to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Rules of Conduct Although Zybilna is indisposed, three of the rules she put into place when she created her Feywild domain continue to hold weight: the rule of hospitality, the rule of ownership, and
the rule of reciprocity. These three rules are common knowledge in Prismeer, and both natives and visitors would do well to abide by them: Rule of Hospitality. When a friend, an enemy, or a stranger
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
local branch of House Jorasco. Boromars can be seen at every Skyway gala. But it’s an open secret that they’ve been running crime in Sharn since the first days of the city. They’ve been bribing the Sharn
values tradition and prefers to avoid violence. However, you’ll be expected to respect the hierarchy and follow the rules… and you may be targeted by Daask.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
by the same rules and obey the same social conventions as mortals. Devils have no problem appearing and acting in whatever manner they need to achieve their end goal — usually a contract for services
devil as it plots its conquest or corruption of a soul. This allows for winding schemes that are rarely what they seem on the surface. For minor devils, a simple acceptance of an evil gift is enough
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
resistance. 6 Every problem can be solved with the use of force. Devil Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Loyalty. I keep my vows to my superior and respect those who do the same. 2 Law. I might not like the rules
, but I obey them. 3 Ambition. The need to improve my station drives my every action. 4 Conquest. I am equal to the sum of the foes I have defeated in combat. 5 Cunning. Those who can see an advantage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
. We’ve visited Waterdeep before, but not like this. Clever heroes will respect the city’s rules. Those who get on the city’s bad side are in for a rough time, as the City of Splendors is home to some of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
threat. Use this book to help you and your players communicate about a game’s rules, plots, and other content, assuring it includes only the elements you all enjoy. Focus on Fun. Suspenseful stories don’t
attention for both of us. We’ve found no trace of Vhorishkova since arriving, but I feel her watching. It’s like she’s everywhere.
It’s bad here, Uncle. Not snake-headed hogs bad. Like, full Delmunster
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
, full of dust and bad memories. It’s quiet most of the time, except when the sorrowful wails of the banshee fill the place. The following features are common throughout.
Arrow Slits. When using an arrow
slit for protection, a creature gains three-quarters cover (see the Basic Rules) against outside threats. A Medium character can’t squeeze through an arrow slit, but a Small character can with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
the new political powers of Khorvaire, and the division of Thuranni from Phiarlan embodies that new reality. From his enclave in Regalport (in the Lhazaar Principalities), Baron Elar d’Thuranni rules a
house that is a shadow of its united predecessor, similar in many ways to House Phiarlan. But while spies and assassins are contained within a secret sixth branch of House Phiarlan, separate from the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
rarity of each one. The table also indicates whether an item requires attunement. All the items use the magic items rules in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Magic Items Rarity Item Attunement Common
Bell Branch Yes Rare Devotee’s Censer Yes Rare Duplicitous Manuscript Yes Rare Elemental Essence Shard Yes Rare Far Realm Shard Yes Rare Fulminating Treatise Yes Rare Heart Weaver’s Primer Yes Rare
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
image of a dead tree carved into its keystone. Its rules are as follows: Touching the arch with a dead twig or branch causes the gate to open for 1 minute. Characters must be 6th level or higher to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Council. Also, the Boromars have close ties by marriage to the local branch of House Jorasco, and clan members can be seen at every Skyway gala. The Boromar Clan specializes in gambling, theft, and
associate of the clan, you’ll be expected to respect the hierarchy and follow the rules, and you might be targeted by Daask just as if you were a Boromar yourself. If you have a contact in the Boromar Clan
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
the outer plane of Ysgard. The campaign’s aspirations of conquest quickly failed, but the raiders discovered a key feature of Ysgard: creatures slain on that plane return to life the next dawn. Thus
seems like a transparently bad idea. What were those giants thinking?
—Bigby
And yet, can we fairly say that the existence of fensirs is “transparently bad”? Some might argue they are a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
are under the effect of a spider climb spell) can move through the tunnels at a normal pace. A thin layer of frost coats the walls, floor, and ceiling throughout. The westernmost tunnel branch opens
easternmost tunnel branch opens into the back wall of a giant dormitory (area 8). Tunnel Intersections. The first time one or more party members reach a tunnel intersection, four ice spiders come
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Narration in Combat Although it’s important that the players understand what’s going on in terms of the rules, the game can get dull if everyone uses only “gamespeak”: “That’s an 18 to hit,” “You hit
; now roll damage,” “11 points,” and “OK, now we’re to Initiative count 13.” Instead, use the rules and your knowledge of the scene to help your narration. If 18 is barely a hit, but the 11 points of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
is humid and smells bad. Any creature that breathes foul air becomes poisoned until it breathes fresh air again. The air aboard a ship with a normal crew complement degrades from fresh to foul on day
121, and the foul air turns deadly 120 days later. Deadly air is unbreathable. Any creature that tries to breathe deadly air begins to suffocate (see the rules on suffocation in the Player’s Handbook
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
whole creature and still be hungry. If you’re bad, she’ll come in the night and carry you away. She’ll make a lantern of your skull and torment you until the end of time. And she’s the least
frightening member of the Daughters of Sora Kell!
When I could set aside my sheer terror, I was learning a great deal about this strange nation. The Daughters invested power in warlords, each of whom rules a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
these riches by exploiting my tenants’ misery, buying up condemned property and renting it out for an exorbitant fee. Granny Nightshade is helping me to make amends. I told her I wanted to put my bad
hospitality (see “Rules of Conduct” in chapter 2), Nib offers to craft a gift for each character. Taking up a pair of knitting needles, he swiftly knits his gold yarn into an object that retains a golden
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Nearly impossible 30 The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head, so that you don’t have to refer to these rules every time you decide on a
say a door requires a successful DC 15 Strength check to be battered down. A fighter with a Strength of 20 might helplessly flail against the door because of bad die rolls. Meanwhile, the rogue with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
treats visitors as honored guests in accordance with the rule of hospitality (see “Rules of Conduct” earlier in the chapter), but he expects a measure of kindness in return. If a fight breaks out
lap—Bavlorna’s Big Book of Bad Blood—in which the hag’s displeasure with her enemies is spelled out in detail. He procured the book from a darkling merchant (see area B10), who stole it from Bavlorna
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
, either in physical form or on DnDBeyond.com: Player’s Handbook. This book is your essential reference for the game’s rules, and it guides you through making an adventurer of your own. Dungeon Master’s
useful: DM Screen. Many DMs like to use a screen to shield their notes and dice rolls from players. It’s bad manners to peek over the screen! Miniatures and Battle Grid. Some DMs use a battle grid and