before broad defending creating rival

Creating a Rival

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Creating a Rival In essence, a rival is a somewhat specialized NPC. You can use chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to build a new NPC for this purpose, or pick one from your current cast of

created for themselves. Example Rivals d20 Rival 1 Tax collector who is convinced the characters are dodging fees 2 Politician who is concerned that the characters are causing more trouble than they

Zlan

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

liches, creating an amalgamated form. Zlan is the foremost mind among the liches and controls the body, The other liches rage and scheme about being subsidiary to someone they once considered both a

rival and an equal. The Zlan Liches table gives a brief description of each component. Zlan Liches Name History Argent Black Emerged from the Negative Plane, fed on hate and

Lorehold Professor of Chaos

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

their magic into creating breaks that are to their advantage. Whether those breaks are in a series of events, in obstacles, or in enemies depends on the needs in the moment. They crush enemies&rsquo

College draw their magical might from the flow of time and fate and the way those forces shape the course of history. Scholars of this broad mystical study divide between those who see history as an unpredictable jumble of chance and those who believe events form a perfect—and predictable—pattern.

Lorehold Professor of Order

Monsters Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

structures and find the safest paths as they search. When confronted, they confound their foes by channeling the stasis of perfect order, creating resilient barriers of force and quashing hostile

magic. Lorehold Scholars The archaeomancers of Lorehold College draw their magical might from the flow of time and fate and the way those forces shape the course of history. Scholars of this broad

Hutijin

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

command, Hutijin can easily crush any rival who gets in his way while also defending Mephistopheles against armies seeking to contest his dominion. Hutijin has amassed enough power to challenge the

Valenar High Elf

Species Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to find challenges worthy of a hero. In creating a Valenar, think about your patron ancestor. Your class should reflect their class; if you

particular rival who channels the same ancestor, or one who channels a rival of your ancestor? It’s also important to think about why you are traveling with a group of player characters

Valenar Wood Elf

Species Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to find challenges worthy of a hero. In creating a Valenar, think about your patron ancestor. Your class should reflect their class; if you

particular rival who channels the same ancestor, or one who channels a rival of your ancestor? It’s also important to think about why you are traveling with a group of player characters

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and terrifying monsters. Barbarians charge headlong into that danger so that their people don’t have to. Their courage in the face of danger makes

the closeknit family structures of the tribe, but eventually find them replaced by the bonds formed among the members of their adventuring parties. Creating a Barbarian When creating a barbarian

Geryon (Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

use this opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle

Effects The region containing Geryon’s lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Chilling Wind. Freezing strong winds howl around the area within 1 mile of

Klauth

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

might rival him in power, in a fighting style marked by sudden attacks and just as sudden disappearances. Klauth spends many waking hours scrying Faerûn with his spells, and he probably knows more

of abandoned mines and dwarven strongholds. Caves with volcanic or geothermal activity are the most highly prized red dragon lairs, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and

Emerald Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

create illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals

must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle; he loves

The region containing Geryon’s lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Chilling Wind. Freezing strong winds howl around the area within 1 mile of the lair

Fighter Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, some on fighting with two weapons at once, and some on augmenting their martial skills with magic. This combination of broad general ability and extensive specialization makes fighters superior

left behind. There are greater risks, perhaps, but also much greater rewards—few fighters in the city watch have the opportunity to discover a magic flame tongue sword, for example. Creating a

Rogue Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

variety of skills as they do to perfecting their combat abilities, giving them a broad expertise that few other characters can match. Many rogues focus on stealth and deception, while others refine the

treasure. Creating a Rogue As you create your rogue character, consider the character’s relationship to the law. Do you have a criminal past—or present? Are you on the run from the law or from

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

to begin your career as a mere attendant, you can aspire to become a skilled mage or alchemist, a laboratory supervisor, or even a flamethrower-wielding scorchbringer tasked with defending Izzet

even the lowliest attendant to make friends (and enemies) in laboratories across Ravnica. Roll twice on the Izzet Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Izzet Contacts table

Bard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

versatility. Many bards prefer to stick to the sidelines in combat, using their magic to inspire their allies and hinder their foes from a distance. But bards are capable of defending themselves in melee if

. Creating a Bard Bards thrive on stories, whether those stories are true or not. Your character’s background and motivations are not as important as the stories that he or she tells about them

Young Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

spells that create illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon

and must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

lock of a loved one’s hair, or a painting of a favorite place. A story of happy times fondly remembered is more precious to a moonstone dragon than a sack of gold. Creating a Moonstone Dragon

of an arcanaloth seeking a powerful Feywild artifact. 5 An adult moonstone dragon attempts to help a beholder worried that its dreams will soon give birth to a rival beholder. 6 Members of

What's Next?

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

What’s Next? Regardless of the characters’ allegiance, their actions and the fallout of Afsoun’s detainment or escape have broad implications for Akharin Sangar. The Silent Roar’s resistance efforts

increase in either case, causing the organization to become the Brightguard’s greatest rival. If the characters remain in Akharin Sangar, Artavazda or the Ghorbani sisters seek to enlist them in the

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

protection and durability 2 Fin Clade, focused on movement 3 Gyre Clade, focused on cyclical patterns and metamagic 4 Guardian Project, focused on creating guard monsters and super

members are former members of other guilds. Roll twice on the Simic Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Simic Contacts table. Simic Contacts d8 Contact 1

Giff

Species Spelljammer: Adventures in Space

Giff are tall, broad-shouldered folk with hippo-like features. Some have smooth skin, while others have short bristles on their faces and the tops of their heads. As beings of impressive size and

blossom into hard feelings, loud arguments, and head-butting contests, but they rarely escalate beyond that. Creating Your Character When you create your D&D character, you decide whether your

Creating a Darklord

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

Creating a Darklord Domains are mocking reflections of the evils they confine. Each has a purpose, being a prison designed to torture a deliberately chosen villain. To devise a Domain of Dread, you

must first conceive its central antagonist and prisoner: its Darklord. The following sections detail how to develop a Darklord that contrasts your characters and can serve as a central rival in your horror adventures.

Types of Espionage

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

Types of Espionage Espionage activities can be classified in three broad categories: counterintelligence, covert action, and intelligence gathering. Your party might focus on one of those areas, or

, and eliminating enemy intelligence agents. 3 Misinformation. You are experts at creating false stories and bogus information to foil enemy spies. 4 Covert Elimination. When you disappear someone you

Invitation to Nightmare

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

participating in a fear-focused D&D adventure. Horror, as a genre, covers broad swaths of material. What you shrug off other players might find personally unsettling—everyone’s experiences and tolerances are

distinct and real, even if they differ from your own. Before creating a character, ask your DM and the rest of the group the aforementioned questions, along with any others that come to mind. Chapter

Adventures in Shankhabhumi

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

—potentially creating conflict with the riverines of the existing city-states. 3 A hermit asks for help when a newly born riverine (detailed at the end of this adventure) appears in a stream near her

home. The hermit fears the aggressive riverine of a nearby river will see the young spirit as a rival and harm it. 4 Dense swamp trees grow overnight among a city-state’s farmlands. Thousands of acres

Creating a Campaign

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

Creating a Campaign The adventures in this book provide play across a broad range of levels. They can be strung together as a complete campaign using the Infinite Staircase to travel between them

Creating an Artificer

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

Creating an Artificer When creating an artificer, think about your character’s relationship with the artisan who taught them their craft. Does the character have a rival? Talk to your DM about the

Eldeen Characters

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

Eldeen Characters When creating an Eldeen character or NPC, consider the following: Farm or Forest? Did you grow up on one of the farms of the eastern Reaches, or did you spend your childhood in the

Towering Wood? Are you comfortable in buildings, or do you prefer the open air? As a child of the forest, you might take the outlander background, or perhaps you became a folk hero by defending

Monsters and Motivations

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

Monsters and Motivations See chapter 3, “Creating Adventures” for guidance on creating encounters with monsters. To foster variety and suspense, be sure to include encounters of varying difficulty

d20 Goals 1–2 Find a sanctuary 3–5 Conquer the dungeon 6–8 Seek an item in the dungeon 9–11 Slay a rival 12–13 Hide from enemies 14–15 Recover from a battle 16–17 Avoid danger 18–20 Seek wealth

Dragonmarked House Adventure Hooks

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

Adventure Hook 1 A House Cannith artificer hires adventurers to steal secrets from a forge associated with a rival branch of the house. 2 House Deneith is recruiting adventurers to oppose a sudden rise

killed defending their charge from assassins, but manages to force the attackers to drop a clue to the identity of their employer. 8 The characters are hired to protect a crucial shipment aboard an

Adult Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to

convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond

Ancient Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your

the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how they respond. 8 An

Kuo-toa Deities

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Blibdoolpoolp the Sea Mother, a figure with a human body but the head and claws of a crayfish, sees broad worship. Lacking information about what their other gods look like, kuo-toa priests invent

new forms for them, creating divine idols with whatever objects are at hand. But whether these kuo-toa priests draw power from belief or delusion, aberrant talent, or a stranger supernatural source

Kithkin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lorwyn: First Light

Kithkin Kithkin are short folk with stout legs, long arms, and sturdy torsos. Their broad faces; round ears; and large, expressive eyes lend them a vaguely ursine appearance. Most kithkin are linked

species (see the Player’s Handbook) when creating a kithkin player character. Shadowmoor kithkin have Darkvision with a range of 120 feet.

Using This Book

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

Using This Book The Player’s Handbook is divided into three parts. Part 1 (chapters 1–6) is about creating a character, providing the rules and guidance you need to make the character you’ll play in

in this introduction. That part covers the kinds of die rolls you make to determine success or failure at the tasks your character attempts, and describes the three broad categories of activity in the

D&D Beyond

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