Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'before barriers diffusing contrast rather'.
Soulknife
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Classes
Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Most assassins strike with physical weapons, and many burglars and spies use thieves’ tools to infiltrate secure locations. In contrast, a Soulknife strikes and infiltrates with the mind
, cutting through barriers both physical and psychic. These rogues discover psionic power within themselves and channel it to do their roguish work. They find easy employment as members of thieves&rsquo
Lizardfolk
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
hold and controls their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn’t think, “I’m scared.&rdquo
pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.
Cold and Calculating
Most humanoids describe cold-blooded people as lacking in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
, merciless, and resilient, and their dead flesh can carry on even after suffering grievous wounds. While they can follow simple orders, they rely on primal drives rather than thought. They fulfill
commands by working tirelessly or battering through foes, but they are easily stymied by barriers or unexpected circumstances. Zombies are usually created from Humanoid corpses, but the remains of other
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the
Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines. Druid spells are oriented toward nature and animals — the power of tooth and claw, of sun and moon, of fire and storm. Druids also
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the
Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines. Druid spells are oriented toward nature and animals — the power of tooth and claw, of sun and moon, of fire and storm. Druids also
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Mapping a Wilderness In contrast to a dungeon, an outdoor setting presents seemingly limitless options. The adventurers can move in any direction over a trackless desert or an open grassland, so how
uneven ground. Valleys and ridges channel travel in certain directions. Mountain ranges present forbidding barriers traversed only by remote passes. Even the most trackless desert reveals favored
Druid
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
of nature itself or from a nature deity. Many druids pursue a mystic spirituality of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature
, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines.
Druid spells are oriented toward nature and
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
hundreds of miles of the Great Glacier and the Great Ice Sea. No one from your nation makes the effort to cross such colossal barriers without a convincing reason. You must fear something truly
foreign land.
2
I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have.
3
I have a weakness for the new intoxicants and other pleasures of this
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn’t think, “I’m scared.” Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures
for lizardfolk. Pleasurable things should be preserved and protected, sometimes at the cost of the lizardfolk’s own safety. The most pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
the motivation to overcome my barriers, then their matter is unworthy of my attention.
8 On a long enough timescale, all actions are meaningless. So why should I deny myself anything?
Gold
right every wrong. I encourage others to solve their own problems, and I save my strength for tribulations only I can address. (Any)
3 Stewardship. I do not serve individuals, but rather
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
Multiclassing Are ability score improvements class-level dependent, rather than total level? Ability score improvements are based on your level in a particular class, not your total character level
strikes? The Sneak Attack feature works with a weapon that has the finesse or ranged property. An unarmed strike isn’t a weapon, so it doesn’t qualify. In contrast, a rogue/ monk can use Sneak Attack with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Moving Around Other Creatures You can move through a nonhostile creature’s space. In contrast, you can move through a hostile creature’s space only if the creature is at least two sizes larger or
, there’s little room for anyone else. In contrast, as many as twenty Medium creatures can surround a Gargantuan one. Squeezing into a Smaller Space A creature can squeeze through a space that is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
creature’s efforts. In a contest, the ability checks are compared to each other, rather than to a target number. When you call for a contest, you pick the ability that each side must use, deciding
.
In contrast, a character with high Intelligence and low Wisdom is probably oblivious but clever. The character might not spot the clean section of wall but, if asked about it, could immediately
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
. Because larger creatures take up more space, fewer of them can surround a creature. If four Large creatures crowd around a Medium or smaller one, there's little room for anyone else. In contrast, as many as
miniatures or other tokens, follow these rules.
Squares. Each square on the grid represents 5 feet.
Speed. Rather than moving foot by foot, move square by square on the grid. This means you use your speed
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Purphoros’s Influence The raw creative force that Purphoros embodies is chaotic, but Purphoros isn’t a god of unbridled chaos. Rather, he shows mortals how to harness that primal energy, shaping it
Purphoros, deeply involved in the project of civilization. Purphoros’s desire to overturn the established order with violence stands in stark contrast to their measured ways. As a result, Purphoros stands aloof from them.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
, but it is no help against a spell or other effect, such as fireball, that delivers its damage after a saving throw rather than after an attack roll. Can a rogue use Evasion if they are surprised? The
, but using a magic item doesn’t fall under Use an Object, as explained in the Dungeon Master’s Guide (see "Activating an Item"). In contrast, using a nonmagical item, such as a healer’s kit, is in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Khorvaire. In contrast to the Sovereign Host, the church maintains a defined structure and creed. Archbishops monitor regions; cardinals lead the church; and the ultimate authority is the Keeper of the
to form in the foundation. In Breland, some priests fell prey to greed or forged ties to criminal organizations. In Aundair, a zealous faction known as the Pure Flame advocates using violence rather
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
to possess the material goods in a stronghold’s hoard, and would much rather snatch up living treasure. Using its powers of deception, a green dragon might try to entice dwarves it encounters to ally
reminisce over the defeat of a dragon, or weep as they recall the death of a beloved elder.
In contrast to clan gatherings, dwarves who drink alone invariably become morose and sullen — when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
to use humanoids as thralls, since they have a good balance of physical attributes and proper anatomy. Animals, in contrast, require a lot of direct oversight and lack the ability to use tools to help
them, rather than attempting to keep them penned up or docile. Quaggoths Mind flayers find that the quaggoths’ innate, though rarely manifested, talent for psionics makes them excellent thralls. When
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
the spell’s power; rather, the particular combination of sounds, with specific pitch and resonance, sets the threads of magic in motion. Thus, a character who is gagged or in an area of silence, such
, although some rules refer to the schools.
Abjuration spells are protective in nature, though some of them have aggressive uses. They create magical barriers, negate harmful effects, harm
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
basic physiology, the centaur bands are commonly associated with their own distinct traits. Lagonna band centaurs tend to be sleek and muscular, with powerful legs built for endurance rather than
herds. These herds are voluntary associations, in contrast to the family groups of the Lagonna. When necessary, several small bands join together in a larger herd to target particularly dangerous but
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
to amass as much wealth and power as possible. The Gem Circle, by contrast, might be dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, while the Metallic Circle is more altruistic, working to further the
necessarily create conflict within a party, though. Rather, those affiliations create a potentially interesting tension between individual goals and the goals of the party as a whole. Dragon Overlords
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
. If an enemy force does approach, though, these barriers do a good job of delaying any incursion until the goblinoids can rally their defenses. Inside the surrounding bulwark, the goblinoids all have
maintain their own battle gear, but ammunition and replacement gear are kept on hand, as well as other nonperishable supplies. Rather than being contained in a building, these items are on wagons
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
), or even forces and philosophies that don’t center on deities. Tight Pantheons In contrast to a loose pantheon, a tight pantheon focuses on a single religion whose teachings and edicts embrace a small
rather than from a specific nature deity, some clerics devote themselves to ideals rather than to a god. Paladins might serve a philosophy of justice and chivalry rather than a specific deity. Forces and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
great white moon, also called the Mistress) and Celene (a smaller blue moon, also called the Handmaiden). Greyspace’s sun orbits Oerth, rather than the other way around. The sun takes 360 days to
except the strange powers of the old hermit living in the nearby woods, which they regard with suspicion and mention only in whispers. By contrast, magic is common enough in the Free City of Greyhawk
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
barriers to gain access to the tunnel. As with the tunnels between chambers, escape tunnels are usually a steep climb or nearly vertical to make it difficult for non-flying creatures to follow. A tunnel
the beholder’s favorite pieces of sculpture. Vestibule Beyond the lair entrance lies the vestibule. Rather than being sculpted with tools or eye rays, the entrance and the vestibule are left in their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
). Organizations as Villains. Rather than use an individual as a recurring villain, you could think in terms of the organization the villain belongs to or represents. For example, low-level adventurers
Villain In contrast to a villain who is a part of the characters’ everyday life, an otherworldly villain isn’t only anonymous but also fundamentally mysterious. It’s not just a question of who the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
for storage rather than being left vacant. Almost every family in the town has some space that it uses for its own needs or rents out for use by others. Those who buy storage from a Hardbuckler must
newness of the world as a contrast to the familiarity of their homeland. Few dangerous creatures lurk in the hills — they are so densely settled (on and beneath the surface) that there is little space
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
is Captain Mergen Truff (NG female elf veteran), a laconic figure who would rather be doing “real work” than standing here warning off vagrants too foolish to avoid falling into a massive hole in the
, strapping female human who has seen her share of scuffles and doesn’t back down from a fight. If something took her out, it must be powerful. By contrast, Constable Boot is a runty male human, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
Antimagic Field! In contrast, a spell like Conjure Woodland Beings has a non-instantaneous duration, which means its effect can be ended by Dispel Magic and temporarily disappears within an Antimagic
d8 for damage? The benefit from Polearm Master applies to the opposite end of the weapon and always uses a d4 for damage rather than the weapon’s normal damage die. This is true for a Quarterstaff
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
barriers both physical and psychic. These Rogues discover psionic power within themselves and channel it to do their roguish work. As a Soulknife, your psionic abilities might have haunted you since
can determine your jump distance using your Dexterity rather than your Strength. Level 9: Supreme Sneak You gain the following Cunning Strike option. Stealth Attack (Cost: 1d6). If you have the Hide
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
modifier to the attack and damage rolls of the attack. In contrast, if you make the spell attack of the fire bolt cantrip, you add your spellcasting ability modifier to the attack roll. If you’re a
action—rather than Multiattack or another action in the creature’s stat block—when it uses that rule. A monster, such as a roper, that has a special grappling attack doesn’t follow that rule when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
step into an antimagic field ! In contrast, a spell like conjure woodland beings has a non-instantaneous duration, which means its creations can be ended by dispel magic and they temporarily
“Identifying a Magic Item” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide). In contrast, casting the identify spell takes only 1 minute (or 11 minutes if it is cast as a ritual) and can be done when a quick
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
visitors might bring with them. Few seek the church’s services on their own. Rather, most who come to dwell at the church either have a room rented for them by concerned family or receive a somewhat
the south came sailing into Gray Harbor. Rather than opening their doors to the foreigners, the people of Baldur’s Gate quickly hustled them out of the city, forcing them out the Basilisk Gate in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
would rather not do or that they’re unable to perform, such as chasing kobolds out of a narrow cave or retrieving something from deep within a lake. (Stone giants are poor swimmers; they dislike
most prone to laughter and enjoying fellowship with his siblings. That image of Stronmaus is in sharp contrast to how storm giants are perceived in the world: aloof and dour. Nonetheless, it is an