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Returning 35 results for 'before bad decisions certain recently'.
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before bad decisions certain recent
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
hag. Over time, “Granny” or “Grampy” convinces the child that it’s okay to do bad deeds—starting with breaking things or wandering without permission, then
graduating to pushing someone down the stairs or setting a house on fire. Eventually, the child’s terrified family and community face painful decisions of what to do about the seemingly remorseless
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
, inbred lepers—came to the abbey seeking salvation. The deva rid them of their diseases, an act for which they were eternally grateful, but could not cure them of certain human defects that had been
in reuniting Strahd with his lost love and, in so doing, ending Barovia's curse. The Abbot has recently completed work on a flesh golem bride made from the body parts of dead women. While the Belviews
Sailor
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
relations with (perhaps one captained by a former crewmate). Because you’re calling in a favor, you can’t be certain of a schedule or route that will meet your every need. Your Dungeon
more than one deserving soul to a briny grave. Fear and bloodshed are no strangers to you, and you’ve garnered a somewhat unsavory reputation in many a port town.
Variant Feature: Bad
Criminal / Spy
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below
.
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.
Species
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
adversaries—incredibly clever and well-prepared to play a long game but ultimately doomed to lose their games.
4
I’m certain every bad thing that happens can ultimately be blamed on the
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
you served on, or another ship you have good relations with (perhaps one captained by a former crewmate). Because you’re calling in a favor, you can’t be certain of a schedule or route
. Fear and bloodshed are no strangers to you, and you’ve garnered a somewhat unsavory reputation in many a port town.
Variant Feature: Bad Reputation
If your character has a sailor
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
executions serve the greater good and impose necessary order, but make it clear that zombies aren’t the realm’s only monsters. Only Bad Decisions. There is one simple truth in Falkovnia: the dead are
about to kill everyone. This sets the stage for countless bad decisions, from leaders making terrible sacrifices or permitting amoral acts to individuals making fatalistic choices. Everyone in Falkovnia
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Backgrounds Countless people come from loving, nurturing homes. Through hard work, clean living, and wise decisions, they excel at what they do. They live prosperous, respectable lives, leaving the
world a better place than they found it. You’re not one of them. Somewhere along the way, something went wrong. Maybe it was bad luck. Circumstances might have conspired to put you in an impossible
Aarakocra
Legacy
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
lies on the slopes of the Star Mounts’ southernmost mountains. At the headwaters of the Unicorn Run, the Last Aerie is home to several dozen aarakocra. Recently, aarakocra elders detected
changes in the prevailing winds that they regarded as a bad omen.
Unlike the aarakocra of other worlds on the Material Plane, the aarakocra of the Realms rarely travel to the Elemental Plane of Air
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
you toward certain character archetypes that can guide the rest of the decisions you make for your character.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
grow organically, rather than having all their elements set in stone from the get-go. From time to time, the characters’ decisions will require you to improvise and create new campaign elements on the
fly. For example, a new location might need to be developed to address the needs of the unfolding story, or certain NPCs might need fleshing out at a moment’s notice. Other parts of this book, such as
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
the gods has no clear explanation, the priests might have to meditate for hours or days to get a vision of its meaning.
Every group of orcs has particular superstitions and recognizes certain omens
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
. Rogue Folk Hero. You’re an inquisitive trained by your house. You grew up in a bad neighborhood, and while you could make more gold solving the problems of nobles, you’re more interested in helping
dragons — or both. You don’t know how deep it goes, but you’re certain that other dragonmarked houses and noble families have been infiltrated.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Clientele Inquisitives tend to acquire a reputation for working with a certain type of person. Some are known for discretion, attracting wealthy clients who trust them to keep a secret. Others are
justice. 3 Magnet for Trouble. Maybe you trust people too easily or it’s just bad luck, but every client who walks into your office has some double deal, hidden agenda, or scam they’re running. 4
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
personality traits. Choose your character’s alignment (the moral compass that guides his or her decisions) and ideals. Chapter 4 also helps you identify the things your character holds most dear, called
background gives your character a background feature (a general benefit) and proficiency in two skills, and it might also give you additional languages or proficiency with certain kinds of tools. Record this information, along with the personality information you develop, on your character sheet.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
hobgoblin general, whose descendants want it back. The ways to resolve these problems aren’t always simple. Certain situations demand straightforward decisions. If Emerald Claw cultists are about to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath
Bad News As the party’s ship sails north toward the Thunder Cliffs, a southward-sailing vessel approaches them. The ships drop anchor and the captain of the other vessel, called the Uneasy Alliance
any survivors or salvageable wreckage, so they steered very clear of the area. Captain Winchet also relays that she’s heard other sailors talking about seeing a ghost ship in this area recently. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
as the Black Network) recently tried to ally their organization with the Xanathar Guild. The architect of this attempt was a clone of the wizard Manshoon, a founder of the Black Network long thought
the bad blood between the Zhentarim and Xanathar has begun to spill into the streets, threatening peace throughout the city. Who actually stole the Stone of Golorr? The answer: a rock gnome named
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
terrifying new forms. Such a plot comes with both opportunities and pitfalls. On the one hand, waking up in Mordenheim’s laboratory, either recently changed into reborn (see chapter 1) or about to
to Dr. Mordenheim’s plots. Before running an adventure where players lose control of their characters or decisions about those characters are made for them, ask the players if they’re comfortable with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Saving Throws A saving throw is an instant response to a harmful effect and is almost never done by choice. A save makes the most sense when something bad happens to a character and the character has
Dodging out of harm’s way Constitution Enduring a disease, poison, or other hazard that saps vitality Intelligence Disbelieving certain illusions and resisting mental assaults that can be refuted with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath
more violent of late. He goes on to reveal that he’s heard rumors that the once-safe caves at the base of the Thunder Cliffs have recently become more dangerous. Stand in Tar scoffs at that idea. A
that the dragonborn is nervous and hiding something. If confronted, he says that he just has a bad feeling about traveling to the Thunder Cliffs, but he is willing to do so for the payment and the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
Otaaryliakkarnos Female Silver Dragon The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and
parties, but the dragons must be certain of the intentions of the factions and their leaders. Concession. Otaaryliakkarnos knows that the skin of her slain kin was used to make armor for the dwarf
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
Otaaryliakkarnos Female Silver Dragon The representative of the silver dragons believes that among the lesser races, neither good nor bad is ever absolute. The humanoids are in need of protection and
all parties, but the dragons must be certain of the intentions of the factions and their leaders. Concession. Otaaryliakkarnos knows that the skin of her slain kin was used to make armor for the dwarf
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
have to meditate for hours or days to get a vision of its meaning. Every group of orcs has particular superstitions and recognizes certain omens. These tenets vary from tribe to tribe, and are often
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
to complain humorously about the characters’ terrible choices and bad planning. You can occasionally use this NPC to suggest legitimate courses of action or share insights. Dutiful Assistant. A dutiful
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Intro to Stormwreck Isle
watch. Over time, you grew disillusioned with many of your fellow soldiers. They seemed to enjoy their authority at the expense of the people they’re supposed to protect. Recently you’ve had dreams
hunger. Certain of your deity’s wishes, you resigned your post and set out on your quest. Personal Goal: Banish a Shadow of Death. Researching images from your dreams pointed you to Stormwreck Isle, not
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Intro to Stormwreck Isle
corroborate the story, you’re certain it’s more than just a rumor. Personal Goal: Find the Lost Fortune. Whoever that Gilder was who skipped out with the gold, they’ve covered their tracks well. The trail
went cold in Neverwinter, but recently you’ve learned of a remote island cloister called Dragon’s Rest. The cloister holds a temple to the dragon god Bahamut, who is a patron of heroes and a champion of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Uni and the Hunt for the Lost Horn
Background The spellcaster Kelek has long sought to harness the rare magic of unicorns to fuel his nefarious ambitions. Recently, he devised a one-time magical way to use his ornate walking stick to
matter what happens to Kelek, Venger is certain to destroy Uni’s horn and use it for his own nefarious ends. The characters must free Uni from Kelek’s minions and stop Kelek and Venger from misusing Uni’s magic and destroying her horn.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
it typically provides resistance to certain types of damage or other protections useful on a campus where magic often goes awry. Unknown to anyone on campus, Sedgemoor’s waters were recently corrupted
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
as you’re planning adventures. If your adventure relies on certain events, plan for multiple ways they might come about, or be prepared for clever players to prevent those events from happening as
adventure possibilities available to them at the same time. If the characters have two or three things they can investigate or pursue, they have a meaningful choice. And if whatever threads they don’t investigate turn into bigger problems, you’ve clearly demonstrated that their decisions matter.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Higher Levels” section later in the chapter for more information. Note Armor Training Your class might give you training with certain categories of armor. Note your armor training on your character sheet
in more details about your class later. Choosing your class is the most important decision you make in creating a character, and it informs many of the decisions you make in later steps. You’ll return to your class’s description in “Character Classes” several more times before you’re done.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
have experienced both glorious successes and dismal failures.
Recently, the waters in a nearby area have grown swift and angry, and the skies above show no blue or beautiful bright light. Many ships
he opened (Umberlee’s Maw) have created an area in the ocean that acts like a beacon for strong, irregular currents and bad weather. Underwater, the effect manifests as a general darkness in an oddly
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
but not with another. When I write about the RAI interpretation of a rule, I’ll be pulling back the curtain and letting you know what the D&D team meant when we wrote a certain rule. RAF. Regardless of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
” section later in the chapter for more information. Note Armor Training Your class might give you training with certain categories of armor. Note your armor training on your character sheet. Armor
details about your class later. Choosing your class is the most important decision you make in creating a character, and it informs many of the decisions you make in later steps. You’ll return to your class’s description in chapter 3 several more times before you’re done.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
the sphere is located in the Astral Sea, the characters must reach it, probably using teleportation magic or a spelljamming vessel. Adventure Hooks Certain powerful organizations know the Donjon
Bastion Rescue. Hilarion, the angelic leader of the Solar Bastion (see chapter 10), recently sent a trio of knights to investigate the Donjon Sphere, but the knights failed to return. After learning that






