before battle diffusing changing rolling - Search

Warrior of Madarua

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

wielding a melee weapon.Warriors are the foot soldiers of the faction. They thank Madarua for each battle they see and train daily with spears to follow her to victory. Warriors of Madarua Members

the inside of their left wrist. Warriors of Madarua recognize and respect the ever-changing complexity of life. In combat, they strive to be as fierce and unpredictable as nature itself.

Champion of Madarua

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

see the attacker and be wielding a melee weapon.Champions of Madarua represent the most skilled warriors in the faction. Hardened by battle, they lead the charge into the fray and inspire their

, death, and the seasons. Each member bears a small tattoo of a sickle on the inside of their left wrist. Warriors of Madarua recognize and respect the ever-changing complexity of life. In combat

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

: alter self (can become Medium when changing his appearance), detect magic, ice storm, invisibility (self only), locate object, suggestion, wall of ice 1/day: banishment Teleport. Geryon magically

opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle; he loves

Zariel

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

the following spells, requiring no material components and using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 26): At will: alter self (can become Medium when changing her appearance), detect

this creature hits with an attack roll that isn’t a critical hit, it can turn the hit into a critical hit. Infernal Tactics. Immediately after rolling initiative, this creature can choose

Geryon (Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

: alter self (can become Medium when changing his appearance), detect magic, ice storm, invisibility (self only), locate object, suggestion, wall of ice 1/day: banishment Teleport. Geryon magically

use this opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle

Minotaur

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

carve their horns to sharpen their edges, etch symbols of power into them, or sheathe them in bronze to prevent them from shattering during battle. Thick hair extends down minotaurs’ necks and

you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow

Changeling

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

With ever-changing appearances, changelings reside in many societies undetected. Each changeling can supernaturally adopt any face they like. For some changelings, a new face is only a disguise. For

of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You

Encounter Deck

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things

Encounter Deck Using cards to generate random encounters is a dynamic alternative to rolling on encounter tables. You can customize an encounter deck and remove cards as you draw them so they don’t

repeat. You can also alter the encounter deck as characters explore an area, adding cards to the deck to reflect changing circumstances and weaving the encounters into a narrative. The following system is derived from Miniatures Handbook (2003).

Rolling with It

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

Rolling with It Some DMs rely on die rolls for almost everything. When a character attempts a task, the DM calls for a check and picks a DC. As a DM using this style, you can’t rely on the

characters succeeding or failing on any one check to move the action in a specific direction. You must be ready to improvise and react to a changing situation. Relying on dice also gives the players the sense

Crook of Rao

Magic Items Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

wizard Tasha). Although she was defeated, Iggwilv managed to damage the crook during the battle, infecting it with an insidious curse—and the potential for future victory. In the aftermath, the

;potentially for the final time. Random Properties. The artifact has the following random properties, which you can determine by rolling on the tables in the "Artifacts" section of the Dungeon Master

Developments

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

— one that not only exceeds what the cult is paying but covers the damage to reputation that comes from changing sides in the middle of battle. A good starting offer is 10,000 gp, or 2,000 gp per

She shall return!” As with the first assault on the adventurers, try to ensure that if the attackers are defeated, at least one escapes to report the outcome of the battle. Most easily, the dragon can

Developments

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

—one that not only exceeds what the cult is paying but covers the damage to reputation that comes from changing sides in the middle of battle. A good starting offer is 10,000 gp, or 2,000 gp per

She shall return!” As with the first assault on the adventurers, try to ensure that if the attackers are defeated, at least one escapes to report the outcome of the battle. Most easily, the dragon can

Beast of Grakenok

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

Beast of Grakenok When Grakenok comes into sight, read or paraphrase the description below. If Sytri or Tol reached Grakenok before the characters, they are already engaged in battle. With its

Schley Map 9.1: Courier Four-Way Battle The characters, Sytri, and Tol all seek the glory of defeating the elder whirlwyrm. Track how much damage each character and the rival heroes deal to the monster

Fighter Subclass

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

devastating blows, withstand peril, and garner glory. Whether in athletic contests or bloody battle, Champions strive for the crown of the victor. Level 3: Improved Critical Your attack rolls with weapons and

Style feat of your choice. Level 10: Heroic Warrior The thrill of battle drives you toward victory. During combat, you can give yourself Heroic Inspiration whenever you start your turn without it. Level

Tracking Position at Long Range

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

the monsters advance toward the characters, decrease their numbers. Adjust the Grid Scale. If you’re using a battle grid, take a section of that grid and use it to track position, changing the scale so

During the Siege

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

deliver orders from General Drakov (likely related to the siege’s climax). As the battle reaches what you determine to be the halfway point, start rolling 2d6 on the Zombie Siege Encounters table and

During the Siege Run the siege as a series of encounters rather than one extended battle. As terrible events unfold around the characters, it’s up to them to determine who and how they’ll help. Begin

Treasure Hoards

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

belongs to a large group of monsters, use the CR of the monster that leads the group. Each row includes average results for monetary treasure, which you can use instead of rolling. To create a hoard

Hoard CR Monetary Treasure Magic Items 0–4 2d4 × 100 (500) GP 1d4 − 1 5–10 8d10 × 100 (4,400) GP 1d3 11–16 8d8 × 1,000 (36,000) GP 1d4 17+ 6d10 × 10,000 (330,000) GP 1d6 Sam Keiser A climactic battle at the Temple of Elemental Evil brings an adventure to a dramatic end

Gargenhale's Fleet

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

Gargenhale’s Fleet Whether the characters head for Gargenhale’s fleet or immediately set sail for Doomspace, their course takes them toward the wreckage of a recent battle: Dead ahead, you see a

battle clamber onto the deck and ask to speak to the captain. They say they’re looking for a new commission and are eager to serve. Krux won’t have them under his command, however, and orders that

Handling Mobs

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

Handling Mobs Keeping combat moving along at a brisk pace can be difficult when there are dozens of monsters involved in a battle. When handling a crowded battlefield, you can speed up play by

forgoing attack rolls in favor of approximating the average number of hits a large group of monsters can inflict on a target. Instead of rolling an attack roll, determine the minimum d20 roll a creature

Assault on Hawker's Grove

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Battlefield Events During this battle, roll on the Hawker’s Grove Battlefield Events table each round on initiative count 0. Also consider rolling on the table when a red dragon is slain or if a

and his dragonnels stay out of battle unless attacked. Unless the characters prepared another strategy, they begin this encounter adjacent to the tree stump at the southeast corner of the map. The

Nyx

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

lose the faith of their followers, the source of their magic and a power they will not relinquish. Nyx can be perceived in the night sky, with its ever-changing brilliance marked by constellations and

home. Tovian Fields Nyxborn legends battle here in ceaseless, glorious war. Unlike any mortal environment, the Tovian Fields are an expanse of energies, the clash of opposing philosophies manifesting

Initiative Variants

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

initiative that introduces more uncertainty into combat, at the cost of speed of play. Under this variant, the participants in a battle roll initiative each round. Before rolling, each character or

completed their turns. If more than two sides take part in a battle, each side rolls for initiative. Sides act from the highest roll to lowest. Combat continues in the initiative order until the battle

Battle of High Hill

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Battle of High Hill The unexpected sound of metal clashing on armor rings across the field, silencing laughter and melodramatic boasts. A ribbon of red splashes over the grassy hill, followed by

shocked screams. Any pretense of a reenactment shatters—High Hill is the site of a true battle once more. Within moments, all around you, armed mercenaries attack unprepared villagers fighting for their

The Three Pillars of Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

day crossing a rolling plain or an hour making their way through caverns underground. On the smallest scale, it could mean one character pulling a lever in a dungeon room to see what happens. Social

forcing a rout. Combat is the most structured element of a D&D session, with creatures taking turns to make sure that everyone gets a chance to act. Even in the context of a pitched battle, there’s

What You Need

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

adventurers also solve puzzles, talk with other characters, battle fantastic monsters, and discover magic items and other treasure—all while supporting each other’s fun. Learn by Watching A great

polyhedral dice (shown in chapter 1). You can find dice like these in game stores and from online retailers. Dice-rolling apps are also available. Character Sheet. To keep track of important

Random Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

Random Encounters Random encounters help determine if characters meet other creatures moving through the Doomvault. Consider rolling for an encounter in these circumstances: The party enters a zone

. Changing Treasure. Feel free to change the treasure in the Doomvault or add more. It’s especially appropriate to change treasure to something characters in the party can use, and it’s satisfying to let

Cult of Zariel

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

Cult of Zariel Goals: Conquest, glory in battle, fame and fortune derived from military victory Typical Cultist: Berserker, cult fanatic, cultist, gladiator, guard, knight, veteran Signature Spells

creature hits with an attack that isn’t a critical hit, it can turn the hit into a critical hit. Infernal Tactics. This creature has a keen eye for seizing a tactical advantage. Immediately after rolling

Diancastra's Saga

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

Diancastra’s Saga Battle-worn and weary, bruised from her journey, Diancastra entered the All-Father’s hall. With calm confidence she claimed her due Under the birthright of her blood: Her

storms of chaos And claimed a mote of matter, Shapeless, unformed, and ever-changing. The All-Father mocked her and easily shaped it, Making a fertile field. But soon he scowled, not

Air Elemental

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

elementals gather clouds and winds into ever-changing bodies with indistinct limbs and vague features. Beyond their home plane, these elementals might serve magic-users who conjure them, or they might

congregate around nexuses of unbridled planar energy, such as wind-scoured mountain peaks or endless storms. In battle, air elementals batter enemies with powerful gusts or transform into whirlwinds to

Keeping Combat Moving

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

. See “Fight or Flight” later in this chapter for more suggestions. Add a Combatant To add excitement to a battle, consider adding a combatant. Maybe a monstrous predator wanders onto the scene where the

characters are locked in battle with another foe. Or maybe the noise of the ongoing combat attracts the attention of nearby dungeon denizens. The new combatant might attack both the characters and

Retreat from Steel Springs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

represented on map 4.3. As the characters arrive, six Kalaman soldiers (see appendix B), each with 8 hit points, flee south from the battle occurring up the road. They’ve reached the islet at the center of

battle might arrive, as detailed in the following section. Map 4.3: retreat from steel springs View Player Version Steel Springs Battlefield Events During this encounter, as long as there are still

Attacking the Citadel

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

meet in battle, the Xaryxia singles out the characters’ ship while the rest of the armada engages the other ships in the characters’ fleet. The Xaryxia and the characters’ ship are 1,000 feet apart at

characters’ ship and the Xaryxia. In between actions, you can narrate glimpses of what’s going on in the larger battle—for example, stray ballista bolts whizzing past the characters’ ship or an aartuk

Bael

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

himself and his master as a result of victory after victory over the abyssal host. Mammon relies on Bael, because of his battle acumen, to safeguard his holdings. Mammon has never been ousted during a

interest has always been leading soldiers in battle, so he finds it frustrating to have his ambitions of ascending to a higher rank constantly stymied by politically shrewd rivals. Bael prefers to

The Northlook

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

or two, which you can determine by rolling on the Ten-Towns Rumors table (See "Ten-Towns Rumors"). The inn’s proprietor, a retired sellsword named Scramsax (neutral human veteran), knows full well

answer. Ol’ Bitey Stuffed and mounted on a plaque above the hearth in the common room is a battle-scarred knucklehead trout named Ol’ Bitey, who pulled many a fisher into the icy depths of Maer

Escape from Vogler

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

crewed by four baaz draconians (see appendix B). This battle takes place in front of Vogler’s wharf, depicted on map 3.3. The “Vogler Battlefield Features” and “Vogler Battlefield Events” sections detail

elements of this battle. The boilerdrak is positioned on the scorched ground. The characters start the battle anywhere on the wharf. On the first round of battle, three draconians use their actions to

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