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Returning 35 results for 'been before decisions crouching rules'.
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
he's tight with Levistus. He rules the roost by sheer force of personality, though it chafes him that Hethyl Arkorran has more respect and influence within the cult. Kadroth doesn't involve Avarice
to do so.
For all his political machinations, Kadroth is a visionary who has so far made the cult stronger through his actions and decisions. He spends hours behind his desk, staring into the burning
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Teleport.
Assault (Costs 2 Actions). Titivilus makes one Silver Sword attack, or he uses Frightful Word.Dispater, the gloomy Lord of Dis, rules from his iron palace, seeming to hide behind its
plots are being hatched against him and that Asmodeus himself seeks to remove Dispater from power. In response, Dispater has withdrawn to his palace and left day-to-day decisions to Titivilus, even
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
results of the adventurers’ decisions. Adjudicate the Rules. You oversee how the group uses the game’s rules, making sure the rules serve the group’s fun. You’ll want to read the rest of this chapter to understand those rules, and you’ll find the rules glossary essential.
the adventurers face. The players decide what their characters do as they navigate hazards and choose what to explore. Then you use a combination of imagination and the game’s rules to determine the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
explore. Then you use a combination of imagination and the game’s rules to determine the results of the adventurers’ decisions. Adjudicate the Rules. You oversee how the group uses the game’s rules
, making sure the rules serve the group’s fun. You’ll want to read the rest of this chapter to understand those rules, and you’ll find the Rules Glossary essential.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Ideas, Not Rules Even though these pages are full of tables and die rolls, they don’t make up a rules system — in fact, the opposite is true. You can use as much or as little of this material as you
desire, and you can make decisions in any order you want. For instance, you might not want these tables to help you decide who your parents and siblings are, because that’s among the information
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
explore. Then you use a combination of imagination and the game’s rules to determine the results of the adventurers’ decisions. Adjudicate the Rules. You oversee how the group uses the game’s rules
, making sure the rules serve the group’s fun. Tutorials in each adventure teach you some of those rules, but you’ll want to reference the D&D Beyond Basic Rules to better understand them. Keep It Secret
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
typical D&D session, a DM makes numerous rules decisions—some barely noticeable and others quite obvious. Players also interpret the rules, and the whole group keeps the game running. There are times
The Role of Rules Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
things they don’t. In a typical D&D session, a DM makes numerous rules decisions—some barely noticeable and others quite obvious. Players also interpret the rules, and the whole group keeps the game
The Role of Rules Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
the DM change the pitch or tempo of narration in different situations? Player Participation. Did the players participate in the world-building or make decisions that seemed to send the adventure in an
unexpected direction? How did the DM handle it? Rules Adjudication. To what extent did the DM lean on the rules to adjudicate outcomes? Did the DM adjudicate situations wisely or in ways that made the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
the DM change the pitch or tempo of narration in different situations? Player Participation. Did the players participate in the world-building or make decisions that seemed to send the adventure in an
unexpected direction? How did the DM handle it? Rules Adjudication. To what extent did the DM lean on the rules to adjudicate outcomes? Did the DM adjudicate situations wisely or in ways that made the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
supporting characters, breathing life into them. And as a referee, the DM interprets the rules and decides when to abide by them and when to change them. Inventing, writing, storytelling, improvising, acting
on the aspects you enjoy and downplay the rest. For example, if you don’t like creating your own adventures, you can use published ones. You can also lean on the other players to help you with rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
rules help you do this, but when you need to act as referee, try to make decisions that ensure everyone is having fun. Communicate with Your Players. Open communication is essential to a successful D&D
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
Adventure Structure Much of the adventure’s action is driven by the clash between the adventurers’ decisions and Strahd’s goals, and the adventurers and the vampire are all caught in strands of fate
appendix B. Chapter 2, “The Lands of Barovia,” provides an overview of the realm and includes special rules for it and its people, including the mysterious Vistani. Chapters 3–15 detail areas that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Overview A D&D adventure is a collection of locations, quests, and challenges that inspire you to tell a story. The outcome of that story is determined by the actions and decisions of the adventurers
site, Dragon’s Rest, serves as the characters’ home base during the adventure, where they can rest and get supplies between their visits to the other sites. Magic Items and Monsters. Two appendixes describe rules for magic items and monsters that characters might find in the course of the adventure.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
rules help you do this, but when you need to act as referee, try to make decisions that ensure everyone is having fun. Communicate with Your Players. Open communication is essential to a successful D&D
game and keep track of your campaign. These sheets are also available for download in appendix C.
Encounter-Building Assistance. The rules for estimating the difficulty of combat encounters have
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
opportunity to converse with the adventurers before making their decisions as to whether they will support Bruenor’s plans. To play out these meetings, use the social interaction rules provided in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
a bond of loyalty, gratitude, or love. You can delegate decisions about an NPC’s actions to one of the players, especially in combat, but you can override the player’s decisions to reflect the NPC’s
, but they can’t be relied on to make wise decisions or hold up their end in battle. Wallflower Warrior. A wallflower warrior NPC is good at fading into the background, doesn’t usually chat or engage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
your decisions. While such players can be helpful when you’re stuck or make a rules mistake that’s easily corrected, players who argue the rules too often can disrupt the flow of the game. If a player
(with their input), arbitrate the rules, and settle arguments. And when you’re narrating the action of the game, the players should be paying attention. Player Die Rolling Players should roll their dice
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
gloss over a rules issue in play, make a note of it and return to the issue later. Some players like to use the rules to argue against your decisions. While such players can be helpful when you’re stuck
(with their input), arbitrate the rules, and settle arguments. And when you’re narrating the action of the game, the players should be paying attention. Player Die Rolling Players should roll their dice
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
what catches your interest. Once you have a character in mind, follow these steps in order, making decisions that reflect the character you want. Your conception of your character might evolve with
your character, whether it’s a formal character sheet (like the one at the end of these rules), some form of digital record, or a piece of notebook paper. An official D&D character sheet is a fine
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
demeanor for this battle and openly rages at the priests, making careless tactical decisions amid the turmoil. Sarusanda’s Secret. After the battle, a character who asks Sarusanda what’s wrong is greeted
. Regardless of the characters’ reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules in this book’s introduction.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse
Titivilus Dispater, the gloomy Lord of Dis, rules from his iron palace, seeming to hide behind its labyrinthine corridors, iron walls, diabolical traps, and monstrous servants. Knowing he has
has withdrawn to his palace and left day-to-day decisions to Titivilus, even authorizing him to answer and negotiate bargains with mortals who attempt to summon Dispater. Titivilus now represents his
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
territory where other humanoids live, it rules strictly by terror and tyranny. Its decisions shift with its mood, and if it forgets the title it bestowed upon itself, it might eat its subjects on a whim.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
a lightning rail train can travel, but the pilot still must make operational decisions as the coach moves from one city to the next. The pilot controls the vessel’s speed based on conditions around
paths. There are no stations in the expanses between these settlements, and House Orien rules prohibit lightning rail pilots from stopping anywhere but at a station. Stations throughout Khorvaire
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
arises, the seeming enemies cooperate to dispatch pretenders to their shared throne. Fiery Realm of Dark Delights The pair rules over Phlegethos, an expanse filled with immense volcanoes that expel
to set precedents that they find advantageous. The court’s function and its decisions are wholly dependent on the intricate laws of the Nine Hells, an impossibly complex code marred by a multitude of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
the quality of individual works. The priests also evaluate young dwarves to determine the youths’ vocations. The decisions of the priests are accepted without question. Abbathor The Great Master of
improve a clan’s capabilities. Berronar Truesilver The Matron of Home and Hearth is the patron of family, honor, and law. She lays out the rules for managing a dwarf clan. Berronar’s code establishes the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
Healing” in the Basic Rules). Roleplaying Sildar Sildar Hallwinter is a kindhearted human male of nearly fifty years who holds a place of honor in the famous griffon cavalry of the great city of
party, if only for a short time. Here are some tips to help you run an NPC party member:
Let the characters make the important decisions. They are the protagonists of the adventure. If the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Titivilus The gloomy Lord of the Second, Dispater, rules from his iron palace, seeming to hide surrounded by its labyrinthine corridors, iron walls, diabolical traps, and monstrous servants. So
decisions to Titivilus, while also authorizing him to answer and negotiate bargains with mortals who attempt to summon Dispater. Titivilus now represents his master and speaks with his voice, a turn of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
and resistance to fire damage. From this usurped office, he coordinates all cult activities in Ten-Towns. It’s a role he carved out for himself by asserting that he’s tight with Levistus. He rules the
. For all his political machinations, Kadroth is a visionary who has so far made the cult stronger through his actions and decisions. He spends hours behind his desk, staring into the burning fireplace
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
factor. You can still try to hide from your foes and gain the benefits conferred by being hidden, but you don’t deprive your foes of their turns when you do so. Surprise rules work for two opposing
fight use the rules for Dexterity (Stealth) checks. If a wizard casts a spell like fireball during a surprise round, do the enemies get disadvantage on their saving throw? Being surprised has no effect
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
it also means players don’t know whether their decisions will earn them inspiration. It also means the player can’t spend the inspiration on the act that earned it, unless you allow a player to
your campaign is one where you let the dice fall where they may. It’s a good option for gritty campaigns or ones where the DM focuses on playing an impartial role as a rules arbiter. Variant: Only
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
alliance agents, and they are often glory hounds seeking personal recognition. Most agents are lawful or neutral; in the courtly circles of the lords, those who don’t follow the rules seldom last long
her decisions affect the politics of not only her city but the other cities of the region. The Zhentarim This shadow network seeks to expand its influence and power base throughout Faerûn. Its members
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
yawning exit are two gigantic stone statues of crouching griffons, and beyond them lies one of the great wonders and mysteries of the North: Ascore. This ruined dwarven city once overlooked a sea. Now it
Harnoth. Harnoth and his followers fought many battles during the war, but the new king made some poor decisions that winnowed the once-great Knights of the Mithral Shield down to a handful of members
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory
pocket watch.
Alignment. Chaotic good.
Personality Trait. “I carefully consider my words before speaking them aloud.”
Ideal. “Caution. Thoughtless decisions lead to reckless acts.”
Bond. “This
. “Hospitality, ownership, reciprocity—the rules of conduct must be respected.”
Bond. “I have pledged my fealty to Zybilna of Prismeer, and I am nothing if not her loyal servant.”
Flaw. “Don’t expect
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
players and the DM. Group Design When selecting a feature, the characters must make decisions together — meaning the players must do the same. Deciding on the features of a headquarters should be a team
the rules in this book should be treated as a high magic campaign, with the DM and the players understanding that the difficulty of encounters and other tasks might need to be ramped up to offer a real