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Fog Giant

Monsters Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

roof of a merchant’s home, seizing what they seek, and stalking away before the town watch can rally. Intricate Networks. Clever, ambitious, and greedy, many fog giants build up whole networks of

bandits, raiders, spies, and criminals. In some cases, such a network might grow large enough that minions in the lower ranks are ignorant of their leader’s true nature. Fog giants who amass

Mark of Hospitality Halfling

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

lies in charm and connections. A Ghallanda innkeeper hears many things—if you want to know what’s really going on in a community, talk to the halfling bartender. The leaders of House

Ghallanda don’t sell information; they prefer to build friendship and deal in favors. But should a Ghallanda baron ever truly need something, they likely have a favor they can call in. Ghallanda has

Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they feel they have something to prove to the elder races, and that’s why they build their mighty

build cities to last for the ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short life span, but a human nation or culture preserves

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

communities are threatened. Pastoral Pleasantries Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of their own or even hold much

;s going on behind their smiling faces—surely more than they ever let on.” Humans. “Humans are a lot like us, really. At least some of them are. Step out of the castles and keeps

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

; did I mention focus? 2 I get really excited about my ideas and I can’t wait to talk about them and start putting them into practice and tinkering with them and I want to tell you about how

exciting it all is! 3 It’s not magic — or anything, really — if you do it only halfway. Whatever I do, I give it all I’ve got. 4 I do what my gut tells me. 5

Ability Checks

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

used for. The Ability Checks table summarizes that material for easy reference. Multiple Ability Checks Sometimes a character fails an ability check and wants to try again. In some cases, a character is

successful one. In other cases, failing an ability check makes it impossible to make the same check to do the same thing again. For example, a rogue might try to trick a town guard into thinking the

Mystery

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

town to town to crack tough cases the local authorities can’t handle. Such a campaign emphasizes puzzles and problem-solving in addition to combat prowess. A larger mystery might even set the stage for

the whole campaign. Why did someone kill the characters’ mentor, setting them on the path of adventure? Who really controls the Cult of the Red Hand? In this case, the characters might uncover clues to

Chapter 1: This Is Your Life

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

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

backstory for your character — an autobiography of sorts — that you can use to inform how you roleplay the character. Your DM can draw from this material as the campaign proceeds, creating situations and scenarios that build off your previous life experiences.

Wearing and Wielding Items

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

hands, hats and helmets on the head, and rings on the finger. Magic armor must be donned, a shield strapped to the arm, a cloak fastened about the shoulders. A weapon must be held. In most cases, a

magic item that's meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. Rare

House Ghallanda

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

charm and connections. A Ghallanda innkeeper hears many things — if you want to know what’s really going on in a community, talk to the halfling bartender. The leaders of House Ghallanda don’t sell

information; they prefer to build friendship and deal in favors. But should a Ghallanda baron every truly need something, they likely have a favor they can call in. Ghallanda has a number of “bound

Wearing and Wielding Items

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

, hats and helmets on a head, and rings on a finger. Magic armor must be donned, a Shield strapped to the arm, a cloak fastened about the shoulders. A weapon must be held. In most cases, a magic item

that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. Multiple Items of the Same

Wearing and Wielding Items

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

, hats and helmets on a head, and rings on a finger. Magic armor must be donned, a Shield strapped to the arm, a cloak fastened about the shoulders. A weapon must be held. In most cases, a magic item

that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. Multiple Items of the Same

House Ghallanda

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

seems harmless and inconsequential. But Ghallanda’s strength lies in charm and connections. A Ghallanda innkeeper hears many things—if you want to know what’s really going on in a community, talk to the

halfling bartender. The leaders of House Ghallanda don’t sell information; they prefer to build friendship and deal in favors. But should a Ghallanda baron ever truly need something, they likely have a

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

dwarfhold, the orcs will butcher any dwarf that stands against them, but it’s really all about the property—they would be just as happy if all the dwarves ran away. Strength Respects

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

Encounter Pace and Tension

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

that structure in an adventure where the players control their characters’ actions, but you can use the encounters you plan to build tension toward a climax. Each encounter in an adventure is an

limited resources. Variety also contributes to a sense of escalating tension. Build variety into your encounters in three ways: Vary Encounter Type. Use a mix of social interaction, exploration, and

Wearing and Wielding Items

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

cases, a magic item that’s meant to be worn can fit a creature regardless of size or build. Many magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they magically adjust themselves to the wearer. Rare

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

sewer tunnels, paying them with food and tools the kobolds wouldn’t have access to on their own. If they are treated well and left alone to do the job, the kobolds work industriously and build a

, they might build a warren and make a permanent home there, while continuing to expand the town’s sewers as the community grows. These so-called “city kobolds” live underground but

Build Your Group

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

Build Your Group Naturally, a large portion of the Boromar Clan’s members come from a criminal background. There’s no reason characters with other backgrounds can’t be part of the syndicate, though

secret doors. Many Safecrackers also boast a high Strength for those cases where lockpicks fail. Safecrackers often come from criminal backgrounds, but characters with experience using other tools and

Build Your Group

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

Build Your Group Newspapers employ a wide range of adventurers to bring news back to the home office. Consider some or all of these roles for the characters in your party: Voice of BRELAND

Korranberg Chronicle Exposed! Who really pulls the strings behind the ostensibly unbiased news coverage of the Korranberg Chronicle? The Chronicle’s publisher, a wily Zil gnome named Cassia Lorridan

Small and Practical

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

, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of their own or even hold much land beyond their quiet shires. They typically don’t recognize any sort of halfling

.” Humans. “Humans are a lot like us, really. At least some of them are. Step out of the castles and keeps, go talk to the farmers and herders and you’ll find good, solid folk. Not that there’s anything wrong

Franchise Downtime

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

insight to build a detector that can sense portals or planar disturbances. A portalometer, if you will. The research or scrutineering activities can help the characters uncover the necessary information or

to show brief glimpses of possible locations, or any other device channeling suitable magic. If you really want to dig deep, you could experiment with the idea that the orrery’s power gives it a kind

Ability Checks

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

character’s skill or tool proficiencies applies. Trying Again Sometimes a character fails an ability check and the player wants to try again. In many cases, failing an ability check makes it impossible to

Giant, Fog

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

they seek, and stalking away before the town watch can rally. Intricate Networks. Clever, ambitious, and greedy, many fog giants build up whole networks of bandits, raiders, spies, and criminals. In some

cases, such a network might grow large enough that minions in the lower ranks are ignorant of their leader’s true nature. Fog giants who amass such organizations think of themselves as exiled nobles

Mages of High Sorcery

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

ambitions, then pursue the goals of their order, and then support the continued well-being of the Conclave. Towers of High Sorcery Thousands of years ago, the Mages of High Sorcery cooperated to build

some cases, the test has lasting consequences for an applicant’s life beyond the order. Renegade Mages If a spellcaster leaves or is thrown out of the Mages of High Sorcery, or they fail the Test of

Building a Dungeon

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

creatures that typically build dungeons. You can choose a creator from the table or roll randomly, or choose some other dungeon builder appropriate for your campaign. Dungeon Creator d20 Creator

magic items and great material wealth, treasure vault dungeons are heavily guarded by monsters and traps. History In most cases, the original architects of a dungeon are long gone, and the question of

Manor Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

stands next to a vanity. Two large ropes dangle at either end of a set of drawn curtains. A black table against the north wall holds a stack of instrument cases. The backstage area of the

during the first few months of his captivity, with the entries becoming more sporadic until the arrival of Renekor. Quill believes that a year has passed in Wisteria Vale, when it really has been

Obviator

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

, you might undertake a deep study of conflicts and rival organizations, working carefully to stay three steps ahead of the opposition. In all cases, though, you help advance your franchise by

. Brilliant. One day, you hope these words will apply to you. 8 It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you. And if you’re out to get them first.

Designing Simple Traps

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

and damage values as shown below. Purpose Before diving into the details of your trap, think about its reason for being. Why would someone build such a trap? What is its purpose? Consider the trap’s

. In most cases, the check reveals the trap. In other cases, it uncovers clues, but foiling the trap still requires some deduction. The characters might succeed on the check but still trigger the trap

Baldur's Gate

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

. Becoming a patriar is out of the question. Still, the wealthiest Baldurians live as much like the patriars as they can, buying up adjacent properties in the hopes of demolishing them in order to build

. Shops, taverns, and tenements choke the bridge, hanging from both spans, and even in some cases built to hang from the supports that hold it up. Folk must pay a toll to cross on foot or by cart or

Climbing Kelvin's Cairn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Frozen Cave A character with the Littlest Yeti secret (see appendix B) can really shine in this encounter. Up ahead on your left is a fifteen-foot-high, ten-foot-wide cave mouth. There’s blood on the snow

characters until they return to Ten-Towns, then parts ways with them after deciding that her adventuring days are over. Against one wall, hidden under the shattered remains of a dogsled, is a mess kit, an

City Celebrations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

courses in each ward, and the winners from each ward compete at the Field of Triumph. If you really want to see the wards come to life, this is the time. Pick your favorite, wear its colors, and cheer

: Stoneshar Stoneshar is an all-faiths day during which folk strive not to be idle. Even children at play are encouraged to dig holes, build sand castles, or construct crude models. Waterdavians

Roleplaying a Giant

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

castles that still drift across the sky. No one can build those majestic structures any longer. The methods of their construction were lost (along with much other knowledge) when Ostoria fell. Some

: dwarves and fire giants. If you don’t want to be forced to slave in the mines until you’re tossed in the coals, you have really only one option. — Volo Mighty Fighters, Poor Planners When fire

Gnome Gods

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

Gnome Gods Who forged the chains that bind Tiamat in Avernus? Why do the modrons go on the Great March? Who is the Lady of Pain, really? I can’t tell you, but the answers lie in the Golden Hills. And

worked together to replace it with a stronger one made of iron, but her resentment over the mishap lingers. Gnomes build their homes in hidden and defensible places because Gaerdal teaches them these

Uthgardt Lands

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

as elk, rothé, and deer. Young men and women looking to make a name for themselves sometimes build their reputations by hunting dangerous predators and great beasts: bears, great cats, large boar, and

to three weeks’ travel away from the tribe’s ancestral mound, with raiding parties going much farther afield. These holy sites are scattered through the North; in almost all cases, the exact location

World-Shaking Events

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

, gems, mithral) Once you have determined the type of discovery, flesh it out by deciding exactly what it is, who discovered it, and what potential effect it could have on the world. Ideally, previous

major change to the campaign world. You can build one from scratch using ideas from the current campaign or randomly determine a world-shaking event and flesh out the details. Write a list of three or

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