before being drawing continues rolling

Kalashtar Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

with their quori spirits. Rather, they might experience this relationship as a sense of instinct and inspiration, drawing on the memories of the spirit when they dream. This connection grants kalashtar

an orphan kalashtar raised among strangers. The bond to the spirit can cause some kalashtar to display unusual quirks. Consider rolling or selecting a trait from the Kalashtar Quirks table

Indestructible

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Indestructible The Infinite Staircase is immune to all damage and can’t have its form changed by spells like Passwall or similar magic. No one knows who or what built the staircase—or continues to

add to it. Its masons are never seen but often heard, their hammers ringing in the distance like rolling thunder.

Dead Spiders

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble

Dead Spiders When the characters enter the cave, they see a passage leading deeper underground. From the cave entrance, a passage continues deeper beneath the hills and slopes downward. You travel

for several minutes before the passage turns north and leads up a set of natural stone steps. A group of caverns continues out ahead of you. The ceiling of these caverns is choked with webs, and the

Being Your Own Patron

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

to worry about; when you run your own mercenary company, for example, you need to stock your own armory rather than drawing on an existing organization’s stockpile. The organization brings in income

Guide) to reflect your organization’s ongoing activities. More than one character can take part in this activity at a time. When rolling to determine the business’s performance, add the total days spent

Chapter 3: Balance

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

wandering monsters to inspiring whole adventures. But The Deck of Many Things card set and other card decks provide an alternative way to get random results. How is drawing from a deck of cards

different from rolling dice? And how can Dungeon Masters make interesting use of those differences? This chapter addresses some of the unique randomizing elements cards can provide, even for a game that

Bound to Spirits

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

communicate with their quori spirits. Rather, they might experience this relationship as a sense of instinct and inspiration, drawing on the memories of the spirit when they dream. This connection grants

, such as an orphan kalashtar raised among strangers. The bond to the spirit can cause some kalashtar to display unusual quirks. Consider rolling or selecting a trait from the Kalashtar Quirks table

The Sewers at Plaza West

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

no light source in the shaft, which continues down 50 feet until it ends in a folding ladder with a dangling cord. When unfolded, the ladder reaches another 20 feet to the sewer tunnel floor. When the

20-foot-high tunnel. The sewer tunnel is 30 feet wide and continues in both directions. The tunnel has a raised walkway 5 feet wide and 5 feet tall along both sides. The main passage is flowing with 1

6. Hallway

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

.) Bone Boulder Trap At 15 feet beyond the shaft entrance, a mechanical plate installed in the floor triggers a rolling boulder trap. A successful DC 22 Wisdom (Perception) check by one of the characters in

as much damage with a successful DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. Any creature that fails this save is grabbed by skeletal hands and pulled into the sphere, which continues to roll over any other

6. Hallway

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

Boulder Trap At 15 feet beyond the shaft entrance, a mechanical plate installed in the floor triggers a rolling boulder trap. A successful DC 22 Wisdom (Perception) check by one of the characters in the

much damage with a successful DC 17 Dexterity saving throw. Any creature that fails this first save is grabbed by skeletal hands and pulled into the sphere, which continues to roll over any other

Chapter 1: Playing the Game

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

Intelligence check. Phillip: Does my Investigation skill apply? Jared: Sure! Phillip (rolling a d20): Ugh. Seven. Jared: They look like decorations to you. And Maeve, Mirabella is examining the

drawbridge? The adventure continues from there, relying on the DM’s descriptions to set the scenes. Later in the chapter, other examples of play focus on certain aspects of D&D play: social

Racial Traits

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Medium. To set your height and weight randomly, start with rolling a size modifier: Size modifier = 2d12 Height = 6 feet + your size modifier in inches Weight in pounds = 200 + (2d6 × your size modifier

. Alignment. In Eberron, goblins are usually neutral. They tend to look out for themselves, preferably without drawing unwanted attention from any larger, more powerful people. Size. Your size is Small

W9. Fermentation Vats

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

balcony are old, empty barrels with “The Wizard of Wines” burned into their sides. The balcony climbs another five feet as it continues along the west and east walls, ending at doors leading to the

one druid (NE female human) are also present. If they are here, read: The balcony creaks, drawing your eye to a wild-looking figure hunched over the westernmost cask, pouring a flask of thick syrup into

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

being a starting point for incredible adventures. Historically, Saltmarsh and the dangers facing its people provided a widening sphere of adventure, with increasingly dire threats drawing heroes to

explore more of the coast of the Azure Sea. Ghosts of Saltmarsh continues that tradition, presenting a portion of the coastal lands of Keoland, a kingdom in the Greyhawk setting. Each adventure notes where

30. Halaster's Handiwork

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

or fewer, Kavil switches sides and offers information in exchange for his life. He knows one random Undermountain secret, determined by drawing a card from the Secrets Deck (see appendix C), as well as

dragon-shaped figurine or a drawing of a dragon, also opens the gate. Characters must be at least 15th level or higher to pass through this gate (see “Jhesiyra Kestellharp”). The first creature to pass

Travel-Montage Approach

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

encounter nothing of interest” is okay, but far less evocative and memorable than, “A light rain dampens the rolling plains as you travel north. Around midday, you break for lunch under a lonely tree

be a signal that the adventurers are drawing close to the site of evil power that is their destination or can provide clues to the nature of the threats to be found there. Specific wilderness

Initiative Variants

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

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

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

Scourge of Worlds

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

the infection continues long enough, a portal opens in the corrupted environment that connects to a random location in the Abyss. Demons that happen to be near the portal can travel through it and into

might travel far. If enough of these groups splinter off, the incursion could spread into a network of similar sites, each opening its own portal and drawing in more demons. Slaying all the demons in an

Bazaar Chase

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

flying from Emad’s shop measures 4 feet by 6 feet, has a capacity of 400 pounds, and has a flying speed of 60 feet. It can accommodate two Medium or Small creatures. After rolling initiative, each

can avoid rolling on the table again if you don’t move this turn. 7–10 No complication Ending the Chase The chase ends when either side gives up the chase, when the Ashen Heirs escape, or when the

Encounter Pace and Tension

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

seriously. Random Encounters Olly Lawson Mysterious lights glimmer in a remote mountain lake, drawing adventurers to explore Random encounters are randomly determined encounters that don’t occur in a

danger and urgency by rolling dice behind your DM screen, even without an actual encounter!) Drain Character Resources. By draining the party’s Hit Points and spell slots, leaving the adventurers feeling

Miniatures

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

Three-Quarters Cover. On hexes, use the same procedure as above, drawing lines between the corners of the hexagons. The target has Half Cover if one, two, or three lines are blocked by an obstacle, and

accuracy, use the following rule: the first diagonal square counts as 5 feet, but the second diagonal square counts as 10 feet. This pattern of 5 feet and then 10 feet continues whenever you’re counting

14. Sepulchers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

information in exchange for her life. She knows one random Undermountain secret, determined by drawing a card from the Secrets Deck (see appendix C). She also knows how to deactivate the pit traps and

confound grave robbers). Lifting the lid or tapping on the sarcophagus causes 1d4 rats to emerge in a panic. The detritus in the nest includes two random trinkets, determined by rolling on the Trinkets

Traps in Play

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

description is clear enough that you can adjudicate whether a character’s actions locate or foil the trap. As with many situations, you shouldn’t allow die rolling to override clever play and good planning

. Use your common sense, drawing on the trap’s description to determine what happens. No trap’s design can anticipate every possible action that the characters might attempt. You should allow a

Traps in Play

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

description is clear enough that you can adjudicate whether a character's actions locate or foil the trap. As with many situations, you shouldn't allow die rolling to override clever play and good planning

. Use your common sense, drawing on the trap's description to determine what happens. No trap's design can anticipate every possible action that the characters might attempt. You should allow a character

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

not decorations? DM: Make an Intelligence check. Phillip: Does my Investigation skill apply? DM: Sure! Phillip (rolling a d20): Ugh. Seven. DM: They look like decorations to you. And Amy, Riva

adventurers grow in might as the campaign continues. Each monster defeated, each adventure completed, and each treasure recovered not only adds to the continuing story, but also earns the adventurers

Introduction

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

decorations? DM: Make an Intelligence check. Phillip: Does my Investigation skill apply? DM: Sure! Phillip (rolling a d20): Ugh. Seven. DM: They look like decorations to you. And Amy, Riva is

adventurers grow in might as the campaign continues. Each monster defeated, each adventure completed, and each treasure recovered not only adds to the continuing story, but also earns the adventurers new

Snail Racing

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

affected by rolling a d8. Snail Race Surprises d8 Surprise 1–3 No surprise. 4 One random snail gets a stitch, reducing its speed by 40 feet this round. 5 A spectator throws a head of lettuce at one

random snail comes loose and falls off. The snail’s jockey must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw to remain atop the snail. On a failed save, the jockey falls off, and the snail continues the

Parade Chase

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel

give chase. After rolling initiative, each participant in the chase can take one action and move on its turn. Itzmin begins 120 feet ahead of the pursuers. Track the distance between Itzmin and the

escapes. If not, the chase continues for another round. If the characters catch Itzmin, he tells them where Serapio is in exchange for his release. Should Itzmin escape, the character who has the highest

Geographic Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

carries with it the risk of drawing Granny Nightshade’s attention. Each resting character must roll a d20. On a roll of 1, the character suffers horrible dreams that leave them marked by the forest

beside their mistress. Random Encounters. The Dreadwood Random Encounters table provides ideas for the sort of encounters that can take place here. Check for an encounter once per day by rolling a d20. On

Attack on Triboar

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

the advancing fire giants. The orogs spread through town, attacking civilians who cross their path and drawing attention away from the fire giants. The orcs ride their axe beaks into town after the

sack holding 1d6 mundane items, determined by rolling on the Items in a Giant’s Bag table in the introduction, and a ruby pendant (worth 750 gp). The magmins and the orcs have no treasure. Each orog

Wyrmheart Mine

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

grease to get it rolling again. The old brake looks solid, but each time it’s used, it has a 10 percent chance to fail utterly. This risk is recognized by someone who inspects the brake and makes a

, which serves as the kobolds’ egg nursery. These kobolds protect their eggs with flinty resolve. The mossy niches in the walls contain a total of thirty eggs. 6C. Rolling Stone Trap A tripwire

Rose Stage Festival

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

(lawful neutral human first-year student; see the “Fellow Students” section). The festival’s improvised play continues until all volunteer performers have exhausted their prompts. More frequently

nautical scene, rolling fake monsters near the actors when danger threatens and impersonating the monsters’ snarls, handing dueling actors improbable “weapons,” or the like. Responding to the cues in a way

Alley: Autumn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

direction, rolling downhill. Riding on the cart is a tiefling boy with an eye patch, screaming at the top of his lungs. “Look out!” he shouts. A character in the path of the apple cart must succeed on a

successful DC 15 Strength saving throw. On a failed save, the character is struck by the cart and falls prone as it continues to roll. After plowing through the party, the cart flips on its side, sending

Using Miniatures

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

the target (such as when the target is behind an arrow slit), the target has three-quarters cover. On hexes, use the same procedure as a grid, drawing lines between the corners of the hexagons. The

moving diagonally on a grid, the first diagonal square counts as 5 feet, but the second diagonal square counts as 10 feet. This pattern of 5 feet and then 10 feet continues whenever you’re counting

Travel

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

rolling on the Weather table, adjusting for the terrain and season as appropriate. Roll 1d20 three times to determine the temperature, the wind, and the precipitation. Weather has no significant game

be a signal that the adventurers are drawing close to the site of evil power that is their destination or can provide clues to the nature of the threats to be found there.

Masters' Domain

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

. Another four-armed gargoyle animates whenever another such door is opened. This process continues for as long as any gargoyles remain in the alcoves. The gargoyles don’t leave the room. Pillars of

process continues until eight of the creatures have manifested. Pillars of Blood. If a living humanoid creature touches a pillar, the part of its body that touched the pillar becomes stuck, and the

D&D Beyond

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