book before deciding contest roll

Demonomicon of Iggwilv

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

. The tome recounts both the oldest and most current profanities of the Abyss and demons. Demons have attempted to censor the text, and while sections have been ripped from the book’s spine, the

general chapters remain, ever revealing demonic secrets. Caged behind lines of script roils a secret piece of the Abyss itself, which keeps the book up-to-date, no matter how many pages are removed, and

Teleport

Spells Player’s Handbook

six months, such as a book from a wizard’s library. “Very familiar” is a place you have visited often, a place you have carefully studied, or a place you can see when you cast the

destination in a random direction. Roll 1d8 for the direction: 1, east; 2, southeast; 3, south; 4, southwest; 5, west; 6, northwest; 7, north; or 8, northeast. On Target. You and your group (or the target object) appear where you intended.

Moonblade

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

-75 When you hit with an attack roll using the Moonblade, you deal an extra 1d6 Force damage. Each time the weapon gains this property after the first, the extra damage increases by 1d6, to a maximum

time you throw the weapon, it flies back to your hand after the attack. 81-85 The Moonblade scores a Critical Hit on a roll of 19 or 20 on the d20. 86-95 You can take a Bonus Action to

Animated Chained Library

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

False Object. If the library is motionless at the start of combat, it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature hasn’t observed the library move or act, that creature must

succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to discern that the library is animate.Multiattack. The library makes two attacks. Chained Book. Melee Weapon Attack: +4;{"diceNotation":"1d20+4","rollType

Swarm of Animated Books

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

False Objects. If the swarm is motionless at the start of combat, it has advantage on its initiative roll. Moreover, if a creature hasn’t observed the swarm move or act, that creature must

","rollType":"to hit","rollAction":"Book Club"} to hit, reach 0 ft., one target in the swarm’s space. Hit: 6 (2d4 + 1);{"diceNotation":"2d4+1","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Book Club","rollDamageType

Intellect Devourer Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

take 11 (2d10);{"diceNotation":"2d10","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Devour Intellect","rollDamageType":"psychic"} psychic damage. Also on a failure, roll 3d6;{"diceNotation":"3d6","rollType":"roll

Intelligence. Body Thief. The intellect devourer initiates an Intelligence contest with an incapacitated humanoid within 5 feet of it that isn’t protected by protection from evil and good. If it wins

Poltergeist Legacy

Monsters Monster Manual (2014)

, the poltergeist makes a Charisma check contested by the target’s Strength check. If the poltergeist wins the contest, the poltergeist hurls the target up to 30 feet in any direction, including

upward. If the target then comes into contact with a hard surface or heavy object, the target takes 1d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll"} damage per 10 feet moved. If the target is an object

Duplicitous Manuscript

Magic Items Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

To you, this book is a magical spellbook. To anyone else, the book appears to be a volume of verbose romance fiction. As an action, you can change the book’s appearance and alter the plot of

the romance. When found, the book contains the following spells: hallucinatory terrain, major image, mirror image, mislead, Nystul's magic aura, phantasmal force, and silent image. It functions as a

Book of Vile Darkness (Variant)

Magic Items Keys from the Golden Vault

to the book, you can cast circle of death (save DC 20) from it as an action. After you cast the spell, roll a d6. On a roll of 1–5, you can’t use this property again until the next dawn

even glimpse the scrawled pages invites madness. Most believe the lich-god Vecna authored the Book of Vile Darkness. He recorded in its pages every diseased idea, every unhinged thought, and every

Nass Lantomir's Ghost

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened for 1 minute. If the save fails by 5 or more, the target also ages 1d4;{"diceNotation":"1d4","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Horrifying Visage"} ×

and headed toward the Sea of Moving Ice, hoping to find a tome called The Codicil of White, a book of magic and lore composed by servants of Auril the Frostmaiden. The Arcane Brotherhood believes that

Sword of Kas Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

grants a +3 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. It scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20, and deals an extra 2d10 slashing damage to undead. If the sword isn’t bathed in blood

wins the contest, nothing happens, and the wish spell is wasted. If the sword loses the contest, it is destroyed.

Demonomicon of Iggwilv Legacy

Magic Items Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

do so, you can add double your proficiency bonus to the check. Fiendish Scourging. Your magic causes pain to fiends. While carrying the book, when you make a damage roll for a spell you cast against

recounts both the oldest and most current profanities of the Abyss and demons. Demons have attempted to censor the text, and while sections have been ripped from the book’s spine, the general

Snicker-Snack

Magic Items The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

at least one head and roll a 20 on the attack roll, you cut off one of the creature’s heads. The creature dies if it can’t survive without the lost head. A creature is immune to this

finish a long rest after that happens, you can attempt to regain the sword’s trust by making a contested Charisma check against Snicker-Snack. If you win the contest, your attunement to the weapon is instantly restored. Your attunement to the weapon can’t be restored in any other way.

Emerald Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

makes an attack roll or an ability check, it must roll a d4;{"diceNotation":"1d4", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Disorienting Breath"} and reduce the total by the number rolled. On a successful save

tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive emerald dragon characters. Emerald Dragon Personality Traits d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Trait"} Trait 1

Bak Mei

Monsters Candlekeep Mysteries

the missile. The damage he takes from the attack is reduced by 1d10 + 12;{"diceNotation":"1d10+12","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Deflect Missile"}. If the damage is reduced to 0, Bak Mei catches the

shirt and trousers. Personality Trait. “I judge others by their actions. Words mean nothing.” Ideal. “Knowledge. The Book of Inner Alchemy will help me leave behind the sins of my

Avarice

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

charges), or wall of ice (4 charges). The staff regains 1d6 + 4;{"diceNotation":"1d6+4","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Staff of Frost"} charges daily at dawn. If its last charge is expended, roll a

. The book contains the spells Avarice has prepared plus the following additional spells: burning hands, cone of cold, find familiar, ice storm, lightning bolt, rope trick, thunderwave, tongues, wall of fire, and wall of force.Cold, Fire

Sea Spawn

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

following options (choose one or roll a d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Piscine Anatomy"}): 1–2: Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4;{"diceNotation":"1d20+4", "rollType":"to

turtle;dragon turtles (morkoths appear in this book; the others appear in the Monster Manual)—all of these and more can mark mortals as their own and claim them as minions. Unlucky folk might

Ability Checks

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

creature’s efforts. In a contest, the ability checks are compared to each other, rather than to a target number. When you call for a contest, you pick the ability that each side must use, deciding

adventurers are undercover agents of the king. If the rogue loses a contest of Charisma (Deception) against the guard’s Wisdom (Insight), the same lie told again won’t work. The characters can come up with a

Vecna the Archlich

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

;{"diceNotation":"1d100", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Undying"} years. Vecna’s new body appears within 100 miles of where he was slain. When the new body is complete, Vecna regains all his hit

and dream as he started to write his Book of Vile Darkness. Vecna forged a kingdom on Oerth, but he grew bored with it after several centuries. He started inflicting suffering on other worlds. In

Moonblade Legacy

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

hit on a roll of 19 or 20. 91–92 When you hit with an attack using the moonblade, the attack deals an extra 1d6 slashing damage. 93–94 When you hit a creature of a specific

this creature, deciding how it acts and moves. It remains until it drops to 0 hit points or you dismiss it as an action. 00 The moonblade functions as a vorpal sword. Sentience A

Young Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

", "rollAction":"Disorienting Breath", "rollDamageType":"psychic"} psychic damage, and until the end of its next turn, when the creature makes an attack roll or an ability check, it must roll a d6

;{"diceNotation":"1d6", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Disorienting Breath"} and reduce the total by the number rolled. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage with no additional effects

Sage Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specialty To determine the nature of your scholarly training, roll a d8 or

, sometimes as a means toward other ideals. d8 Personality Trait 1 I use polysyllabic words that convey the impression of great erudition. 2 I’ve read every book in the

Haunted One

Backgrounds Curse of Strahd: Character Options

mirror, a oil (flask);flask of oil, a tinderbox, and 3 torch; torches), one trinket of special significance (choose one or roll on the Horror Trinkets table after this background), a clothes

threatening to consume you, and you fear there may be no hope of escape. Choose a harrowing event that haunts you, or roll one on the Harrowing Events table. Harrowing Event d10 Event

Sage - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

historians all participate with passing scholars from Candlekeep in a lively exchange of ideas, debating and collaborating in book-filled halls across the Upper and Lower City. The city is also rife

answer, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp Specialty To determine the nature of your scholarly training, roll a d8 or choose from the options in the table below. d8

Attack Rolls

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

archery contest or a game of darts. Assign an Armor Class to the target, decide whether the character is proficient with the weapon used, then have the player make an attack roll. (See also “Degrees of Success” in this chapter.)

Attack Rolls In combat, an attack roll is used to determine whether an attack hits. You can also use attack rolls to resolve noncombat activities that are similar to attacks in combat, such as an

Using Ability Scores

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

deciding whether to use a roll, ask yourself two questions: Is a task so easy and so free of conflict and stress that there should be no chance of failure? Is a task so inappropriate or impossible — such

Using Ability Scores When a player wants to do something, it’s often appropriate to let the attempt succeed without a roll or a reference to the character’s ability scores. For example, a character

Nafas

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

":"roll", "rollAction":"Last Wish"} days, regaining all his hit points and appearing in a random safe location on the Infinite Staircase. Legendary Resistance (5/Day). If Nafas fails a saving throw

. Zephyr Step. In response to being hit by an attack roll, Nafas moves up to half his flying speed without provoking opportunity attack;opportunity attacks.Nafas is the breath of the multiverse, an

Bardic Inspiration

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

it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic

you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6. Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw

The Middle Path

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

The Middle Path Many DMs find that using a combination of the two approaches works best. By balancing the use of dice against deciding on success, you can encourage your players to strike a balance

bad die roll foiling the character’s plans. By the same token, a bad plan or unfortunate circumstances can transform the easiest task into an impossibility, or at least impose disadvantage.

Action Options

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

or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check. If the attacker wins the contest, the attack causes no damage or other ill effect, but the defender drops the item. The attacker has disadvantage on its attack roll if

) check. If it wins the contest, the smaller creature successfully moves into the target creature’s space and clings to its body. While in the target’s space, the smaller creature moves with the target and

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

commoner’s clothes, a book of research notes, an ink pen, a bottle of squid ink, a flask of oil (made from blubber), a vial of acid (derived from digestive juices), a vial of fish scales, a vial

need. You can roll a d6 or choose from the options in the Research Options table to determine your area of research. Research Options d6 Clade/Project 1 Hull Clade, focused on

Festivities

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

. Running the Contest. The contest plays out in three 10-minute rounds. After a character spends 10 minutes fishing, roll on the Fish to Catch table to determine whether a fish tugs on their line and

bait. At the end of each 30-minute contest, participants are given charming but valueless trophies; bragging rights are the real prize at stake. Should characters choose to participate, they find one

Bardic Inspiration

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

it makes. The creature can wait until after it rolls the d20 before deciding to use the Bardic Inspiration die, but must decide before the DM says whether the roll succeeds or fails. Once the Bardic

you. That creature gains one Bardic Inspiration die, a d6. Once within the next 10 minutes, the creature can roll the die and add the number rolled to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw

Small Stalls

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

Dexterity Catch the Dragon by the Tail Wisdom Gnome Poetry Contest Charisma Goblin Wrestling Strength Guess the Number of Feathers Intelligence Outstare the Cyclops Constitution If a

character wins a prize playing a game, roll a d8 on the Carnival Prizes table to determine the prize. Carnival Prizes d8 Prize 1 Trinket (determined by rolling on the Feywild Trinkets table in the

How and When to Use the Tables

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

How and When to Use the Tables If you’re comfortable with letting the dice decide a certain fact about your character, go ahead and roll. If not, you can take charge and make the decision, choosing

from among the possibilities on a table. Of course, you also have the option of disregarding the result of a die roll if it conflicts with another result. Likewise, if the text instructs you to roll on

D&D Beyond

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