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Returning 35 results for 'before battle down complex run'.
Spells
Player’s Handbook
exchange for payment, but it isn’t obliged to do so. The requested task could range from simple (fly us across the chasm, or help us fight a battle) to complex (spy on our enemies, or protect us during
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
, dhergoloths rush into battle like whirlwinds of destruction, lashing out with the five sets of claws that extend from their squat, barrel-shaped bodies. They take contracts to put down uprisings, clear out
brutes, employers must use caution when instructing them. They can handle simple orders that don’t take a lot of time to resolve. When given anything complex to do, however, they either forget what
Planar Ally
Legacy
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Spells
Basic Rules (2014)
service in exchange for payment, but it isn't obliged to do so. The requested task could range from simple (fly us across the chasm, or help us fight a battle) to complex (spy on our enemies, or
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
-numbing howling to corner prey before they tear it apart. Their howls flood the minds of their victims, making complex thought impossible. Listeners can do little more than stare in horror and stumble
around the battlefield in a search for safety. Fiends especially prize howlers for this reason, because for a few crucial moments in a battle, their howls can neutralize an enemy.Cold, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks
Monsters
Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures
among the fae, magically negotiating themselves advantages in battle.
Like many high fae, these mages draw power from the latent energy found throughout the wilds of Eldraine. However, high fae mages
frequently engage in deceptions and other complex games of wits against one another.
Most high fae remain secluded deep within the wilds of Eldraine. They draw power from motes of light found
Kobold
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
gnomes and other humanoids, the kobolds instinctively attack the gnomes. Kobolds in battle with gnomes are much less likely to run away because their hatred overrules their sense of self-preservation
other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
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
hierarchy. Sages who study the Nine Hells believe the battle for control of Stygia is a test staged by Asmodeus in hopes of purging the worst impulses from both Geryon and Levistus—or discovering a
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
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
. Sages who study the Nine Hells believe the battle for control of Stygia is a test staged by Asmodeus in hopes of purging the worst impulses from both Geryon and Levistus—or discovering a competent
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
seeks adventurers to lead into battle against the mind flayer;mind flayers that usurped the dragon’s lair.
4
Powerful infernal creatures have opened a portal in the middle of a city square
their army in battle centuries ago.
3
An ancient sapphire dragon guards the phylactery of a lich who helped the dragon establish a lair centuries before becoming Undead.
4
Lolth the Spider
Goblin
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
appreciation for the finer things!
— Volo
Goblins occupy an uneasy place in a dangerous world, and they react by lashing out at any creatures they believe they can bully. Cunning in battle and
traps, snares, and nets to catch the unwary, and when their hunting patrols encounter other beings, they always look for ways to capture their foes instead of killing them. Goblins that run up against
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
ancient pact to advise a monarchy on matters of defense—until someone bests the dragon’s security measures.
3
A sapphire dragon seeks adventurers to lead into battle against the mind
of psychic forces has begun to affect the local fauna in strange ways.
Sapphire Dragon Lairs
Sapphire dragons make their lairs in enormous caverns and complex tunnel systems. As they grow
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Running the Siege You have a few options on how to run the battle. Consider the following: You can treat each defender and orc as an individual, and run the combat as a long, complex encounter. If
you do so, the players should control some of the NPCs. You can streamline parts of the fight. The map of the ranch has been divided into specific zones, and you can run regular battles only in the zone
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Mapping a Dungeon Titus Lunter A dungeon built by giants offers enormous adventures A dungeon can range in size from a few chambers to a huge complex of rooms and passages extending hundreds of feet
. The adventurers’ goal often lies as far from the dungeon entrance as possible, forcing characters to delve deeper underground or push farther into the heart of the complex. A dungeon is usually
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
on the Isle of Serpents on Oerth, a world known for its legendary dungeons and magical treasures. The characters arrive on the island in time to witness a battle between a kraken and a crew of
in the complex the archaeologists were exploring: the Tomb of Wayward Souls. The archaeologists haven’t explored far into the deadly complex, so the characters must face its challenges without much
Aarakocra
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Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
letting the thermals hold them aloft. In battle, they prove dynamic and acrobatic fliers, moving with remarkable speed and grace, diving to lash opponents with weapons or talons before turning and flying
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
was a temple complex dedicated to the dwarven god Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain. Hidden inside is the tomb of Melair, king of the Melairkyn dwarves. Before running this level
, review the “Duergar” entry in the Monster Manual. That information will help you run and roleplay the duergar NPCs found throughout the Lost Level.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Retreat! If the adventurers retreat from the sounds of battle, they barely escape from a partial collapse of their local section of Araumycos’s cavern complex. They race ahead of a small horde of
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack
One-Shot Wonders The one-shots and battle maps in this collection are based on the adventure design of One-Shot Wonders and The Map Library, the multi-award-winning book and map compendium by Roll
& Play Press. One-Shot Wonders is full of ready-to-run adventures designed for easy prep and maximum impact. Each session plan breaks down the key characters, locations and plot points you need to run a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
products, but many DMs (and players) find them to be exciting additions to the game. Battle Grid and Miniatures Some DMs use a battle grid and miniatures to run combat encounters, which helps players
battle grid. The grid should be marked in 1-inch squares. You also need plastic or metal miniatures to represent characters and monsters in the game, but you can use coins, extra dice, paper counters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
Developments This battle will likely be a challenge to run. It is designed to create an emotional low spot in the adventure, during which overall defeat for the forces of good looks like a real
possibility. Character death—even if temporary—can crush some players’ spirits. For those players, don’t make this battle just a relentless slog toward death. Give the adventurers opportunities to save
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
Developments This battle will likely be a challenge to run. It is designed to create an emotional low spot in the adventure, during which overall defeat for the forces of good looks like a real
possibility. Character death — even if temporary — can crush some players’ spirits. For those players, don’t make this battle just a relentless slog toward death. Give the adventurers opportunities to save
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
products, but many DMs (and players) find them to be exciting additions to the game. Battle Grid and Miniatures Some DMs use a battle grid and miniatures to run combat encounters, which helps players
battle grid. The grid should be marked in 1-inch squares. You also need plastic or metal miniatures to represent characters and monsters in the game, but you can use coins, extra dice, paper counters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
Elakdras’s remains, but they’ve had a falling-out in Challidax’s lair, splitting their followers into rival factions. Into the Ice Caves. The adventurers enter the frosty cave complex where the
dragon lairs. There they run afoul of the feuding frost giants and other denizens as they try to retrieve the magical ritual.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Setup This adventure occurs when the characters encounter Nalaskur Thaelond (male half-elf spy). He asks the characters to run the inn for a tenday or so, promising handsome pay and a good
characters have no connection to the Zhentarim, someone they’ve befriended or owe a favor to agrees to run the inn. That person then begs the characters for aid. Alternatively, the characters are merely
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Morale Some combatants might run away when a fight turns against them. You can use this optional rule to help determine when monsters and NPCs flee. A creature might flee under any of the following
circumstances: The creature is surprised. The creature is reduced to half its hit points or fewer for the first time in the battle. The creature has no way to harm the opposing side on its turn. A
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
enjoy or the DMs trading focus from session to session. One DM might run combat description and keep a battle moving while the other focuses on miniatures and music. The two DMs can play two different
characters step out of the action when their players take their turns as DM.
Joint DMs can also team up to run each session of a campaign, with each DM focusing on the aspects of the game they most
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
cultists working in and patrolling the caverns are on high alert, and use a complex system of checks and passwords as proof against spies and enemy agents. The advanced state of the ritual means that
all cultists have been ordered to patrol or prepare for battle. If the characters tarry too long in one place or wander around the Well of Dragons without purpose, add additional guard patrols based on existing encounters.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
enough for Miska to exit, so Miska is widening it. If he can break free, he can join the battle his forces are engaged in and revel in chaos once again. If the rod is removed or knocked aside, the seal
snaps shut and binds Miska once more. Miska isn’t idle while trying to free himself. He commands the armies of spyder-fiends and other demons through his spyder-fiend battle leaders, the raklupises
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
published adventure or randomly generate a dungeon complex using the tables presented in the Appendices. A dungeon can range in size from a few chambers in a ruined temple to a huge complex of rooms and
into the heart of the complex. A dungeon is most easily mapped on graph paper, with each square on the paper representing an area of 10 feet by 10 feet. (If you play with miniatures on a grid, you might
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
cultists working in and patrolling the caverns are on high alert, and use a complex system of checks and passwords as proof against spies and enemy agents. The advanced state of the ritual means that
all cultists have been ordered to patrol or prepare for battle. If the characters tarry too long in one place or wander around the Well of Dragons without purpose, add additional guard patrols based on existing encounters.
Map 17.1: The Well of Dragons
View Player Version
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
. They have no concern for the implications of their actions, which could be a precursor to war. The smugglers currently run weapons for a clan of lizardfolk living near Saltmarsh whose queen, Othokent
, is preparing her clan for battle against a terrible enemy: the sahuagin. The peaceful town of Saltmarsh knows nothing of the coming war, or the fact that a sahuagin invasion threatens them as much as the lizardfolk do.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
the player characters, rather than have the players run the NPCs in addition to their own characters. If the NPCs survive the battle, award one special quest per character in the party.
, give one NPC to each player and put the extra NPCs aside. These leftover NPCs don’t participate in the battle. After giving out the NPCs, read the following explanatory text to the players: In addition
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
used this area as a refuge. Over time, they carved and painted the interiors with the story of their prince, the golem, the battle, and the vault containing the Nether Scroll. Within the last five
centuries, all the caverns except one have been reduced to rubble as the area fell under the sway of a purple worm. Only a small section of the old cavern complex now remains—the Hall of Rainbows. When the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
Well of Dragons, and their voices carry tremendous weight. As such, make sure the players know they have a key role to play in planning the battle. The simplest approach is a one-to-one matchup, with
decide that assassins provided by the Zhentarim should counter the sacrificial prisoners by infiltrating the cult complex and escorting those prisoners to freedom. In that case, you might remind the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Iroas as Campaign Villain Characters are likely to raise the ire of Iroas because they oppose his followers in battle or defy his ideals. His anger is direct and unsubtle, much like Iroas himself
victory or by cleaving to stubbornly held ideas. Although a campaign against Iroas might be straightforward in how the action plays out, the underlying causes of conflict could be quite complex