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Returning 35 results for 'better before down contract rules'.
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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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
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
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
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->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
run a special session—colloquially called session zero—to establish expectations, outline the terms of a social contract, and share house rules. Making and sticking to these rules can help ensure
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->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Primus, leader of the modrons. As a creature of absolute law, Primus could be trusted to issue a fair and impartial verdict. Asmodeus drafted a contract to seal the deal, and the angels — after carefully
mortals to evil, but he and his minions never breached a contract and explained the terms clearly. Had they not obeyed the rule of law in doing so? Was it not mortal ambition, rather than infernal deception
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Social Contract D&D is first and foremost meant to be a fun-for-all experience. If one or more participants aren’t having fun, the game won’t last long. Session zero is the perfect time for you and
the players to discuss the experience they’re hoping for, as well as topics, themes, and behavior they deem inappropriate. Out of this discussion, a social contract begins to form. Sometimes a social
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
zero.” Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything outlines how to run session zero discussions, but in general, use this session to discuss the game’s content, social contract, and house rules, and to create
characters. Reinforce Expectations Make it clear that D&D is a group storytelling game. As the DM, you have a role in crafting adventures and arbitrating rules, but you aren’t solely responsible for how
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->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->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->Dungeon Master’s Guide
(with their input), arbitrate the rules, and settle arguments. And when you’re narrating the action of the game, the players should be paying attention. Player Die Rolling Players should roll their dice
reroll it? When it lands cocked against a book, do you pull the book away and see where it lands or reroll the die? Work with your players to answer these questions, and record the answers as house rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
(with their input), arbitrate the rules, and settle arguments. And when you’re narrating the action of the game, the players should be paying attention. Player Die Rolling Players should roll their dice
reroll it? When it lands cocked against a book, do you pull the book away and see where it lands or reroll the die? Work with your players to answer these questions, and record the answers as house rules
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->Acquisitions Incorporated
Documancer Contracts have mystical power. Break my contract and I’ll use your bones for my next quill. — Documancer’s warning Every great Acquisitions Incorporated quest begins with a contract from
Head Office — and a franchise’s documancer is most likely the one who controls and channels the power of that contract. A documancer bears the responsibility of managing each of a franchise’s quests
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
. Glasya, the rebellious daughter of Asmodeus, rules the place and oversees the punishments doled out to devils that stray from their assigned tasks. These lawbreakers are put on trial in Phlegethos, and if
unpredictable. She flaunts the rules of tradition and bends the law without breaking it. She delights in shocking others by springing gambits that catch them unaware. Mortals who go up against
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
fundamental urge for survival. If gold is power and power is life, then the more gold you accumulate, the better and longer your life will be. Why is it that people who have money and power are admired
want a model for efficiency and motivation in an organization, look no further than the infernal expanse of Nessus. You want to talk about a perfect sales pitch and a diabolically intricate contract
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->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
all. Rules for Everything Devils are evil schemers by nature, but they must operate within the bounds of the Nine Hells’ intricate legal code. A devil’s attitude toward the law is in part driven by its
law that “prevents” it from offering help. Three Paths to Power Rank-and-file devils have three ways of ascending through the ranks. The Nine Hells uses a complex system of rules to quantify and
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->Acquisitions Incorporated
deal. But a rogue who notices a carefully worded legal trap in a contract can save their franchise from lasting harm — and a rogue who can insert such details into someone else’s contract is worth their
the drama and derring-do. But the tale is so much better for the telling if you can highlight it with visual aids. You carry a trophy from that big score, which you pull out when the occasion demands
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->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
devils both know that a yugoloth’s loyalty is constantly for sale — even during a conflict on the battlefield — and a yugoloth never agrees to a contract that prohibits it from seeking a better offer
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
occurs. Roll a d20 and consult the Random Events table, or choose a suitable event. For the rules on madness, see chapter 2 of this adventure and chapter 8, “Running the Game,” in the Dungeon Master’s
of violence Disease One or more NPC party members contract a disease. Roll a d4 to determine how many NPCs are affected, then roll a d6 and consult the Diseases table to determine which disease is
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->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