Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'both bad down could rules'.
Criminal / Spy
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society
.
4
I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying.
5
I turn tail and run when things look bad.
6
An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies: One
tail and run when things look bad.
6
An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
between relying on their bonuses and abilities and paying attention to the game and immersing themselves in its world. Remember that dice don’t run your game — you do. Dice are like rules. They’re
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.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Table Rules Ideally, players come to the gaming table with the same goal: to have a fun time together. This section gives recommendations for table rules you can establish to help meet that goal
. Here are some fundamentals: Foster respect. Don’t bring personal conflicts to the table or let disagreements escalate into bad feelings. Don’t touch others’ dice if they’re sensitive about it. Avoid
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->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
Introducing the Game Once the players have familiarized themselves with their characters, you’re ready to introduce the game. Now that you’re familiar with your characters and the basics of the rules
, we’re going to play a short adventure to introduce you to Dungeons & Dragons. As the Dungeon Master, I tell you what’s going on in the world around you, and I use the rules and dice rolls to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Rules of Conduct Although Zybilna is indisposed, three of the rules she put into place when she created her Feywild domain continue to hold weight: the rule of hospitality, the rule of ownership, and
the rule of reciprocity. These three rules are common knowledge in Prismeer, and both natives and visitors would do well to abide by them: Rule of Hospitality. When a friend, an enemy, or a stranger
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
. We’ve visited Waterdeep before, but not like this. Clever heroes will respect the city’s rules. Those who get on the city’s bad side are in for a rough time, as the City of Splendors is home to some of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
threat. Use this book to help you and your players communicate about a game’s rules, plots, and other content, assuring it includes only the elements you all enjoy. Focus on Fun. Suspenseful stories don’t
attention for both of us. We’ve found no trace of Vhorishkova since arriving, but I feel her watching. It’s like she’s everywhere.
It’s bad here, Uncle. Not snake-headed hogs bad. Like, full Delmunster
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
, full of dust and bad memories. It’s quiet most of the time, except when the sorrowful wails of the banshee fill the place. The following features are common throughout.
Arrow Slits. When using an arrow
slit for protection, a creature gains three-quarters cover (see the Basic Rules) against outside threats. A Medium character can’t squeeze through an arrow slit, but a Small character can with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Narration in Combat Although it’s important that the players understand what’s going on in terms of the rules, the game can get dull if everyone uses only “gamespeak”: “That’s an 18 to hit,” “You hit
; now roll damage,” “11 points,” and “OK, now we’re to Initiative count 13.” Instead, use the rules and your knowledge of the scene to help your narration. If 18 is barely a hit, but the 11 points of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
treats visitors as honored guests in accordance with the rule of hospitality (see “Rules of Conduct” earlier in the chapter), but he expects a measure of kindness in return. If a fight breaks out
lap—Bavlorna’s Big Book of Bad Blood—in which the hag’s displeasure with her enemies is spelled out in detail. He procured the book from a darkling merchant (see area B10), who stole it from Bavlorna
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
whole creature and still be hungry. If you’re bad, she’ll come in the night and carry you away. She’ll make a lantern of your skull and torment you until the end of time. And she’s the least
frightening member of the Daughters of Sora Kell!
When I could set aside my sheer terror, I was learning a great deal about this strange nation. The Daughters invested power in warlords, each of whom rules a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
is humid and smells bad. Any creature that breathes foul air becomes poisoned until it breathes fresh air again. The air aboard a ship with a normal crew complement degrades from fresh to foul on day
121, and the foul air turns deadly 120 days later. Deadly air is unbreathable. Any creature that tries to breathe deadly air begins to suffocate (see the rules on suffocation in the Player’s Handbook
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
, either in physical form or on DnDBeyond.com: Player’s Handbook. This book is your essential reference for the game’s rules, and it guides you through making an adventurer of your own. Dungeon Master’s
useful: DM Screen. Many DMs like to use a screen to shield their notes and dice rolls from players. It’s bad manners to peek over the screen! Miniatures and Battle Grid. Some DMs use a battle grid and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
these riches by exploiting my tenants’ misery, buying up condemned property and renting it out for an exorbitant fee. Granny Nightshade is helping me to make amends. I told her I wanted to put my bad
hospitality (see “Rules of Conduct” in chapter 2), Nib offers to craft a gift for each character. Taking up a pair of knitting needles, he swiftly knits his gold yarn into an object that retains a golden
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
rules cover what happens on a natural 20 (it’s a Critical Hit) or a natural 1 (it always misses). Resist the temptation to add additional negative consequences to a natural 1 on an attack roll: the
automatic failure is bad enough. And characters typically make so many attack rolls that they’re bound to roll dozens of natural 1s over time. What might seem like an interesting consequence, like breaking the weapon used for the attack, will quickly get tiresome.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Nearly impossible 30 The numbers associated with these categories of difficulty are meant to be easy to keep in your head, so that you don’t have to refer to these rules every time you decide on a
say a door requires a successful DC 15 Strength check to be battered down. A fighter with a Strength of 20 might helplessly flail against the door because of bad die rolls. Meanwhile, the rogue with a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
to complain humorously about the characters’ terrible choices and bad planning. You can occasionally use this NPC to suggest legitimate courses of action or share insights. Dutiful Assistant. A dutiful
life debt to the characters or shares their goals might fight to the death for them. You can simply decide on an NPC’s loyalty, or you can track a Loyalty Score using the following rules. Loyalty
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
power and detonate with formidable explosive force wherever they hit. VEHICLE RULES
Battle balloons and mechanical beholders are vehicles, and as such, they have special rules associated with them
franchises. The versatility of an airship allows for the rapid shipping of goods, mercenaries, and loot. Such a vessel also allows a quick escape from sticky developments and deals gone bad. Battle
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
closer than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society
money. 3 If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it. 4 I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. 5 I turn tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
downtime activities and undertake some of the franchise tasks that operate alongside the downtime rules. All the activities mentioned in this section are introduced or talked about in the “Franchise Tasks
-work miners. Doing so makes acquiring ongoing concessions or information from townsfolk much easier, but puts the characters in the bad graces of Sharna Quirstiron at the Miner’s Exchange. Leads to the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
damage other minions with this attack.
Outnumbered? Switch to area-of-effect powers. Otherwise you’re gonna have a bad day, which will probably last the rest of your life.
The Sun, Senior
creatures succeeding on their saving throw. By contrast, under this book’s minion rules, spellcasters still have a good reason to use high-level spells against minions.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
. Alustriel correctly supposes that Kas plans to find Vecna and co-opt the lich-god’s ritual to become the most powerful being in existence. This outcome is as bad as Vecna ruling the multiverse, as far as
late. Regardless of the characters’ reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the rules in the “Power of Secrets” section in this book’s introduction.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
a piece of the franchise’s action. Rival NPCs can be worked up using the rules in chapter 4, “Creating Nonplayer Characters” of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, incorporating schemes, methods, and
campaign story unfolds. Perhaps the characters were forced to slay an evil guard in a raid gone bad. Later, their majordomo engages in a little gambling as part of a franchise task … and finds the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
closer than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society
money. 3 If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it. 4 I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. 5 I turn tail and run when things look bad. 6 An innocent person is in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
breath weapon actions allowed? A monster follows the normal opportunity attack rules, which specify that an attack of opportunity is one melee attack. That means a monster must choose a single melee
attacks of ghouls and ghasts don’t appear to have proficiency bonus added in. Intentional or mistake? Intentional; it’s a ghoul/ghast thing. They’re exceptionally bad at biting, compared to their claw
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Phandalin” above), Linene works tirelessly to keep the coster operational through good times and bad. Most of the goods in the Player’s Handbook can be purchased here. Linene can special order items
rules.
In Phandalin, Harbin Wester is that person. Even if he loses the mayoral election, his monetary resources far outstrip those of anyone else in the town, leaving him in a position of strong
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
offer 10 gp or more to each of them, they walk away and leave their boss to his fate. Rasqel, who is indebted to bad people, fights to the death. If the situation looks grim for the adventurers
that Beshaba sends her favored souls out into the world as a focus for bad luck and calamity, and that dealing with a favored soul of the Lady of Misfortune is a risky situation. Interacting with such
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
comes from a shadowed corner above the door at the top of the stairs.
This outdoor stairway connects area B1 on the first floor with area B13 on the second floor, but the steps are in bad shape. A
desperation compels you to enter my home, little darlings?”
See “Dealing with Bavlorna” below for advice on how to run an encounter with the hag, keeping in mind the rules of hospitality, ownership, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
rules Yartar as its Waterbaron. He also receives occasional telepathic static from the kraken Slarkrethel, which leaves him with crushing headaches that last for hours. Lord Drylund’s cabin is a testament
to bad taste, with its purple velvet curtains and scented candles in gaudy candelabras. In the middle of the room is a table with a large aquarium tank resting atop it. The aquarium contains a coral
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands
animosity. They have bad blood with the Harmonium, who view the Fated as wrongheaded and dangerous, and Factol Darkwood and Factol Montgomery of the Society of Sensation are bitter rivals. Fraternity of
break them under the right circumstances. Alix Branwyn According to the Guvners, there are three types of regulations. The lowest of these are Rules, the laws that govern people’s behavior. Next
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
momentarily and resumes playing a low-budget sci-fi horror movie. The scene depicts a living brain oozing from a pool of brine in a futuristic laboratory. The brain feeds on scientists portrayed by bad actors
to a sparring session. If the character refuses to enter the ring, the android informs them that the character has opted for “street rules” and attacks. During combat, the androids critique the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
concealed behind a steel mask that bears a smiling visage. The simulacrum attacks anyone it doesn’t recognize. Extreme Cold. The rules for extreme cold (see chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide) apply in
loses in bad investments. The ledger doesn’t reveal that Corylus Thann and Jelenn Urmbrusk are Masked Lords, or that Manshoon’s blackmail of them also forces them to use their influence to cover up or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
at least three checks of DC 12 or higher. An Intelligence (History) or Wisdom (Perception) check might allow a character to suss out the rules of a game or analyze the opposition, while an Intelligence
terrible powers to learn how to use the orrery components to open a portal to the Far Realm. The commercial interests of these liches means that all understand how destroying the world is bad for business






