before blow declare combat resolve - Search

Deck of Many Things

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

column of the Deck of Many Things table when randomly determining cards drawn from the deck. Before you draw a card, you must declare how many cards you intend to draw and then draw them randomly. Any

effect. Comet. The next time you enter combat against one or more Hostile creatures, you can select one of them as your foe when you roll Initiative. If you reduce your foe to 0 Hit Points during that

Akroan Hoplite

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

called stratians, number among the fiercest soldiers on Theros. They train relentlessly and possess unflinching resolve. In the annals of Akros, tales abound of squads of stratians that defended a

glorification of the warrior's spirit, the basis of an ethos that forges an unbreakable bond between members of a military unit. In combat, hoplites typically work in groups and use coordinated tactics to

Gavel of the Venn Rune

Magic Items Storm King's Thunder

used as part of rituals to resolve disputes. The gavel has the following properties. Arbiter’s Shield. At the start of every combat, attack rolls against you have disadvantage before the start of

Fighter Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

and his companion, knocking the deadly blow aside. His companion, a half-elf in scale armor, swings two scimitars in a blinding whirl as she circles the ogre, looking for a blind spot in its defenses

mastery with weapons and armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face. Well-Rounded

Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

insults with vengeance. Like the branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They

accomplished, and you have to appreciate their achievements. If only they could slow down and learn some refinement.” Elf Names Elves are considered children until they declare themselves adults, some

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

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

many methods for capturing enemies, such as poisoning, knocking out an opponent instead of making a killing blow, throwing nets, using magic such as suggestion, or restraining them in the coils of a

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

with orcs tells of confronting a hulking foe that can cleave through a warrior with a single blow, part of a force that can cut down enemies as though they were trembling stalks of wheat before the

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

Attack Rolls

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

Attack Rolls In combat, an attack roll is used to determine whether an attack hits. You can also use attack rolls to resolve noncombat activities that are similar to attacks in combat, such as an

Running Social Interaction

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

Running Social Interaction During a social interaction, the adventurers usually have a goal. They want to extract information, secure aid, win someone’s trust, escape punishment, avoid combat

rarely come into play. Other DMs resolve interactions by having characters make Charisma checks. Most games fall somewhere in between, balancing roleplaying with the occasional ability check.

Social Interaction

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

Social Interaction During a social interaction, the adventurers usually have a goal. They want to extract information, secure aid, win someone’s trust, escape punishment, avoid combat, negotiate a

roleplaying exercise, where dice rarely come into play. Other DMs prefer to resolve the outcome of an interaction by having characters make Charisma checks. Either approach works, and most games fall

Drowned Sailors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

continue up the path and leave the slow, shambling zombies behind. If the characters turn and fight, this is the first combat encounter in the adventure. Here are the steps you should follow to run it

’ initiative count, they move toward the characters. If they get close enough, they make melee attacks. The zombies’ stat block contains the information you need to resolve these attacks. If all the

Encounters

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

characters don’t need to take turns, but you need to give each player a chance to tell you what their character is doing so you can decide how to resolve everyone’s actions. In combat, everyone takes

chapter 2 offers advice on combat. Spellcasting. If a character casts a spell, you can usually let the player tell you what the spell does and how to resolve it. If questions arise, read the text of

Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

bookshelf. Outside combat, the characters don’t need to take turns, but you need to give each player a chance to tell you what their character is doing so you can decide how to resolve everyone’s

actions. In combat, everyone takes turns in Initiative order. Step 3: Describe What Happens After the players describe their characters’ actions, it’s the DM’s job to resolve those actions, guided by the

Crew in Combat

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

Casualties Slaying a ship’s crew reduces the number of actions most ships can take, making the crew a tempting target in combat. Resolve individual attacks as normal, using the guidelines for

Crew in Combat Managing a ship’s entire crew in combat can prove cumbersome, especially as larger ships often host dozens of sailors. Typically the crew is too busy managing the ship to do anything

Drowned Sailors

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Intro to Stormwreck Isle

continue up the path and leave the slow, shambling zombies behind. If the characters turn and fight, this is the first combat encounter in the adventure. Here are the steps you should follow to run it

count, they move toward the characters. If they get close enough, they make melee attacks. The zombies’ stat block contains the information you need to resolve these attacks. On each character’s

Spell Attacks

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata

? Even though the duration of each of these spells is instantaneous, you choose the targets and resolve the attacks consecutively, not all at once. If you want, you can declare all your targets before

Extra Attack feature? No. As explained in the Player’s Handbook, you can take one action on your turn in combat, in addition to moving. You choose your action from the options available to everyone

Large Groups

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

Large Groups The biggest considerations with large groups are maintaining order at the table and keeping combat from becoming too slow. Structured Turns If you find yourself in a situation where

individual players are having trouble getting a chance to do things during exploration or social interaction, have the characters roll Initiative and act in Initiative order, just as you do in combat

Rhythm of Play

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

resolve their activity. In combat, the characters take turns. The DM Narrates the Results of the Adventurers’ Actions. Sometimes resolving a task is easy. If an adventurer walks across a room and

Rhythm of Play The three main pillars of D&D play are social interaction, exploration, and combat. Whichever one you’re experiencing, the game unfolds according to this basic pattern: The Dungeon

Breaking the Archetypes

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

subtlety and precision over simply busting heads. Add in your knowledge of the more cerebral aspects of combat, including all-important insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy, and it’s

look at the balance sheet. But there’s one exception to that nonrule that can make a big difference in the successful operation of a franchise — the focused, no-frills approach to combat of the champion

Rhythm of Play

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

resolve their activity. In combat, the characters take turns. The DM Narrates the Results of the Adventurers’ Actions. Sometimes resolving a task is easy. If an adventurer walks across a room and

Rhythm of Play The three main pillars of D&D play are social interaction, exploration, and combat. Whichever one you’re experiencing, the game unfolds according to this basic pattern: The Dungeon

The Ritual

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

, while the guards that brought the characters forward stand in shock. They are surprised and can’t move or take an action on their first turn of the combat, and they can’t take reactions until that

of panic through the kuo-toa. The young archpriest calls out “Leemooggoogoon!” just as her father strikes a final, fatal blow, dropping her before the profane altar. (If any character is also engaging the archpriest of the Deep Father, allow that character to strike the final blow.)

Orcs: The Godsworn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

confronting a hulking foe that can cleave through a warrior with a single blow, part of a force that can cut down enemies as though they were trembling stalks of wheat before the 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 hatred of the civilized races

Fighter

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

and his companion, knocking the deadly blow aside. His companion, a half-elf in scale armor, swings two scimitars in a blinding whirl as she circles the ogre, looking for a blind spot in its defenses

armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face.

Fighter

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

and his companion, knocking the deadly blow aside. His companion, a half-elf in scale armor, swings two scimitars in a blinding whirl as she circles the ogre, looking for a blind spot in its defenses

armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face.

Ghost Stories

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

heroes to spirits in ways they won’t predict, such as revealing that a phantasmal villain was a hero’s ancestor. Heroes are pure-hearted or unsuspecting individuals whose resolve is shaken by the story’s

events. Look for ways to test heroes’ psychology with your hauntings. Heroes need agency—a way to put spirits to rest. Once the story is revealed, ensure the way to combat the haunting is clear. Spirits are often evil, but they need not be. A spirit might appear to warn heroes of impending doom.

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

and know the most about the territory farthest from the tribe’s lair. These individuals hunt game in peaceful times, and in combat they serve as scouts, foot soldiers, and cavalry. Gatherers

the foresight to declare a successor, often a child or other family member the boss has been able to trust. But such a declaration doesn’t always prevent a mad scramble for influence and allies

Interacting with Objects

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

Interacting with Objects Interacting with objects is often simple to resolve. The player tells the DM that their character is doing something, such as moving a lever or opening a door, and the DM

as in combat, interactions with objects are limited: one free interaction per turn. That interaction must occur during a creature’s movement or action. Any additional interactions require the Utilize

Interacting with Objects

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Interacting with Objects Interacting with objects is often simple to resolve. The player tells the DM that their character is doing something, such as moving a lever or opening a door, and the DM

as in combat, interactions with objects are limited: one free interaction per turn. That interaction must occur during a creature’s movement or action. Any additional interactions require the Utilize

Wildspace Battle

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy

: 20 tons Hit Points: 300 Crew: 13 Damage Threshold: 15 Keel/Beam: 250 ft./25 ft. Speed: Fly 30 ft. (3½ mph) Cost: 25,000 gp Using Roles in Combat During each round of combat, a ship has its own turn

and the members of its crew resolve its actions. Actions available to each crew member are dependent upon their assigned roles.

Knight of Tu'narath

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

a haughty tone. “By order of Vlaakith the Undying, Queen of the Astral Sea, I declare that you are guilty of the crime of trespassing. As your punishment, it is my solemn duty to decapitate your

misty step to board the vessel and goes after whoever is responsible. If the characters refrain from combat and inform Dagaz that they’ve encountered no mind flayers, she takes them at their word and bids

Emotionless Evil

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

exhibit behavior and use tactics that exemplify that outlook (or lack of one). Whether in combat or in daily life, the following principles guide the yuan-ti in all they do. Other Lives Are Cheap Yuan

opponents than kill them. They use many methods for capturing enemies, such as poisoning, knocking out an opponent instead of making a killing blow, throwing nets, using magic such as suggestion, or

Top Card: The Challenge

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

road, or a situation the characters are asked to resolve. You decide the scope of the decision the characters must make. You can ask them to make a simple choice (“Do you want to take the path along

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

7. Fidelio's Folly

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

Netherskull with haste, combat it, and allow Fidelio to deal the death blow to it. The ghost knows the location of the death tyrant’s lair (area 39c) but doesn’t know how to open the doors that lead to it

dealt the killing blow. The ghost wallows in despair, doomed to haunt the Obstacle Course until another follower of Tyr convinces it to move on with a successful DC 20 Charisma (Persuasion) check. A non

Immersive Storytelling

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

Immersive Storytelling Waterdeep is threatened by political turmoil. The adventurers must convince the Masked Lords, the city’s secret rulers, to resolve their differences, but can do so only after

both the characters and the lords have come to terms with their differing outlooks and agendas. This style of gaming is deep, complex, and challenging. The focus isn’t on combat but on negotiations

Villain Actions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer

can use only one villain action per round (as such, villain actions tend to be more powerful than legendary actions). Each villain action can only be used once during a combat encounter. Like

devastating blow to the characters before the end of the battle. While every creature has a recommended order of actions, you can take villain actions in any order if it makes your fight more dramatic. You

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