best before down contested responses

Broom of Animated Attack

Monsters Curse of Strahd

contested by the creature's Strength check. If the broom wins the contest, it flies out of the creature's grasp and makes a melee attack against it with advantage on the attack roll.Animated objects

are crafted with potent magic to follow the commands of their creators. When not commanded, they follow the last order they received to the best of their ability, and can act independently to fulfill

Session Zero

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

Boundaries Review your takeaways from the content surveys. Then, informed by players’ survey responses, present your list of content the game will not feature. These are your game’s boundaries and will not

. Trust that players know their needs best, and update the game accordingly. Let players know that this list of boundaries will be accessible during every session and that by playing, they agree to

B: Elven Encampment

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

. He drives his subordinates to catalog every foot of the Northern Wastes in search of the barest scrap of Silvanesti magic. Personality Trait. “I know what’s best for my people, and I lead with logic

best interest of Silvanesti first.” Meeting Zhelsuel Zhelsuel confronts Dalamar and the characters when they arrive. He wants nothing to do with outsiders and sees them as an obstacle to the elves

Roleplaying

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

adventurers are in a living world. Strive for responses and actions that introduce twists into the game. For example, an old woman whose family was killed at the hands of an evil wizard might regard

talk in haughty drawls. Let a pirate NPC say, “Arrrr, maties!” in your best Long John Silver voice. Let intelligent monsters unfamiliar with Common stumble along with awkward grammar. Let drunkards

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

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

actions contribute to the survival of the group. The tribe practices for the eventuality of defending the lair against intruders, and their plans always include knowing the best escape routes and who is

moves its tribe to another area, ceding the contested territory to its more successful neighbors. As demonstrated by their hatred of gnomes, kobolds have a persecution complex and easily take offense

Orrery Vault

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

created the orrery.) If any character mentions the orrery, the clockwork creatures ask, “Why do you seek the orrery?” (Responses that suggest the franchise is trying to stop some great evil can result in

answers, “Prepare to be disappointed.”) “What is the best way to make money?” (The clockwork creatures are particularly pleased if a risky endeavor, including running a franchise, is mentioned.) If fully

Random Encounters (A-C)

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

lets out a demonic hiss as a black cat darts out of the shadows, trying its best to avoid you. This familiar is searching for its mistress (a Barovian witch). It wants nothing to do with the

, one of the claws tries to crawl into the character’s backpack and hide there. It makes a Dexterity (Stealth) check contested by the character’s passive Wisdom (Perception) score. If the claw loses the

Chaos Incarnate

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

best serves the lord’s desires. Of course, keeping control of a layer involves fighting off other demons that are looking to expand their domains. From time to time, a layer changes hands or is

determined at any given time is which lord holds sway over which parts of the Abyss, and which areas are being contested by two or more lords. And as soon as such a fact becomes known, it might already

Duthcloim

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

the characters and begins shadowing them, attempting to remain unseen. Characters keeping an eye out for trouble spot the drow with a successful Wisdom (Perception) check contested by the drow’s

be praised.”) Lil alurl velve zhah lil velkyn uss. (“The best knife is an unseen one.”) Khaless nau uss. (“Trust no one.”)

Doomspace in a Nutshell

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

. Fyreen Fyreen is a volcanic world despoiled by dragons. The planet’s remaining resources are hotly contested, giving rise to tyrants. Temperatures on Fyreen plunged dramatically after the sun

from Fyreen. Many of these creatures were deposited on the nine moons of En (which provide temporary solace at best) or borne safely to other Wildspace systems. Millions more creatures were left to be

Small Stalls

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

Contest A participant must outperform a gnome in a best-of-five poetry contest. Doing so requires three successful DC 15 Charisma (Performance) checks in five or fewer attempts. Someone who wins the

participant has to pin an unarmed goblin (lawful good), while a Medium participant has to pin one goblin while wrestling two of them. Winning the game requires a successful Strength (Athletics) check contested

Life and Outlook

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

against intruders, and their plans always include knowing the best escape routes and who is responsible for blocking tunnels to deter pursuit. Kobolds feel a cool affinity or something like kinship for

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

Idyllglen Events

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

winged mammoth is Lulu the hollyphant in shapechanged form. After ridding Idyllglen of Yeenoghu, Lulu and Zariel introduce themselves to the characters, healing them as best they can. While these

demonic terrors of the Abyss. Were you in my place, would you risk it all to save others?” Zariel lets each character answer her question in turn. She thanks them for their responses, then utters a

Animated Objects

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

Animated Objects Animated objects are crafted with potent magic to follow the commands of their creators. When not commanded, they follow the last order they received to the best of their ability

contested by the creature’s Strength check. If the broom wins the contest, it flies out of the creature’s grasp and makes a melee attack against it with advantage on the attack roll. Guardian Portrait A

Wilderness Survival

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

is caught during that hour. If the check succeeds, the character hooks a knucklehead trout (see appendix C) and must make a Strength (Athletics) check contested by the fish’s Strength check to pull it

Travel table shows how fast the characters can move through the mountains on foot or by dogsled. Even in the best of cases, a journey in the mountains takes twice as long as one of the same distance

People of Phandalin

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

“Recent Events in Phandalin” section can guide the NPCs’ responses to the characters’ questions. But beyond being sources of information, many of the NPCs in this episode have the potential to interact

Redbrand Ruffians, a bandit gang that did their best to set up a reign of terror in Phandalin some years ago. Brawn came very late to the Redbrands’ operation, and thus did only a little intimidation

Stage 1: The Dran & Courtier?

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

were inclined to train them. Also sitting at the table is the elderly Tanas (NG female human scout), who has been watching over the youngsters and doing her best to keep them out of trouble. All three

the characters. When Propha is asked any questions, characters can attempt a Wisdom (Insight) check contested by the doppelganger’s Charisma (Deception) check, which is usually made with advantage

Lottie's Palace

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

stat block with these changes: It speaks Common, though its responses are programmed. A successful DC 11 Wisdom (Perception) check notes a small clockwork device attached to the inside of a

, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, and poisoned conditions, and to exhaustion. The clockwork behir does its best to destroy the characters, and continues fighting even after Lottie’s illusion departs (see

Traveling to Phandalin

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

that might help them corner the market on potions of water breathing. The terms of the deal are up to you, but it’s best to start small. Once per month, the lizardfolk can meet the adventurers or

can choose a living humanoid within 5 feet of it once per day, making a Charisma check contested by the target’s Charisma check. If the cursed victim wins, the curse transfers to the new target. If

Wedding Itinerary

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

execution are among the best possible outcomes. Ideally, the players coming up with hilarious ways to escape will allow them to prevent such fates. Even if the characters have not used Flabbergast’s

can feel like the best path to securing the orrery component and winning, while some players might blurt out their secret goal with the excuse that their character would try to do so. Encourage

Maelstrom Level 2

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

important information about her father!” or “Princess Serissa told you that we were coming, or have you forgotten?” Have the liar make a Charisma (Deception) check contested by the giants’ Wisdom (Insight

. Dealing with Uthor Uthor cares deeply for Serissa and does his best not to anger, frighten, or undermine her. He advises her not to trust small folk, but otherwise doesn’t interfere in her negotiations

Locations E - H

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

with other Uthgardt over contested territory. Fireshear Long ago, a meteor strike blasted a crater in the frozen tundra near the coast of the Trackless Sea, shearing away tons of rock and exposing rich

belligerently protective treants. Thus, it is best “forgotten.” An immortal druid named Pheszeltan dwells deep in the woods and is willing to offer advice to those with the skill to reach him. Fork

D&D Beyond

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