before based driven continual reactions

Silverquill Pledgemage

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

weaves together stirring prose, allowing the creature to reroll the saving throw and use the higher result.Stylish and driven, the students of Silverquill College—first as silverquill apprentice

target must succeed on a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of the pledgemage for 1 minute. While frightened in this way, the target can’t take reactions, its speed is halved, and

Obzedat Ghost

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Council of Five. The ghost has a trait based on who it is, as shown below: Enezesku: Enfeebling Ray. Enezesku’s Innate Spellcasting trait includes ray of enfeeblement, which he can cast at

saving throw or bow until the end of its next turn. Until this bow ends, the target can’t take actions or reactions, and its speed is 0 and can’t be increased. Indentured Spirits (Costs 3

Grung

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

effect based on the grung’s color (see “Variant: Grung Poison”). They also use this venom to poison their weapons. Variant: Grung Poison A creature poisoned by a grung can suffer an

jumps. If the creature is flying, it can’t take any actions or reactions unless it lands. Orange Grung. The poisoned creature is frightened of its allies. Purple Grung. The poisoned creature

Grung Elite Warrior

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

secrete a substance that is harmless to them but poisonous to other creatures, and sometimes that substance has a special effect based on the grung’s color (see “Variant: Grung Poison&rdquo

charmed by the grung and can speak Grung. Green Grung. The poisoned creature can’t move except to climb or make standing jumps. If the creature is flying, it can’t take any actions or reactions

Grung Wildling

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

gold. All grungs secrete a substance that is harmless to them but poisonous to other creatures, and sometimes that substance has a special effect based on the grung’s color (see “Variant

actions or reactions unless it lands. Orange Grung. The poisoned creature is frightened of its allies. Purple Grung. The poisoned creature feels a desperate need to soak itself in liquid or mud. It

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

have more in common with iguanas or dragons than they do with humans, dwarves, or elves. Lizardfolk possess an alien and inscrutable mindset, their desires and thoughts driven by a different set of

emotion and empathy. The same label serves as an apt depiction of lizardfolk. Lacking any internal emotional reactions, lizardfolk behave in a distant manner. They don’t mourn fallen comrades or

Urchin - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

their torch-based code. From the lighting, placement, and type of torch arranged on or near a structure, you can gather a great deal of information about those who live or do business there, particularly

of desperate poverty, for good and for ill. They tend to be driven either by a commitment to the people with whom they shared life on the street or by a burning desire to find a better life &mdash

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, wandering tabaxi are catlike humanoids driven by curiosity to collect interesting artifacts, gather tales and stories, and lay eyes on all the world’s wonders. Ultimate travelers, the inquisitive

on a particularly interesting item when an owner refuses to sell or trade it. Tabaxi Names Each tabaxi has a single name, determined by clan and based on a complex formula that involves astrology

Star Spawn Hulk

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

seer nearby. A hulk appears to have little will of its own and is driven to protect its master. Star Spawn The Material Plane represents only one small part of the multiverse. Beyond the best

, steaming mud. While it is coated in this way, the target’s speed is halved, it can’t use reactions, and it takes 10 (3d6);{"diceNotation":"3d6", "rollType":"damage", "rollAction":"Borem's

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in

-Elf Variants Some half-elves in Faerûn have a racial trait in place of the Skill Versatility trait. If your DM allows it, your half-elf character can forgo Skill Versatility and instead take the elf trait Keen Senses or a trait based on your elf parentage:

Zargon the Returner

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

takes its turn immediately after Zargon’s. Only a Wish spell can reverse this transformation and restore the creature to life.Zargon can take up to three reactions per round but only one per turn

Hells in disgust, banishing the elder evil to the Material Plane. The horn was driven deep into the earth where it fell, entombing Zargon below. Eventually a civilization arose above Zargon’s

Greyhawk

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

as the elemental prophets, the cults’ use of devastation orbs, and the search for the missing delegation make this a much more far-reaching and event-driven adventure than the original site-based campaign.

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

with that of snakes, producing a caste-based society of hybrids in which the most snakelike are the leaders and the most humanlike are spies and agents in foreign lands. Humans Transformed The

caste system based on how complete a person’s transformation was. The vast majority of yuan-ti fall into three categories — abominations, malisons, and purebloods — while the mutated

Intrigue

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Intrigue Intrigue adventures are event-based adventures that revolve around power struggles. Intrigues are common in the courts of the nobility, but power struggles can play out just as easily in

the event-based goals discussed earlier in this section lend themselves to intrigue adventures. For example, if the adventurers must uncover a conspiracy, negotiate a peace treaty, or secure aid from

Developments

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

Developments If the characters defeat Arauthator, the reactions of Oyaviggaton’s other inhabitants are dependent on whether the dragon is killed or driven off. If Arauthator is killed, the ice toads

fish. The villagers then begin packing their few belongings into their hide boats and prepare to leave immediately. If Arauthator is wounded and driven off, Maccath or Marfulb know enough of the dragon

Developments

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

Developments If the characters defeat Arauthator, the reactions of Oyaviggaton’s other inhabitants are dependent on whether the dragon is killed or driven off. If Arauthator is killed, the ice toads

fish. The villagers then begin packing their few belongings into their hide boats and prepare to leave immediately. If Arauthator is wounded and driven off, Maccath or Marfulb know enough of the dragon

Setting the Tone

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

campaign isn’t driven by material wealth. Even when you go on expeditions, the University will lay claim to most of the treasures you find. Instead, the rewards of Morgrave adventures are measured in

use story-based advancement instead of standard XP. Level advancement could be based on time: player characters gain one level each semester, leveling up after finals. Alternately, advancement could

Cold and Calculating

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

Cold and Calculating Most humanoids describe cold-blooded people as lacking in emotion and empathy. The same label serves as an apt depiction of lizardfolk. Lacking any internal emotional reactions

to the past. They assess situations based on their current and future utility and importance. Nowhere does this come through as strongly as when lizardfolk deal with the dead. To a lizardfolk, a

Event-Based Adventures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Event-Based Adventures In an event-based adventure, the focus is on what the characters and villains do and what happens as a result. The question of where those things happen is of secondary

importance. Building an event-based adventure is more work than building a location-based one, but the process can be simplified by following a number of straightforward steps. Several steps include tables

3. Watchful Statues

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

accurately, gaining advantage on Intelligence checks for the next 24 hours. However, the character is also driven temporarily insane for 1 minute. An insane creature can’t take actions or reactions

Humanoid Mutate

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

. Its skin becomes clammy and as smooth as a salamander’s. Some intelligent Humanoid mutates retain their personalities from before they were exposed to the Far Realm. Some, driven by the allure of

creature. Hit: 7 (2d6) psychic damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or have the frightened condition until the start of the mutate’s next turn. Reactions Defensive

3. Watchful Statues

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

understands the world more accurately, gaining advantage on Intelligence checks for the next 24 hours. However, the character is also driven temporarily insane for 1 minute. An insane creature can’t take

actions or reactions, can’t understand what other creatures say, can’t read, and speaks only in gibberish. You control the creature’s movement, which is erratic.

Frostmourn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

Frostmourn When a frost giant is murdered in a dishonorable manner—perhaps poisoned, stabbed in the back, or killed while sleeping—the slain giant can rise as a frostmourn. Driven by its desire for

. Polar Ray. Ranged Spell Attack: +8 to hit, range 120 ft., one target. Hit: 31 (5d10 + 4) cold damage, and the target’s speed is reduced by 10 feet until the end of its next turn. Reactions

Barrowghast

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

than an animated corpse, a barrowghast is filled with necrotic energy and driven by spite and malice. Its blood is a thick and toxic ichor that gives the barrowghast a noxious stench. Barrowghasts no

but isn't under its control. Reactions Noxious Wound. Immediately after the barrowghast takes piercing or slashing damage, poisonous ichor sprays from the wound. Each creature within 5 feet of the

Death Dog

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

, favoring the wounded or infirm. They attack recklessly, infecting as many creatures as possible with their diseased jaws. If driven off, death dogs linger close to their victims, letting infection weaken

their prey before they attack again. Legends tie death dogs to malicious death gods, the underworld, and cursed rulers. These stories are based on the malady death dogs spread. Roll on or choose a result

Darguun

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

many human cities are built on goblin foundations. This empire collapsed into savagery, and when humanity arrived, goblins were driven from their ancestral lands or enslaved. Galifar ended the

hobgoblin clans known as the Ghaal’dar were based in the Seawall Mountains, but during the Last War the demand for mercenaries drew an ever-increasing number of goblins out of the mountains to fight

Duergar Warlord

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Short or Long Rest). For 1 minute, the duergar magically increases in size, along with anything it is wearing or carrying. While enlarged, the duergar is Large, doubles its damage dice on Strength-based

if concentrating on a spell). Any equipment the duergar wears or carries is invisible with it. Reactions Scouring Instruction. When an ally that the duergar can see makes a d20 roll, the duergar

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

; their loyalty by turning them into slaves. If a tribe is defeated and driven from its lair, the survivors might come under the sway of a strong but dimwitted creature, such as a hill giant or an ogre

. These tenets vary from tribe to tribe, and are often based in events that the tribe has experienced. Here are a few examples: If a dwarf or a human invokes its god upon dying, you must carry the

Amnizu

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

Dis and Stygia. They collect the souls arriving in the form of lemures (see the Monster Manual). Lemures have no personalities or memories; they’re driven only by the desire to commit evil. The

: dominate monster 1/day: feeblemind Reactions Instinctive Charm. When a creature within 60 feet of the amnizu makes an attack roll against it, and another creature is within the attack’s range, the

Gibbering Mouther

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

paralyzed, fixated on the horrific creature as it oozes forward to consume them. All-Consuming. Driven to devour any creature it can reach, a gibbering mouther flows over victims transfixed by its ranting

its turn within 20 feet of the mouther and can hear the gibbering must succeed on a DC 10 Wisdom saving throw. On a failure, the creature can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn and rolls

Khargra

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

only when driven by hunger and a lack of safer options. After securing a meal of whatever tasty, refined metal their victim carries, they quickly flee—and will flee before that rather than risk death

and immediately moves to the nearest unoccupied space. Reactions Opportunistic Hunger. When a creature the khargra can see within 5 feet of it hits it with a metal weapon, the khargra can make a bite attack against that creature.

Silverquill Scholars

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

demoralize. Silverquill Students Stylish and driven, the students of Silverquill College—first as apprentices and then as pledgemages—cut imposing figures on campus. Dressed in smartly trimmed black-and

(spell save DC 12): At will: dancing lights, friends 1/day each: command, mage armor Reactions Rousing Verse. When a creature the apprentice can see within 30 feet of it fails a saving throw, the

Amnizu

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

blighted banks, where it flows through Dis and Stygia. Souls arriving in the form of lemures have no personalities or memories; they’re driven only by the desire to commit evil. The amnizus that patrol

. If the target is stunned for the full minute, it forgets everything it sensed, experienced, and learned during the last 5 hours. Reactions Instinctive Charm. When a creature within 60 feet of the

Vampire Spawn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

water. Stake to the Heart. The vampire is destroyed if a piercing weapon made of wood is driven into its heart while it is incapacitated in its resting place. Sunlight Hypersensitivity. The vampire

damage resistances, darkvision, traits, and actions. Attack and damage rolls for the vampire’s attacks are based on Strength. The save DC for Charm is 8 + the vampire’s proficiency bonus + the vampire’s

Creating a Monster Stat Block

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

monster might be based on a real-world creature or a monster from myth, in which case its name might be obvious. If you need to invent a name, keep in mind that the best names either reflect the

determine your monster’s Armor Class in one of two ways. Use the Table. You can choose an appropriate AC based on the monster’s expected challenge rating, as shown in the Monster Statistics by Challenge

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