before build defending contested really

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

; 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

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

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

dozen) in a fortified compound enclosed by stone walls that are easily defensible. If no such compound exists, they build one. The parents spend the remainder of their lives guarding the compound

, defending their offspring, and sharing a lifetime of knowledge before they die. When the children are old enough to leave the compound, they pick up whatever weapons and tools their parents left behind and

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

, making a bargain for a musical gift in addition to your life and freedom, but at what cost? QUICK BUILD You can make a bard quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

invasion and oppression. Although individually they are timid and shy away from conflict, kobolds are dangerous if cornered, vicious when defending their eggs, and notorious for the dangerous

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

Questioning Corlie

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hold Back The Dead

—that’s not clear. I’ve had conflicting reports about the horde’s leader, but it’s some kind of ghost or creature made of dark mist.” Who’s Defending the Other Wall Sections? “We have a few soldiers

? “And let the Red Wizards establish a stronghold here in the Western Heartlands? No, we must repel them here and now.” Can You Pay More? “The city sponsoring you has authorized hazard pay of 1,000 GP each. Plus, you can split my 1,000 GP hazard pay among yourselves. I really need your help.”

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

Life of a Tortle

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation Supplement

by stone walls that are easily defensible. If no such compound exists, they build one. The parents spend the remainder of their lives guarding the compound, defending their offspring, and sharing a

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

30. Natural Cavern

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

Monster Manual). The flying spiders are giant spiders that have wings and a flying speed of 40 feet. They zip around the cavern and build web nests in the caps of zurkhwood mushrooms. The drow cut down

zurkhwood when they need to build furniture or rafts, while gardens of barrelstalk and trillimac provide food, water, and parchment (see “Fungi” for more information on barrelstalk, trillimac, and

Roleplaying Sergeant Vilroy

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

for Coal as her reason for hiring the characters, but a character who succeeds on a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by the Germaine’s Charisma (Deception) check can sense that she’s holding

the family is interested in Coal’s information (though Germaine also points out that the characters really are Coal’s best shot at surviving this ordeal, what with Coal being caught between the two

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

Using an Overarching Story

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

and using it to defeat a cosmic threat. Example 2: Agents of X You can also build a campaign around the idea that the adventurers are agents of something larger than themselves — a kingdom or secret

lies beyond the realm of a known enemy and forces them to navigate hostile territory. The characters could be pilgrims in search of a holy site or members of a secret order dedicated to defending the

4. The Alchemist

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

equipment. What it’s really looking for is its control gem, which it senses is close by (see area 21a). It doesn’t want help finding the gem, though, for fear that the treasure might fall into the hands of

pilfer one with a successful Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check contested by the slaad’s Wisdom (Perception) check. Potion of Comprehension. When you drink this potion, you gain the effect of a

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

laden wagon or after heroically defending it from thieves gain great respect and advance higher in the tribe’s pecking order. All Are Fighters Most of the orcs that stay behind when the

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

One for All: The Stronghold

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

at the touch of a child when they are unlocked. While some other races erect statues or build special structures to honor their heroes or commemorate momentous events, the dwarves live and work within

clan and stronghold are inextricably tied together — if one comes undone, the other fails as well. As such, defending the stronghold is a concern that the dwarves address even in the earliest stages

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

College of Whispers

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

courts and other settings of power. Speak up! It’s really hard to hear you over the screaming. Nope. It’s no use. I’ll have to stop the screaming. Disintegrations all around, then. College of

through this disguise by succeeding on a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by your Charisma (Deception) check. You gain a +5 bonus to your check. Once you capture a shadow with this feature, you can’t

Dragonfly Rides

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

, used a speak with animals spell to panic the dragonfly. Characters can spot Kettlesteam before she slips away with a successful Wisdom (Perception) check contested by the kenku’s Charisma (Deception

keeping secrets. If questioned about the carnival, the treant loudly whispers the following bits of information, preceding each with “I’m not really supposed to talk about this, but…” “Mister Witch and

High Moor

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

family becoming immolated in its home, but most agree the culprit was a dracolich, of all things, residing in the ruin and defending the family’s wealth. The gods only know what led to the creation of

attention or ire. Travelers who leave the inhabitants of the Misty Forest alone, and who build their campfires small and solely of fallen branches, are usually permitted to pass, so long as the folk of the

Last Stop

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

man has no hope of defending himself against the creatures. Massive coyotes are a persistent threat in the Rattle. The three coyotes use the dire wolf stat block, while the farmer they pursue is a

commoner) is an old man with a stocky build and an easy smile. He walks at an amble and speaks with a drawl—but his mind is constantly working, developing solutions to any problem he faces. Polder has

The Path to Perfection

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

. Dwarves don’t change their minds easily, and once set on a course rarely alter their strategy. Their commitment to following a plan serves them well when they build a stone bridge designed to last for

centuries, but the same inflexibility can bring problems when applied to the unpredictable dangers of the world. A clan might continue to depend on the same plan for defending its stronghold that has

Arbor Watchtower

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

god favors towers and hanging gardens that lift the verdant natural world up toward Nyx in her honor. In the Nessian Wood, Setessans build watchtowers that serve the dual purpose of military defense

Adventures table offers ideas for adventures in such a place. Watchtower Adventures d10 Adventure Goal 1 Guard a watchtower from assault. 2 Assault a watchtower, defeating the guards defending

Life and Outlook

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

mushrooms for food or watching over hatchlings, and they all understand that their actions contribute to the survival of the group. The tribe practices for the eventuality of defending the lair

skirmish with each other every few days. Eventually the leader of one warring tribe realizes it is losing due to attrition and moves its tribe to another area, ceding the contested territory to its

Dungeon History

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

, Halaster tapped into his immense power to summon beings from other planes of existence to help him build a wizard’s tower to dwarf all other wizard’s towers. But as the seasons wore on, the Seven saw

guardians in Undermountain. Populating and defending the dungeon became an obsession. Over time, the mage’s preoccupation with Undermountain electrified his eccentricities and infused him with an air of

People of Akros

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

are divided into three types of duty and armed appropriately for the task before them: Alamon. Rugged forces of wanderers patrol Akros’s borders, defending against invasion or attack by monsters that

small number of serfs are skilled artisans who manage to build a more prosperous life for themselves with their crafts. But even these wealthier serfs can’t own the land they live on, and they enjoy few

Mages of High Sorcery

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

cooperate as part of a single organization, overseen by a council of experienced members known as the Conclave. Equally devoted to the study of magic and united in defending their knowledge and

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

Neverwinter

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

defending the makeshift Wall from threats out of the Chasm prove themselves capable of becoming a proper military force. Both Baldur’s Gate and Waterdeep have offered to help train the new guards of

city. Anyone who is willing to do so can come to this area, claim a portion of land, and build a structure in which to live or work. There aren’t yet any guilds to restrict trade or construction, and

Dungrunglung

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

dutiful and dangerous grung warrior, dedicated to his king. Roark thinks all this goddess-summoning nonsense is distracting from the real issue at hand: defending Dungrunglung from the undead. Secretly

, Roark’s loyalty is to the tribe first and Groak second, but Roark is dutifully abiding the king’s obsession for now. He is suspicious of adventurers yet open to help in defending his village from the

The Stone Tooth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2

complex, or that it’s possible to enter through the chimney. The orcs defending the Mountain Door refuse to negotiate for their return. The characters might disguise themselves as orcs using captured gear

. Doing so can let them try to bluff their way past sentries in the dungeon, using Charisma (Deception) checks contested by the orcs’ Wisdom (Insight) checks. Treasure. Each orc carries a sack of

Life in the Tribe

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

heroically defending it from thieves gain great respect and advance higher in the tribe’s pecking order. All Are Fighters Most of the orcs that stay behind when the warriors go on their raids are weaker than

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 Strength Orcs appreciate physical prowess and formidable combat

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