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Returning 35 results for 'before both defenses complex run'.
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
.
3
I secretly look forward to adventurers trying to infiltrate my lair. How else could I try out new defenses?
4
Give me a storied helmet or scimitar over a pile of gold any day.
5
No
creature can outsmart my defenses—if they do, they obviously cheated.
6
Any creature that can hold their own against me must teach me how—whether they want to or not.
7
I
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
adventurers trying to infiltrate my lair. How else could I try out new defenses?
4
Give me a storied helmet or scimitar over a pile of gold any day.
5
No creature can outsmart my defenses—if
who will undoubtedly terrorize the area if they win.
8
A sapphire dragon’s lair is so well protected that its inner defenses have never been tested. The dragon spreads rumors of the
Kobold
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
, the kobolds are usually put to work enlarging their masters’ living area and protecting vital areas of the lair with traps and other defenses.
Some human communities hire kobolds to dig their
other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Tyar-Besil’s main entrance, a well-fortified gate complex with barracks, guardrooms, armories, and stables. Enemies that managed to fight their way down the Ancient Stair from the surface above were
stopped in their tracks by the daunting defenses of the gate quarter. More than one reckless attack by orcs, trolls, or giants was driven back from the gate. In time, those savage foes found other ways
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
advancing civilization, nature needs some help from biomancers and terraformers. If, along the way, you happen to create super-soldiers and mutant monsters that can bolster the combine’s defenses
fungus field.
5
I can’t fathom what could have made my childhood friend run off and join the Gruul.
6
I love comparing notes with my friend in the Izzet, though our fields of research are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Running the Siege You have a few options on how to run the battle. Consider the following: You can treat each defender and orc as an individual, and run the combat as a long, complex encounter. If
you do so, the players should control some of the NPCs. You can streamline parts of the fight. The map of the ranch has been divided into specific zones, and you can run regular battles only in the zone
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Reinforcements Adventurers can use hit-and-run tactics to weaken Grudd Haug’s defenses. Depending on how much time passes between the adventurers’ forays, the hill giant den might gain reinforcements
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
was a temple complex dedicated to the dwarven god Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain. Hidden inside is the tomb of Melair, king of the Melairkyn dwarves. Before running this level
, review the “Duergar” entry in the Monster Manual. That information will help you run and roleplay the duergar NPCs found throughout the Lost Level.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
characters feel heroic, since they can take on a myriad of foes and live to tell the tale. However, minions still make threatening foes. Killing a minion still requires penetrating their defenses, and
characters can’t just shrug off damage from minion attacks. So how do minions make running a horde of enemies quick and easy for the GM? Minions are simple to run. Their stat blocks are small and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer Academy
: slip past the planet’s defenses, find the meteorite, and bring it back to Spelljammer Academy. This adventure is split into three parts: Part 1: The Spindle. While exploring the Spindle (a mountain
characters travel back to Toril, they cross paths with an asteroid and run into a githyanki agent of Vocath looking to retrieve Miken. Part 3: Homecoming. The characters return to the Spelljammer Academy
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
hanging from their necks, and their hands glow with divine magic. On the opposite side of camp, a human woman pores over a spellbook.
The archaeologists are investigating the ancient complex in
which a piece of the Rod of Seven Parts waits. The characters can chat with the archaeologists to learn about the complex and ask to borrow magic items to aid their quest. Laysa’s Goals At camp, Laysa is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Basidia’s Aid As the characters approach the center of Araumycos’s great cavern complex, Basidia meets them with a small detachment of loyal myconids. The myconid sovereign explains that it can
Araumycos. Basidia’s rapport spores help facilitate the process, but Araumycos’s sleeping mind isn’t in full control of the defenses of its body, and might interpret the characters’ presence as an
Goblin
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
traps, snares, and nets to catch the unwary, and when their hunting patrols encounter other beings, they always look for ways to capture their foes instead of killing them. Goblins that run up against
the fringes of a society first test its defenses by stealing objects, and if these crimes go unpunished, they begin stealing people.
Enslaved creatures receive the worst treatment the goblins can dish
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
Elakdras’s remains, but they’ve had a falling-out in Challidax’s lair, splitting their followers into rival factions. Into the Ice Caves. The adventurers enter the frosty cave complex where the
dragon lairs. There they run afoul of the feuding frost giants and other denizens as they try to retrieve the magical ritual.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
Setup This adventure occurs when the characters encounter Nalaskur Thaelond (male half-elf spy). He asks the characters to run the inn for a tenday or so, promising handsome pay and a good
characters have no connection to the Zhentarim, someone they’ve befriended or owe a favor to agrees to run the inn. That person then begs the characters for aid. Alternatively, the characters are merely
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a3
40. Dragon Breath When the party reaches the bottom of the stairs, read: A staircase leads upward into the gloom. It seems as though you have found the entrance to another layer within the complex
head of the steps. The statue has the statistics, defenses, and traits of a stone golem, but it has no action options. As soon as it stops after emerging, it opens its mouth and breathes a gust of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
dogsled ride back to Ten-Towns. The “Dragon Scourge” section describes how long it takes for the dragon to reach each town, the defenses each settlement musters against it, and the likely outcome if no
help from the characters is forthcoming. The “Showdown!” section helps you run an encounter involving the characters and the dragon. Regardless of what happens to Ten-Towns, the “Vellynne’s Quest” section sets up the final three chapters of the adventure.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
published adventure or randomly generate a dungeon complex using the tables presented in the Appendices. A dungeon can range in size from a few chambers in a ruined temple to a huge complex of rooms and
into the heart of the complex. A dungeon is most easily mapped on graph paper, with each square on the paper representing an area of 10 feet by 10 feet. (If you play with miniatures on a grid, you might
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal
Running the Adventures To run each of these adventures, you need the fifth edition Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. Before you sit down with your players, read the text
of the adventure all the way through and familiarize yourself with the maps as well, perhaps making notes about complex areas or places where the characters are certain to go, so you’re well prepared
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Running the Adventures To run each of these adventures, you need the fifth edition Player’s Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, and Monster Manual. Before you sit down with your players, read the text
of the adventure and familiarize yourself with the maps as well, perhaps making notes about complex areas or places where the characters are certain to go, so you’re well prepared before the action
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Mapping a Dungeon Titus Lunter A dungeon built by giants offers enormous adventures A dungeon can range in size from a few chambers to a huge complex of rooms and passages extending hundreds of feet
. The adventurers’ goal often lies as far from the dungeon entrance as possible, forcing characters to delve deeper underground or push farther into the heart of the complex. A dungeon is usually
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Horn Enclave Horn Enclave is a legendary dwarven stronghold run by Clan Horn, wealthy shield dwarves whose estates and holds spread across the Spine of the World mountains. The enclave’s business is
the leasing of secure vaults to wealthy patrons, with nigh-impregnable defenses designed to keep each vault’s contents safe from thieves. Map 5.1 shows the layout of Horn Enclave.
Map 5.1: Horn
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
power manifests visibly in the gem-like spines that run in a ridge from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail. These spines hover above a living topaz dragon’s back, dancing and shifting with
Features
The topaz dragon lair shown in map 5.14 is situated among the rocky cliffs and beaches of a rugged coastline. The lair is set in a cavern complex near the top of the cliffs, 50 feet above the sandy
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
dragon’s psionic power manifests visibly in the gem-like spines that run in a ridge from the crown of the head to the tip of the tail. These spines hover above a living topaz dragon’s back
.
Topaz Dragon Lair Features
The topaz dragon lair shown in map 5.14 is situated among the rocky cliffs and beaches of a rugged coastline. The lair is set in a cavern complex near the top of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
).
Behind the Design: Save Ends Effects
Save ends effects are one way of saving space in stat blocks and making them less complex for GMs to run at the table. Much like how stat blocks just reference the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
status, and they typically don’t set impossible goals — a lesser demon, for instance, might simply run amok when unleashed into the world, its only desire to spread chaos, but a marilith or other
. Such a site is usually protected with intricate traps, mindless servants, and other defenses that bring no risk of subversion or betrayal.
If an archdevil were ever to acquire a demonic amulet
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
During the Siege Run the siege as a series of encounters rather than one extended battle. As terrible events unfold around the characters, it’s up to them to determine who and how they’ll help. Begin
horde soon begins overwhelming defenses nearby. Once the characters defeat a few zombies, roll 1d6 and consult the Zombie Siege Encounters table. The event rolled unfolds within sight of one of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
Battle Begins This section has no set timeline or specific goals beyond involving characters in Kalaman’s desperate defense. Roll on or choose the encounters you want to run from the Defending the
riders fly overhead, avoiding the wall’s defenses. This provokes the “Daring Riders” encounter immediately after this encounter is resolved. Daring Riders Three Dragon Army officers mounted on Dragon Army
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
characters could use, including infernal war machines, provisions, temporary shelter, and information. The characters have something Mad Maggie desires greatly: Lulu’s memories. One way to run a complex
fortress, see “Entering the Fort” below. First, however, review the following summary of how to run this scene to maximum effect. Running the Fort In this part of the adventure, the characters must
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
cultists sealed this room after a disastrous run-in with its undead guardians. On the Stairs The dumbwaiter shaft from area 6 to the stairwell in front of the vault was once used to bypass the long
walk from the bedchamber to the upper parts of the complex for Diderius’s servants. The dumbwaiter’s ropes and rotted wooden platform are strewn across the stairs. This area is guarded by 3 wraiths and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
cultists sealed this room after a disastrous run-in with its undead guardians. On the Stairs The dumbwaiter shaft from area 6 to the stairwell in front of the vault was once used to bypass the long
walk from the bedchamber to the upper parts of the complex for Diderius’s servants. The dumbwaiter’s ropes and rotted wooden platform are strewn across the stairs. This area is guarded by 3 wraiths and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Radiant Citadel
under the law. Simultaneously, they manage a complex relationship with the founding civilizations. The Speakers’ first duty is to the Radiant Citadel, which sometimes puts them at odds with the
gradually cease to function. Unless a suitable replacement for that Speaker is elected and approved by the Dawn Incarnates within thirty days, plants in the Radiant Citadel stop growing, wells run dry, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
under the law. Simultaneously, they manage a complex relationship with the founding civilizations. The Speakers’ first duty is to the Radiant Citadel, which sometimes puts them at odds with the
gradually cease to function. Unless a suitable replacement for that Speaker is elected and approved by the Dawn Incarnates within thirty days, plants in the Radiant Citadel stop growing, wells run dry, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
an amphitheater often revolve around deception. Great performances get audiences immersed in what they’re seeing, lowering their defenses and allowing pickpockets and spies to work. Backstage, the
in such a place. Amphitheater Adventures d10 Adventure Goal
1 Steal an item from an audience member.
2 Find evidence of a crime hidden backstage.
3 Defend a theater being run by
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
essential to many of its defenses and habits. Portions of its lair — especially the remote part where it sleeps — usually aren’t reachable on foot, which makes it harder for its minions to take over the
use such defenses to protect its inner sanctum, allowing it to roam freely through the area while hostiles must dodge or overcome multiple obstacles. Unless its opponents are concealed by fog