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Returning 35 results for 'before before dealing combat rival'.
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Monsters
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn
traveled across Calimshan, infiltrating rival genie courts and eliminating remnants of the Twisted Rune. Some accounts even tell of her fighting alongside Sultana Songal during the Night of Fleeing
a cunning mind. Biha Babir is politically savvy and prefers to outsmart her opponents rather than battle them, though she doesn’t shy from combat if necessary.
Biha Babir covets opulence, but
Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
actions, and lair actions) that the new form has but that she lacks.Now the owner and driving force behind Dran Enterprises — perhaps Acquisitions Incorporated's most notable rival in the adventuring-for
search of a weapon to aid his captured sister.
Whether in combat or social encounters, Portentia shifts frequently between different forms and mindsets, only some of which are fully humanoid. She fights
Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
.
Dealing with Onyx. Onyx cannot be overcome or killed by combat. Any weapon attack against her that hits AC 12 makes contact but deals no lasting damage. However, if the attack would deal 10 or more
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
False Appearance. If the blight is motionless at the start of combat, it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature hasn’t observed the blight move or act, that creature must
);{"diceNotation":"1d6+6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Grasping Root","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage at the start of each of its turns. The root has AC 15 and can be severed by dealing 6
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
of the staff's charges, dealing an extra 3 (1d6);{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Staff of Striking","rollDamageType":"force"} force damage for each expended charge.
Fiery
. “I must have Ringlerun’s staff! With it, the League of Malevolence will be unstoppable!”
Flaw. “I trust no one, nor am I trustworthy.”
Combat Notes
Kelek uses Arcane
Entertainer
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
liking to you.
Variant Entertainer: Gladiator
A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can
enjoy. This kind of flashy combat is your entertainer routine, though you might also have some skills as a tumbler or actor. Using your By Popular Demand feature, you can find a place to perform in
Gladiator
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can enjoy. This kind of flashy combat is your entertainer
;
FEATURE: BY POPULAR DEMAND
You can always find a place to perform in any place that features combat for entertainment — perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret pit fighting club. At such
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Eldritch Staff","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage when used with two hands, and Skylla can expend up to 3 of the staff’s charges, dealing an
feel beholden to stay on good terms with her vile spawn, the hags of the Hourglass Coven.”
Flaw. “I don't have a single friend I can count on.”
Combat Notes
Skylla is not an
Monsters
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
important individuals and locations is entrusted to astral elf honor guards, highly trained warriors who are more than capable of holding their own in combat.
Astral Elves
Long ago, some elves ventured
psurlons, mind flayers, and githyanki. When dealing with others, astral elves customarily cover their faces with ornate visors, becoming faceless extensions of their gods. Their fierce devotion to the
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
carrying, up to 60 feet to an unoccupied space it can see.Anyone who would contract yugoloths for a task usually ends up dealing with a yagnoloth. Cunning negotiators, these strange Fiends handle the
arm of human size and one giant-sized arm. During negotiations, the yagnoloth uses its human-sized arm to draft and sign contracts. When a show of force is necessary or when combat is joined, it
Monsters
The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
made him the envy of many rival spellcasters.
Ringlerun has a good heart, but he’s easily distracted by intellectual pursuits. He would rather spend time in quiet contemplation or reading than in
when people who are clearly less intelligent want to tell me what to do.”
Combat Notes
Ringlerun can fend off melee attackers with wild swings of his staff, but he prefers to fly out of reach and
Yuan-ti Pureblood
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
keen intellect and magic to discover the secrets of making steel. Its military shattered rival tribes and developed advanced tactics for fighting in forests and open plains.
The civilization grew into a
others can be exploited through bribes, favors, or threats.
As creatures devoid of emotion, yuan-ti exhibit behavior and use tactics that exemplify that outlook (or lack of one). Whether in combat
Barbarian
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Classes
Basic Rules (2014)
by walls and crowds. They thrive in the wilds of their homelands: the tundra, jungle, or grasslands where their tribes live and hunt.
Barbarians come alive in the chaos of combat. They can enter a
fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and terrifying monsters. Barbarians charge headlong into that danger so that their people don’t have to.
Their courage in the face of danger makes
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can enjoy. This kind of flashy combat is your entertainer routine, though you might also have some
skills as a tumbler or actor. Using your By Popular Demand feature, you can find a place to perform in any place that features combat for entertainment — perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
scythe. Only a skilled and determined hero can hope to survive single combat with an orc.
Savage and fearless, orc tribes are ever in search of elves, dwarves, and humans to destroy. Motivated by their
while learning to fight, to survive in the wild, and to fear the gods.
The children that can’t endure the rigors of a life of combat are culled from the main body of the tribe, taken into the
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
coins
Feature: Undercity Paths
You know hidden, underground pathways that you can use to bypass crowds, obstacles, and observation as you move through the city. When you aren’t in combat, you
meaningful connections with others.
Roll twice on the Golgari Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Golgari Contacts table.
Golgari Contacts
d8
Contact
1
One
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
experience in enforcing the law, and dealing with lawbreakers, gives you a feel for local laws and criminals. You can easily find the local outpost of the watch or a similar organization, and just as
friends, and I’m slow to make new ones.
4
I’m full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation.
5
I can stare down a
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
(though it might cause more problems than it solves when you’re dealing with incorrigible lawbreakers). If you abuse this privilege, though, you can get in serious trouble with your superiors and
the entire city, your place in the Azorius can easily bring you into contact with members of other guilds, for good or ill.
Roll twice on the Azorius Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
people’s nightmares.
6
Combat is meant to be quick, clean, and one-sided.
7
I like to stick to the shadows.
8
I never show my anger. I just plot my revenge.
Ideals
Contacts table, giving you an ally who serves as your contact in Dimir. Then roll twice on the table for your secondary guild. The first roll gives you an ally there, and the second roll gives you a rival
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
; of course the clan of duergar moving into its territory is because a rival is trying to oust it, of course the gang of adventurers in its lair were sent to kill it by a cowardly rival, and so on
superiority, especially in combat, it is dismissive of its opponents’ efforts and insulting of their abilities and failures. An exceptional challenger can earn a measure of respect — enough that the beholder
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
, and are able to embrace monetary or business-related conquest as equally fulfilling activities. Is a business rival really all that different from a rampaging dragon? Both are dangerous and
guide your franchise to great ends — even as you make an excellent foil for the less-savory plans of your fellow franchisees. Your insistence on dealing with business partners fairly, honoring legally
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
enough to Sytri or Tol that the other hero can hear them. A character who points out the floundering ship to the other hero and succeeds on a DC 16 Charisma (Persuasion) check convinces their rival
want to sneak by the creature, they must succeed on a DC 10 group Dexterity (Stealth) check, or the monster notices them and attacks. If the characters engage the creature in combat, they’re delayed in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
you in rare, archaic methods, which draw comments from others. 3 Your teacher is a spy sent to learn your plans.* 4 Your teacher is a wanted criminal. 5 Your teacher is a cruel taskmaster. 6 Your teacher asks for help dealing with a threat. *Might involve a rival
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
(see chapter 8). This changes some of the conditions described in “Underdark Travel” in chapter 2. ATTACKING IN FORCE
When dealing with combat between large groups of creatures — either the
the other and assume they neutralize each other — for example, a band of shield dwarves fighting for the adventurers against a band of orcs. During such combat, the force on the losing side is wiped
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
one of the necropoleis in expanding or dealing with various threats. Plots and schemes are Phenax’s lifeblood, suggesting a complex, shifting campaign full of surprises and twists. For example, a
simple heist could be the triggering event for a series of major conflicts between two rival temples that ends in a citywide conflagration. Champions of Phenax could also serve as a bulwark against more
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
notes activities that increase or decrease a character’s renown score. Intrigue and Horror. When dealing with Kalakeri’s factions, every option or choice has ramifications. Give the characters
opportunities to meet, interact with, and rise in the esteem of Ramya, Arijani, and Reeva. As they do, highlight the monstrous nature of the three villains and that dealing with them involves hard choices
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
on archery-related combat styles and spells or take the Sharpshooter feat. Any Thrane could take the acolyte background to reflect a strong connection to the church, or the soldier background based on
church in politics distracts it from its true mission and invites corruption. Dealing with Darkness. The Shadow in the Flame can tempt even the most virtuous soul. How do you react when you encounter
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
by taking the Magic Initiate feat. Archery is a devotional practice of the Silver Flame, so as a martial Thrane you might focus on archery-related combat styles or take the Sharpshooter feat. Any
you like to see power restored to the throne? Many people of faith believe that miring the church in politics distracts it and invites corruption. Dealing with Darkness. The Shadow in the Flame can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
enhanced medusa for Lynx, or the brains in iron for Sir Ursas (see below for more information on both). Each expedition also has its own mechanical guide. You might use the members of the rival expedition
missing components, whether they steal them out from under the characters or take them directly in combat. Any stolen components will be delivered to their respective agents before the characters return from the past.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
Complications During the raid, any number of complications might arise. As desired, you can roll on the Machine Fight Complications table (see the next page) at the end of each round of combat
other agent might also have sent their own operatives back to collect the missing components, the characters’ agent invites them to help break into the rival agent’s workshop to steal those components
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
small dungeon or an encounter (which might involve multiple ability checks or even combat). Let the character of the player who flipped the card be the focus of the day’s events and make any required
ability checks (though another character can help, at your discretion). Whatever choice or challenge you decide the top card represents, the characters’ success or failure while dealing with that situation determines how you read the bottom card.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
whose patron ancestor was a bitter rival of yours? Also consider why you are traveling with a group of player characters (who are presumably not also members of your war band) instead of serving with the
for the death of a friend or ally? Or have you turned away from your people, either by choice or because of the actions of a rival? Double-Bladed Scimitar The double-bladed scimitar is the signature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Keeping Combat Moving Sometimes even the best-planned combat encounter can turn into a slog, where no one’s moving and neither side is hitting or dealing much damage to the other. When that happens
chase the character. Move the monsters somewhere else. Hasten a Monster’s Demise If a combat has gone on long enough and the characters’ victory is almost certain, you can simply have the monster drop
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath
Dealing with Gallio Elibro Gallio Elibro is a short-tempered male Rashemi mage (with the legend lore spell prepared instead of cone of cold). His relentless studies have pushed him to the brink of
tower, and scribbles in Thalivar’s old journal (area H9). If confronted, he uses Horrifying Visage to scare away his enemies or tries to defeat them in combat (see “Confronting Thalivar’s Ghost” for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
see its opponents before 60-foot darkvision sees it. A beholder always has several backup plans ready. When dealing with one, I have three plans of my own: run, hide, and distract. Rival adventurers
are always a good distraction. Rival beholders are the best one.
— Volo
Best of all, if ye can learn what schemes a beholder holds dearest, threaten those schemes. Its lured attention will at






