Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'before blocking deciding contested rules'.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
The Middle Path Many DMs find that using a combination of the two approaches works best. By balancing the use of dice against deciding on success, you can encourage your players to strike a balance
between relying on their bonuses and abilities and paying attention to the game and immersing themselves in its world. Remember that dice don’t run your game — you do. Dice are like rules. They’re
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
session and for creating situations that facilitate fun. Improviser. A big part of being the DM is deciding how to apply the rules as you go and imagining the consequences of the characters’ actions in a
way that will make the game fun for everyone. Referee. When it’s not clear what ought to happen next, the DM decides how to apply the rules. Storyteller. The DM crafts adventures, setting situations in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
session and for creating situations that facilitate fun. Improviser. A big part of being the DM is deciding how to apply the rules as you go and imagining the consequences of the characters’ actions in a
way that will make the game fun for everyone. Referee. When it’s not clear what ought to happen next, the DM decides how to apply the rules. Storyteller. The DM crafts adventures, setting situations in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
contested by the goblins’ passive Wisdom (Perception) score to avoid being surprised. See the Basic Rules for more information on ability check contests. Thickets. The thickets around the clearing are
difficult terrain, but they aren’t dangerous—just annoying. They provide half cover to creatures behind them. (See “Difficult Terrain” and “Cover” in the Basic Rules for more information.)
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Chapter 1: This Is Your Life The character creation rules in the Player’s Handbook provide all the information you need to define your character in preparation for a life of adventuring. What they
experience before deciding to become an adventurer? What were the circumstances of your birth? How large is your family, and what sorts of relationships do you have with your relatives? Which people
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
, twenty feet above the floor.
Any character who can see the bridge in area 5 might also notice the goblin guarding the bridge. Doing so requires a Wisdom (Perception) check contested by the goblin’s
the Basic Rules). The ledge between the two escarpments is fragile. Any weight in excess of 100 pounds loosens the whole mass and sends it tumbling down to the east. Any creature on the ledge when it
Kobold
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
responsible for blocking tunnels to deter pursuit.
Kobolds feel a cool affinity or something like kinship for other members of their tribe, but they are rarely affectionate with each other. Two kobolds
moves its tribe to another area, ceding the contested territory to its more successful neighbors.
As demonstrated by their hatred of gnomes, kobolds have a persecution complex and easily take offense
Orc
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
serve as a battering ram if a settlement dares to close its gates, blocking the way to the treasures and tasty food that lie within.
A heavily laden wagon that requires the strongest orcs to return it to
everywhere in the world around them, and the priests of a tribe are entrusted with the responsibility of identifying these signs and omens — both good and bad — and deciding how the tribe should
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
it has several different abilities, but simply deciding that an item is always active or can be used a fixed number of times per day is easier to manage. Power Level If you make an item that lets a
column suggests an appropriate bonus based on the item’s rarity. Attunement Decide whether the item requires a character to be attuned to it to use its properties. Use these rules of thumb to help you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
feet ahead of you, blocking the path. Each has several black-feathered arrows sticking out of it. The woods press close to the trail here, with a steep embankment and dense thickets on either side.
If
than the goblins’ check total is surprised and therefore can’t do anything on his or her first turn in the combat (see “Surprise” in the Basic Rules). Use the initiative rules in the Basic Rules to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
“Cover” in the Basic Rules). DISGUISED CHARACTERS
Rather than storm Cragmaw Castle with weapons in hand, clever characters might try to talk their way inside. For example, they might don the scarlet
) check contested by the monsters’ Wisdom (Insight) checks, and give the characters advantage on their checks if the deception is particularly well planned or roleplayed. If at least one character wins
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
creature can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn. SWASHBUCKLERS AND TWO-WEAPON FIGHTING
The Swashbuckler relies on a good understanding of the D&D rules to realize its
attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you. Panache At 9th level, your charm becomes extraordinarily beguiling. As an action, you can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
Angels in the Outlands CoupleOfKooks “If you think you’re prepared for the ultimate struggle between good and evil, the deciding contest between all that is righteous and all that is foul, then to
is called Spireball. The modron happily explains the game’s rules, its stakes, and the two teams, all of which are detailed below. Good versus Evil Two teams—the Noxious Stampede and the Righteous
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
) check contested by the goblin’s Dexterity (Stealth) check. This guard is lazy and inattentive. If no characters are using light sources, each character can attempt a Dexterity (Stealth) check
points, it collapses. Creatures on the collapsing bridge must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall, taking 2d6 bludgeoning damage and landing prone (see “Being Prone” in the Basic Rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
involved.” Sometimes the rules allow for any one of two or more proficiencies to apply to a check. When deciding what check a character should make, be generous in determining if the character’s
each ability is used for. (Constitution checks are rare, as tests of a character’s endurance are usually passive or reactive, making a saving throw more appropriate.) Proficiency When the rules or a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for
Sneak Attack still apply to you. Panache At 9th level, your charm becomes extraordinarily beguiling. As an action, you can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check contested by a creature’s Wisdom (Insight
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Charisma (Deception) check contested by the golems’ Wisdom (Insight) check, with advantage on the check if the portrayal is particularly convincing. On a successful check, the golem won’t attack that
is one of Halaster’s gates (see “Gates”). It is composed of one hundred stone jigsaw pieces, each weighing 10 pounds. The rules of this gate are as follows: Only one piece of the arch can be removed at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Wilderness Survival The following rules come into play as the characters explore Ten-Towns and embark on adventures to the icy, windy, hellishly cold reaches of Icewind Dale. Avalanches The following
rules can be used for rockslides as well as avalanches. An avalanche is a mass of snow and debris falling rapidly down a mountainside. A typical avalanche is 300 feet wide, 150 feet long, and 30 feet
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
against intruders, and their plans always include knowing the best escape routes and who is responsible for blocking tunnels to deter pursuit. Kobolds feel a cool affinity or something like kinship for
skirmish with each other every few days. Eventually the leader of one warring tribe realizes it is losing due to attrition and moves its tribe to another area, ceding the contested territory to its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Halaster’s gates (see “Gates”). Carved into the arch’s keystone is a hand-shaped indentation with a sigil representing magic scribed into the palm. Its rules are as follows: Casting the mage hand
until the item is washed. The stench is not as potent as a troglodyte’s Stench trait and imposes no conditions on those who catch a whiff of it.
The drow mage is deciding whether to kill the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
Tips for Dungeon Masters Rule 0. Rule 0 of D&D is simple: Have fun. It’s fine if everyone agrees to change the rules as long as doing so means the game is more fun for everyone. Be Supportive. The
into a part of the ongoing story. What does it look like when a monster is defeated? What does the Gnome Barbarian say or do if the heavy boulder blocking the cave doesn’t budge? These points in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
smaller chamber with an arch gate set into the back wall (see “Gates”). The arch is engraved with images of dancing dwarves. The rules of this gate are as follows: Standing within 5 feet of the arch and
contested by the character’s Charisma (Deception) check to see through the deception. A character who is caught lying to the dragon can never win back its trust. If the dragon is incapacitated, a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
number and name the parts of the Abyss, declaring that this demon lord or that rules a portion of the place. When your house is on fire, does it matter what the flames look like in each room? Should you
determined at any given time is which lord holds sway over which parts of the Abyss, and which areas are being contested by two or more lords. And as soon as such a fact becomes known, it might already
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
those conventions. Players and Inspiration. Remember that a player with inspiration can award it to another player. Some groups even like to treat inspiration as a group resource, deciding collectively
your campaign is one where you let the dice fall where they may. It’s a good option for gritty campaigns or ones where the DM focuses on playing an impartial role as a rules arbiter. Variant: Only
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
do things. Encourage the other players on their turns and give suggestions when they ask for them. Be respectful if another player decides to do something that you wouldn’t do.
More Rules Detail
an ability check or saving throw is the number that a player’s roll must equal or exceed to succeed.
For example, if the Barbarian wants to move a heavy boulder blocking the mouth of a cave, that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
blocking it out of the way. Characters attempting to hold the door become suddenly distracted, unable to remember why they were doing so. Characters who refuse to enter the inn feel oddly compelled to move
the characters. When Propha is asked any questions, characters can attempt a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by the doppelganger’s Charisma (Deception) check, which is usually made with advantage
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
seconds. C4: Captain’s Quarters The door to the captain’s quarters is barricaded from the inside, though the heavy wooden bar blocking the door is half rotten. A character who tries to force the door
makes the entire lower deck difficult terrain (see “Difficult Terrain” in the Basic Rules). Hole to the Hold. A hole in the ceiling in the northwest part of the area leads up to the captain’s quarters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
feet (spending half their speed to do so—see the “Being Prone” section in the Basic Rules). They pursue any characters they see, attacking until destroyed. The eastern half of the building is the old
Basic Rules for the effects of being restrained). A snared creature can take an action each round to attempt to break free with a DC 12 Strength check, or it can try to cut its way free by using a light
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
of the characters’ reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules. At your discretion, if the characters help Naxa return to her sister and
troops fighting elsewhere, and Jallizanx is deciding how to give directions the dim-witted kakkuus can be reasonably expected to convey. When they see the characters, the kakkuus rush into melee while
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
of the workers or pose as wealthy guests. A character who wants to get aboard in this fashion must succeed on a Charisma (Deception) check contested by Captain Storn’s Wisdom (Insight) check. A
rules Yartar as its Waterbaron. He also receives occasional telepathic static from the kraken Slarkrethel, which leaves him with crushing headaches that last for hours. Lord Drylund’s cabin is a testament
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
barrier, which is immune to all damage and can’t be dispelled by dispel magic. The barrier also extends into the Ethereal Plane, blocking ethereal travel. Any creature that touches the barrier for the
. The rival team is composed of six galvan magen in white garments. All these magen are magically summoned to the field. The rules of Chain Lightning are summarized in the accompanying sidebar. If the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
awake cultists are manning the ballistae or keeping an eye on the storm giant prisoner. For ballista rules and statistics, see the “Siege Equipment” section in chapter 8 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide
action to reel in the harpoon. If another creature is holding onto the harpoon, the merrow regains the weapon if it wins a contested Strength check. If characters take cover to avoid harpoon attacks
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
spacefaring pirates in the Astral Sea. The rules are as follows: Each participant’s player chooses any number of d6s (known as “bones”) and shakes them in a cup. You choose any number of d6s as well
Bounty. Named after a god of revelry, this game is played on a long table embroidered with a flat pattern of an unfolded, twenty-sided die. The game’s dealer is also its deciding piece: a spectator
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
faulty well is a 10-foot-high gelatinous cylinder (use the gelatinous cube stat block) that’s blocking the normal flow of water. The creature’s presence has also contaminated the water above it
desperation compels you to enter my home, little darlings?”
See “Dealing with Bavlorna” below for advice on how to run an encounter with the hag, keeping in mind the rules of hospitality, ownership, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
slippery. (See chapter 5, “Adventure Environments,” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide for rules on extreme cold and slippery ice.) For every minute the characters spend here, there is a cumulative ten
, causing bits of debris to ricochet off the walls, exploding into dust from the impact. In the middle of the cavern a stone brazier is lit with a steady green flame. Blocking the tunnel to the north