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Returning 35 results for 'better before down comrades rules'.
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
against each other, perhaps to determine who rules a war band or because of extreme starvation. Even under ordinary circumstances, gnolls that are deprived of victims for too long struggle to control
their hunger and violent urges. Eventually, they fight among themselves.
The survivors devour the flesh of their slain comrades but preserve the bones. Then, by invoking rituals to Yeenoghu they bring
Folk Hero
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
you.
Suggested Characteristics
A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their
.
d6
Flaw
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of
Deep Dragon Wyrmling
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
"}
Ideal
1
Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours. (Any)
2
Kindred. All dragons are kin to one
it to the surface world. Lost and confused, the wyrmling has been captured by a group of cruel adventurers.
3
A deep dragon wyrmling whimsically rules over a worshipful group of kobolds, sending
Orcus
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Out of the Abyss
chapter 7, "Treasure” of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.Orcus’s Lair
Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules
tampering with the dead in my search to better understand death.”
61–80
“I want to achieve the everlasting existence of undeath.”
81–00
“I am awash in
Lizardfolk
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades.
6
You still don’t understand how metaphors work. That doesn’t stop
emotion and empathy. The same label serves as an apt depiction of lizardfolk.
Lacking any internal emotional reactions, lizardfolk behave in a distant manner. They don’t mourn fallen comrades or
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
;
Suggested Characteristics
A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their home communities
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure.
3
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
species of humanoid: lizardfolk and meat. 5 You have learned to laugh. You use this talent in response to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades. 6 You still don’t understand how
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
with me to pursue my destiny.
d6
Flaw
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and
city, especially hard drink.
5
Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land.
6
I have trouble trusting in my allies.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
to all emotional situations, to better fit in with your comrades. 6 You still don’t understand how metaphors work. This doesn’t stop you from trying to use them at every opportunity. 7 You appreciate
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
, making sure the rules serve the group’s fun. Tutorials in each adventure teach you some of those rules, but you’ll want to reference the D&D Beyond Basic Rules to better understand them. Keep It Secret
explore. Then you use a combination of imagination and the game’s rules to determine the results of the adventurers’ decisions. Adjudicate the Rules. You oversee how the group uses the game’s rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Rules House rules include optional rules, such as those presented in chapter 9 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, and rules you create. If you plan to use any house rules, session zero is a good time to
discuss those rules with the players and solicit their input. House rules are best presented as experiments, and time will tell if they’re good for your game. If you introduce a house rule in session
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
the characters off at a higher level than usual. With the DM’s approval, use the following rules to create a Clifftop adventurer. You begin at 5th level. You start with 600 gp in addition to your
, home to valued comrades and rivals. It’s where you get your next job. But as a Clifftop adventurer you’ll be venturing to exotic locales. You may delve into the ruins below Sharn or crash an airship into Skyway. You may head to Xen’drik or other distant lands. Wherever you go, adventure awaits!
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
fishing rules ("Fishing for Knucklehead Trout"), only replace the knucklehead trout with an octopus. Befriending Its Comrades. Angajuk lives alongside other sea creatures, including narwhals and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
in crisis. Strict rules of engagement prevent them from impacting local conditions or taking sides in a conflict; their mandate allows them only to extract those in danger and defend themselves if
. Now in his forties, he leads the Shieldbearers. He is a canny tactician and a highly competent leader, but he bristles against the rules of engagement imposed on the Shieldbearers by the Speakers for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Proficiency Characters and monsters are good at various things. Some are skilled with many weapons, while others can use only a few. Some are better at understanding people’s motives, and others are
better at unlocking the secrets of the multiverse. All creatures have a Proficiency Bonus, which reflects the impact that training has on the creature’s capabilities. A character’s Proficiency Bonus
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
resistance. 6 Every problem can be solved with the use of force. Devil Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Loyalty. I keep my vows to my superior and respect those who do the same. 2 Law. I might not like the rules
in the direst situation deserve respect. 6 Brutality. Overwhelming violence, and those who can deliver it, are worthy of obedience. Devil Bonds d6 Bond 1 I and my comrades fought well in the Blood
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Proficiency Characters and monsters are good at various things. Some are skilled with many weapons, while others can use only a few. Some are better at understanding people’s motives, and others are
better at unlocking the secrets of the multiverse. All creatures have a Proficiency Bonus, which reflects the impact that training has on the creature’s capabilities. A character’s Proficiency Bonus
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Running This Chapter In this chapter, the characters explore the halls of Lavoglia, better known as the Palace of Heart’s Desire. Most likely, they’ve learned of Zybilna’s betrayal at the hands of
’ experience as entertaining as possible: Read the description of Iggwilv’s Cauldron in appendix A. Read this chapter in its entirety, and reacquaint yourself with the “Rules of Conduct” and “Death in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Radiant Citadel
in crisis. Strict rules of engagement prevent them from impacting local conditions or taking sides in a conflict; their mandate allows them only to extract those in danger and defend themselves if
. Now in his forties, he leads the Shieldbearers. He is a canny tactician and a highly competent leader, but he bristles against the rules of engagement imposed on the Shieldbearers by the Speakers for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
issues as they come up.
When in doubt, make it up! It’s better to keep the game moving than to get bogged down in the rules.
It’s not a competition. The DM isn’t competing against the player
The Dungeon Master The Dungeon Master (DM) has a special role in the Dungeons & Dragons game. The DM is a referee. When it’s not clear what ought to happen next, the DM decides how to apply the rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Chapter 1: This Is Your Life The character creation rules in the Player’s Handbook provide all the information you need to define your character in preparation for a life of adventuring. What they
were the greatest influences on you during your formative years, for better or worse? To answer these questions and more, you can use the tables and the advice in this section to compose a well-developed
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
, the pech. Appendix C features a score sheet for use in competitive play. See the “Tournament Rules” section for how to run the adventure as a tournament-style scenario. Appendix D provides six premade
tantalizing details about Iggwilv the Witch Queen—perhaps better known as the archmage Tasha, famous for her Hideous Laughter spell. This adaptation pays homage to the original by including a score sheet for competitive play.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
against the player’s better judgment, because “that’s what the character would do.” Since combat isn’t the focus, game rules take a back seat to character development. Ability check modifiers and skill
proficiencies take precedence over combat bonuses. Feel free to change or ignore rules to fit the players’ roleplaying needs, using the advice presented in part 3 of this book. A WORLD TO EXPLORE
Much
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
help you arbitrate issues as they arise. When in doubt, make it up. It’s better to keep the game moving than to get bogged down in the rules. Embrace the shared story. D&D is about telling a story as a
apply the rules and keep the story going. The DM is a storyteller. The DM sets the pace of the story and presents the various challenges and encounters that the players must overcome. The DM is the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
Devil Traits Common traits among devils include the following: Charm. Devils are consummate charmers. Like humans, some are better at it than others. The good ones savor the exchange of pleasantries
by the same rules and obey the same social conventions as mortals. Devils have no problem appearing and acting in whatever manner they need to achieve their end goal — usually a contract for services
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Noble The folk of Saltmarsh care little for nobles and their titles. Although the king technically rules the land, the south has long been left to its own devices. Are you a local noble turning to a
sent here by King Skotti himself. You are expected to keep your ties to the crown secret, the better to gain a clear insight into the region. If folk know that you represent the king, they’ll put their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
breakdown of the situation: What Kalyth Wants. The Cyran veterans want to sell treasures from their ruined homeland in markets outside the Mournland. With the money, Kalyth says, she and her comrades can
fund new, better lives for themselves. What Mercy Wants. Mercy regards Docents (and any other items intended for warforged use) as sacred. The pilgrims believe that such objects belong in the hands
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse
each other, perhaps to determine who rules a war band or because of extreme starvation. Even under ordinary circumstances, gnolls that are deprived of victims for too long struggle to control their
hunger and violent urges. Eventually, they fight among themselves. The survivors devour the flesh of their slain comrades but preserve the bones. Then, by invoking rituals to Yeenoghu (appears in this
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
of the spectrum, even a hag without lofty status is likely to have strange, single-use items that don’t emulate common spells or even follow the normal rules of magic. For inspiration in devising the
, a hag should be able to use weird magic only once or twice per encounter in her lair, or only once per encounter if she is elsewhere. A hag who is expecting a fight might be better prepared and able
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
villain’s background, consider the following options. War Criminal What horrific actions did the villain take during the Last War? Did they massacre civilians? Betray their comrades or their nation? A
brilliant artificer might have designed arcane weapons that violated the rules of engagement. A Karrnathi bone knight (see chapter 6) could have overseen a camp where prisoners of war were used as
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
idea, I get wildly excited about it until I come up with another, better idea. 7 I live by my own set of weird and wonderful rules. 8 I can’t bring myself to trust most adults. Ideals d8 Ideal 1
good, which is why I live by an ever-changing set of rules. (Chaotic) 5 Honor. A deal is a deal, and I would never break one. (Lawful) 6 Rule of Three. Everything in the multiverse happens in threes. I
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
(commoner) believes she can care for the city’s children better than their parents and works to have the other adults arrested.
2 A priest begins imposing restrictive lifestyle rules on a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
that they better reflect such a setting. For example, when the characters use spells or special abilities that teleport them short distances, they actually make high-flying acrobatic leaps. Ability
actions in the game don’t change the nuts and bolts of the rules, but they make all the difference in the feel of a campaign. Similarly, a class doesn’t need new rules to reflect a cultural influence; a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
battle, the better to imbue their victims with the magic needed to spawn more gnolls. Gnoll Warriors Common gnolls comprise the bulk of a war band. They fight mainly with spears fashioned from wood and
preserve the bones of their fallen comrades, so that a pack lord or a flind can perform a ritual to Yeenoghu to turn them into loyal, undead followers known as witherlings. Even after death, gnoll
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
Ship-to-Ship Combat The following rules are designed to make ship-to-ship combat simple yet exciting. Starting Distance At the start of an engagement, the DM decides how far a ship is from its
mangonels being the most common. Such weapons are slow to load and fire. Player characters are almost always better off using their own weapons and spells in ship-to-ship combat, reserving shipboard