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Returning 35 results for 'before blocking during combat rolling'.
Equipment
Combat
Utility
Whimsy
9
3
8
Looking like pumpkin-sized acorns, hill dragon eggs can remain dormant in the ground for a year or more before they hatch. Hill dragon eggs are
instincts, hill dragons lay their eggs in clutches all across the plains, dales, and rolling hills of Obojima.
Initiative
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Rules
Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. When combat starts, every participant rolls Initiative; they make a Dexterity check that determines their place in the Initiative order. The DM
rolls for monsters.Surprise. If a combatant is surprised by combat starting, that combatant has Disadvantage on their Initiative roll. For example, if an ambusher starts combat while hidden from a
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
guildless masses of the city.
Consider why you’re embedded in the secondary guild. Create a story with your DM, inspired by rolling on the following table or choosing a reason that suits you
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
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
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
, investigation, and combat.
Personas can be shared by multiple changelings; a community might be home to three healer changelings, with whoever is on duty adopting the persona of Andrea, the gentle
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
instead of rolling Initiative. Your Initiative score equals 10 plus your Dexterity modifier. If you have Advantage on Initiative rolls, increase your Initiative score by 5. If you have Disadvantage on those rolls, decrease that score by 5. See also chapter 1 (“Combat”).
Initiative Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. The combat rules in chapter 1 explain how to roll Initiative. Sometimes a DM might have combatants use their Initiative scores
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
scores instead of rolling Initiative. Your Initiative score equals 10 plus your Dexterity modifier. If you have Advantage on Initiative rolls, increase your Initiative score by 5. If you have Disadvantage on those rolls, decrease that score by 5. See also “Playing the Game” (“Combat”).
Initiative Initiative determines the order of turns during combat. The combat rules in “Playing the Game” explain how to roll Initiative. Sometimes a DM might have combatants use their Initiative
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Rolling Initiative Combat starts when—and only when—you say it does. Some characters have abilities that trigger on an Initiative roll; you, not the players, decide if and when Initiative is rolled
anticipate the spell. Using Initiative Scores You can get to the action of combat more quickly by using Initiative scores instead of rolling. You might decide to use Initiative scores just for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Combat Encounters The following features can make a combat encounter more interesting or challenging: Changes in Elevation. Terrain features that provide a change of elevation (such as stacks of
classes and origins. A diverse force is more powerful. Reasons to Move. Use features that encourage characters and their enemies to move around, such as chandeliers, kegs of gunpowder or oil, and rolling stone traps.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rrakkma
alive, the adventurers can’t get to the ulitharid or affect it in any way. There is a field of alien energy blocking it off from everything that isn’t the Gith Capacitor. If the adventurers slay the star
shunting the rrakkma involuntarily back through the gate to Pandemonium. Playing the Pillars COMBAT
Due to the disorienting nature of the Far Realm, the adventurers make any initiative checks with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
mephits follow the giants’ commands to the best of their ability, though they loathe melee combat. On subsequent occurrences of this encounter, you can replace the mephits with 1d2 hell hounds, 1d2 fire
elementals, or 1d4 + 2 magmins. Treasure. The fire giant has a sack containing 3d6 × 100 cp, 2d6 × 100 sp, 1d6 × 100 gp, and one mundane item, determined by rolling on the Items in a Giant’s Bag table in the introduction.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
Ranged Attacks The most common actions that a creature will take in combat are melee and ranged attacks. These can be spell attacks or weapon attacks, where the “weapon” might be a manufactured item or a
rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented. For example, a monster might deal 4 (1d8) slashing damage with its longsword. That notation means you can have the monster deal 4 damage or you can roll 1d8 to determine the damage.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
interaction, and combat. Exploration includes both the adventurers’ movement through the world and their interaction with objects and situations that require their attention. Exploration is the give-and
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
rolling a d20, adding any modifiers, and comparing the total to a Difficulty Class, and they’re all subject to advantage and disadvantage. In short, they share the same procedure for determining
number? Ability checks don’t score critical hits. Attack rolls do. Is a 1 on an ability check an automatic failure? Rolling a 1 on an ability check or a saving throw is not an automatic failure. A 1
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
: Encounter. The characters’ failure leads to a difficult combat encounter. Use the card to help you decide what kind of creature is encountered. Exhaustion. The stress of overcoming the challenge
this setback: perhaps the characters became lost in the woods or encountered an obstacle blocking their path. Add two more cards to the spread. Lost Gear. The characters lose their rations or are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Physical Excellence in Combat A Champion focuses on the development of martial prowess in a relentless pursuit of victory. Champions combine rigorous training with physical excellence to deal
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
, blocking them in. If anyone is hesitant to enter, he’ll beckon for them to come forward, asking them to converse with him. In this regard, his demeanor is regal, but gracious and non-hostile. “Please. Come
characters to complete this combat, and exit the chamber. While they’re in combat here, Gar has proceeded to the final encounter that begins with his assault on the kraken priests. See below for more details
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
clear the debris blocking the way into the domains of the Pudding King. The Goldwhisker Clan Chipgrin doesn’t know about the Pudding King’s deal with Juiblex, but he knows the Pudding King can command the
sturdier than the average deep gnome, taking point on any attack. The Stoneheart Enclave Stone is a resilient defense against oozes, making earth elementals the perfect force to combat them. Nomi
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
“Combat” later in this chapter, but the DM might also ask for an attack roll in other situations, such as an archery competition. Ability Modifier The Attack Roll Abilities table shows which ability
Class A creature’s Armor Class represents how well the creature avoids being wounded in combat. The AC of a character is determined at character creation (see chapter 2), whereas the AC of a monster
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
“Combat” later in this chapter, but the DM might also ask for an attack roll in other situations, such as an archery competition. Ability Modifier The Attack Roll Abilities table shows which ability
. Armor Class A creature’s Armor Class represents how well the creature avoids being wounded in combat. The AC of a character is determined at character creation (see chapter 2), whereas the AC of a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Locathah Rising
, one of the kraken priests triggers the ballistae trap, firing both siege weapons simultaneously, while the other casts Evard’s black tentacles, effectively blocking off the entrance to area 10. On the
they have no choice but to engage in melee combat. When both kraken priests have been reduced to half their hit points, they call for the young kraken to attack the characters. Likewise, if one or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Running Combat This section builds on the combat rules in Playing the Game and offers tips for keeping the game running smoothly when a fight breaks out. Rolling Initiative Combat starts when—and
You can get to the action of combat more quickly by using Initiative scores instead of rolling. You might decide to use Initiative scores just for characters, just for monsters, or for both. Initiative
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Astarion's Book of Hungers
) with the characters, Astarion recognizes two Vampire Wardens from Cazador’s palace. The wardens are blocking the public exit to Rat’s Run. Certain that someone from the palace wants to kidnap him
character makes a DC 13 Dexterity (Stealth) check. If the checks are successful, the wardens don’t notice the group. On a failed check, the vampire wardens notice the group and begin combat. No Safe Spaces
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
. Melee and Ranged Attacks The most common actions that a monster will take in combat are melee and ranged attacks. These can be spell attacks or weapon attacks, where the "weapon" might be a
average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and the die expression are presented. Miss. If an attack has an effect that occurs on a miss, that information is presented
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
, as described in the Player’s Handbook. Melee and Ranged Attacks The most common actions that a monster will take in combat are melee and ranged attacks. These can be spell attacks or weapon attacks
occur as a result of an attack hitting a target are described after the “Hit” notation. You have the option of taking average damage or rolling the damage; for this reason, both the average damage and
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
turn in combat, the attack deals an extra 2d6 damage to it. You can use this trait only once per combat. Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Goblin. Goblin Traits Your goblin character
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
Initiative Variants This section offers different ways to handle initiative. Initiative Score With this optional rule, creature don’t roll initiative at the start of combat. Instead, each creature
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
leather map case.
Four goblins are hiding in the woods, two on each side of the road. They wait until someone approaches the bodies and then attack. This will likely be the first of many combat
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
move around, such as chandeliers, kegs of gunpowder or oil, and rolling stone traps. Combat Encounter Difficulty Use the following guidelines to create a combat encounter of a desired level of difficulty
Combat Encounters Chris Seaman Otto's conversation with a magic mirror
is an exciting social interaction encounter The following features can make a combat encounter more interesting or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
hungry beasts, greedy bandits, or vicious monsters. Check for encounters once during the day and once at night by rolling a d20. On a roll of 17–20, an encounter takes place. Roll a d12 and consult the
flee once combat is joined. Goblins. The goblins know the location of Cragmaw Castle and can provide directions if they are captured and threatened. Each one carries a pouch containing 1d10 cp
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
interaction, exploration, and combat. Rules Glossary
If you read a rules term in this book and want to know its definition, consult the rules glossary, which is appendix C. This chapter provides an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
increasing ferocity, a group of creatures who share a single stat block (such as a swarm of rats) counts as one creature. Ferocity increases round after round during combat, and there is no maximum to
purpose of increasing ferocity, the GM is free to determine that two or three weak creatures might count as only one creature for that purpose.
Rampage After rolling to increase ferocity at the start
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
suddenly stirs to life. It extends long purple tendrils toward you and moves slowly across the cave floor on root-like tendrils.
Running the Combat. Because the violet fungi move so slowly, it’s
fungi. If the adults become aware of danger through the noise of combat (or the sprouts’ Distress Spores), they move as quickly as they can to protect the sprouts. If the characters defeat the violet
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
the characters to the hill, they may be wounded during combat but should survive the battle. Other spectators, like Mayor Raven and Cudgel, are far enough away that they won’t reach the battlefield
-turning conflicts.
At the edge of each mapped battlefield encounter and beyond is a region called the Fray. The Fray is an interpretation of the dangers of combat, from clashing combatants to