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Returning 35 results for 'before bad during certain roles'.
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Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
summon these creatures to serve as guards and assassins, two roles at which they excel.
Star Spawn
The Material Plane represents only one small part of the multiverse. Beyond the best-known planes
Disciples of certain Elder Evils can bestow supernatural gifts on those who serve that cult, including star spawn. The following powers are unique to specific cults; typically a creature has only one
Sailor
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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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
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
assume roles of greater responsibility and prominence. You might be one of Candlekeep’s own, dedicated to the curatorship of what is likely the most complete body of lore and history in all the
work is a series of tomes related to a specific field of lore.
5
I’ve been searching my whole life for the answer to a certain question.
6
I sold my soul for knowledge. I hope to do
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
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
relieved of their other roles and taken to the lair’s whelping pens, where they are tended to by Luthic’s followers.
Orcs don’t take mates, and no pair-bonding occurs in a tribe
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
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->Monster Manual
Creature Type Each monster has a tag that identifies the type of creature it is. Certain spells, magic items, class features, and other effects in the game interact in special ways with creatures of
people defined by their roles and professions, such as mages, pirates, and warriors. They include members of varied species. Monstrosities are unnatural creatures with strange origins, such as mimics
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Creature Type Each monster has a tag that identifies the type of creature it is. Certain spells, magic items, class features, and other effects in the game interact in special ways with creatures of
as balors and hell hounds. Giants are towering beings with humanlike shapes, like cyclopes, fire giants, and trolls. Humanoids are people defined by their roles and professions, such as mages, pirates
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->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
; they might have been chosen to fulfill the words of a prophecy, because they were born at auspicious times and places, or because they happened to be in a particular place at a certain time. Individual
characters in your group might have different relationships with your patron, though; consider some or all of these roles for your characters: Agent. The Agent doesn’t receive direct communications
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->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->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
path of the cleric. They serve their faiths in other roles, such as priests, scholars, or artisans, while some go on to vocations that have nothing to do with religion. A few souls who are denied the
homebodies who serve a particular community of the faithful, but adventuring clerics tend to have a certain crusading zeal to do their deity’s work in the wider world. This work may include ministering to far-flung communities, as well as seeking out and defeating threats to the civilized world.
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->Curse of Strahd
end: The target is unable to perform a certain kind of act involving fine motor control, such as tying knots, writing, playing an instrument, sewing, or casting spells that have somatic components. When
target’s teeth into yellow fangs, or give the target bad breath. When this curse ends, the Vistana it takes 1d6 psychic damage. A nonmagical item in the target’s possession (chosen by the DM) disappears
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Gambler All you need to make a lot of gold is a little gold. Except at those times when all you need to have no gold at all is a little gold. Whether you’re a good gambler or a bad one rarely matters
.
4 I’ve lost so much to gambling that I refuse to spend money on anything anymore.
5 Nothing is certain. Planning is a coward’s act.
6 I can’t be sure who I’ve swindled, cheated, or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
characters take the Darklord’s situation from bad to worse, whether as fanatical supporters or tragic victims? Write down three types of characters who are aligned with the Darklord and three who
aren’t. Sketch out these characters broadly, perhaps noting only their professions or roles in adventures. You can expand on their details as your adventures take shape. Entangling the Heroes. The Darklord
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
Vistani Lore Vistani know or believe certain facts about their people and their surroundings. This common lore is summarized here. Characters can learn this information after earning a Vistana’s
who is undeserving of such punishment can have grave consequences for the one who utters such a curse. Ravens carry lost souls within them, so killing one is bad luck. (The ravens don’t carry souls within.)
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
family leaders. Regardless of your skills or social standing, aristocratic patrons with enough foresight and imagination find a use for agents from any background. The Aristocrat Retainer Roles table
suggests a variety of parts you might play in an aristocrat’s agenda and the backgrounds frequently associated with each role. Aristocrat Retainer Roles Role Backgrounds Advisor Acolyte
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
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
Strength of 10 rolls a 20 and knocks the door from its hinges. If such results bother you, consider allowing automatic success on certain checks. Under this optional rule, a character automatically
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
comes from House Tharashk’s Finders Guild or House Medani’s Warning Guild, promises a certain standard of quality and professional ethics. However, that guarantee comes at a price: most guild-sponsored
flesh out more details about their agency, including allies, enemies, contacts, roles for each character in the agency, type of work, a signature case, and clientele.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
. The Boromars recruit ex-soldiers as muscle, trained sages for research, sailors to crew smuggling vessels, and charlatans and urchins for their unique talents. Consider some or all of these roles for
certain types of theft, such as housebreaking or picking pockets. Besides characters with the criminal background, young urchins often find a place in criminal syndicates by filling this role. Rogues
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
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 Master will determine how long it takes to get where you need to
the Bad Reputation feature (see sidebar) instead of the Ship’s Passage feature. Variant Feature: Bad Reputation
If your character has a sailor background, you may select this background feature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
houses of commerce derive their power from dragonmarks—hereditary arcane sigils that manifest on certain individuals within the family, granting them limited but useful magical abilities associated
place you expect. Eberron has a unique spot in the D&D multiverse, and many familiar elements of the game play different roles in the world. In particular, mortal creatures are products of culture and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
bad situation.
4 The law doesn’t protect the honest and the hard working. I’m going to do whatever needs to be done to make things right.
5 I’m always in the wrong place at the wrong time
of order! (Chaotic)
5 Humility. I’m just a small part of a larger whole. So is everyone else. (Neutral)
6 Responsibility. We all have our roles to play. I’ll hold up my end of the bargain
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
the fabric of causality. As a tiefling, she often generates a kind of ambient unease in others, but she is always certain to account for this carefully, lest it bloom into “the unforeseen” that is the
balance, but hate the idea that “balance” means good and bad things can both happen to you. Good things happening to you and bad things happening to other people seems perfectly reasonable.
2 You
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
trust a hag. Hags are curious about other creatures of power. They enjoy receiving news and gossip about other hags and influential creatures such as dragons, demons, genies, and certain mortals
and therefore more dangerous when disappointed or angered by a deal gone bad. Fey are also long-lived and thus have more time to retaliate against the hag, whereas most humanoids die within a few
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
, enslavement, and violence toward children and animals. Limits can also apply to certain creatures, such as spiders, snakes, rats, and demons. It’s also important to discuss limits around what harm might
befall characters, including mind-control magic, helplessness, and death. That said, D&D is a game that has in-world conflicts and mayhem. Certain core elements of the game are difficult to ignore. For
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
serve the guild’s interests well, it promises to take care of you. Guilds hate to waste valuable assets, after all—that’s just bad business. Types of Guild The guild structure covers a swath of business
operates entirely within the law and how public its interests are also influences which of your skills it deems most valuable. The Guild Representative Roles table suggests positions you might fill in a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monstrous Compendium Volume Two
Ember. The beast is terrifying, both in might and cunning, but it undermines my every design and terrorizes my forces. It’s too canny to be caught, but I’m certain some portion of the troops we’ve lost
has taken on many roles at her behest—including that of a black-robed human member of the Mages of High Sorcery—but he is best known as the adviser of Dragon Highlord Verminaard, leader of the Red
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Detailed NPCs Flesh out NPCs who play prominent roles in your adventures. You can use the accompanying NPC Tracker to record information as you determine these six elements of your NPC: Name You’ll
crime. 3 The NPC (or their family) has been threatened with harm unless the NPC does something. 4 The NPC is under a magical compulsion (perhaps a Geas spell or some kind of curse) to behave in a certain
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
to them that certain targets are to be avoided, the Little Fingers do so. In return, the Boromars ensure that the Sharn Watch in Middle Dura largely leaves the Fingers alone. So although the Boromar
information about them that’s more or less common knowledge in Sharn. This section explores the roles that each one could play in a Sharn-based campaign. Although the powerful organizations in Sharn have a






