both before defenses change responses

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

advancing civilization, nature needs some help from biomancers and terraformers. If, along the way, you happen to create super-soldiers and mutant monsters that can bolster the combine’s defenses

in my communication. Ideals d6 Ideal 1 Guild. My guild is all that really matters. (Any) 2 Change. All life is meant to progress toward perfection, and

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

, the kobolds are usually put to work enlarging their masters’ living area and protecting vital areas of the lair with traps and other defenses. Some human communities hire kobolds to dig their

, kobold females aren’t exempted from war or work. Furthermore, kobolds can slowly change sex. If most males or females of a tribe are killed, some survivors change over several months until the

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

be included. Emphasize that boundaries aren’t negotiable, and neither you nor any of the players should bring them into the game. Note that boundaries may change during play. Encourage players to bring

Lay Out the Premise

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

destination or outcome, no matter how hard they try to change it. You might find it helpful to think about an adventure not as a narrative that arcs from beginning to end with little chance for

deviation, but more in terms of situations that you are presenting to the characters. The adventure unfolds organically from the players’ responses to the situations you present. Guide Rails and Railroads

The Sealed Gate

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel

gate, but the attacks exploit every shift change and flawed positioning. Kalar fears a spy is in Rigus’s midst. If the characters can prove they have any sort of martial aptitude, Kalar offers to hire

them to seek out how the forces through the gate are getting intel on Rigus’s defenses. If the characters agree to help end the threat, the major promises them access to the gate to Acheron, 1,000 gp

Battle Tactics

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

essential to many of its defenses and habits. Portions of its lair — especially the remote part where it sleeps — usually aren’t reachable on foot, which makes it harder for its minions to take over the

use such defenses to protect its inner sanctum, allowing it to roam freely through the area while hostiles must dodge or overcome multiple obstacles. Unless its opponents are concealed by fog

The Path to Perfection

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

to produce great works, it comes at a price. Dwarves value stability, repetition, and tradition above all else. Chaos and change cause distractions from the task at hand. Dwarves crave predictability

. Dwarves don’t change their minds easily, and once set on a course rarely alter their strategy. Their commitment to following a plan serves them well when they build a stone bridge designed to last for

Resolution and Consequences

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

character manages to get her sword past a hobgoblin’s defenses and turn a near miss into a hit, but the hobgoblin twists its shield and disarms her. A character narrowly escapes the full brunt of a

as these, try to make them obstacles and setbacks that change the nature of the adventuring situation. In exchange for success, players must consider new ways of facing the challenge. You can also use

Orrery Vault

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

vault doors, and other defenses. When the characters enter the orrery vault, read: Statues of human-sized brass dragons stand at the center of the vault, their heads pointed at a globe of light hovering

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

Cult of the Crushing Wave

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

the thumbs to create an X-shape linked by a line across the bottom. It stands for water’s eternal surge and retreat, a cycle of unending change. Tactics and Philosophy Crushing Wave cultists are

almost as patient and stoic as the followers of the earth cult. They understand the value of outlasting formidable foes and slowly eroding their defenses. However, they are far more flexible and

When Clans Collapse

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

their defenses and the security of their homes, no clan is immortal and no stronghold unassailable. Threats to a clan can come from the outside or the inside, and it’s often the latter variety that

neighbors brings unpredictability and change, things dwarves prefer to avoid. Circumstances cease to be normal when a clan faces an external threat. When word gets out that one of their own is in danger

The Assault

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

crush the defenders in a pincer attack. The Saltmarsh council explains that the characters’ role is to serve as a strike force, disrupting the sahuagin defenses and slaying as many foes as possible before

sahuagin is summarized by whether or not they are on alert. When the party reaches the fortress, the sahuagin are not alert. This can change quickly, though. If any of the following circumstances occur, the

Creating a Monster Stat Block

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

extra hit points. However, adventurers have more resources at higher levels to counteract such defenses, making resistances and immunities less relevant at higher levels. Effective Hit Points. If a

counteract that resistance or immunity, you need to take these defenses into account when comparing your monster’s hit points to its expected challenge rating. Using the Effective Hit Points Based on

Darkhold

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

reputation, are by all accounts no longer the cadre of thieves, assassins, and evil wizards they once were. And strangely enough, according to my source among the Zhentarim, that change in character can

smiled in reply. Although it seemed a genuine smile, I could wring no truth from it. Of the castle’s defenses, I can say little. My tour was limited. But I did note that, while some things on the giants

Warlock Subclasses

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook

succeed on a Wisdom saving throw against your spell save DC or take 2d10 Psychic damage. Level 10: Beguiling Defenses Your patron teaches you how to guard your mind and body. You are immune to the

, Hunger of Hadar 7 Confusion, Summon Aberration 9 Modify Memory, Telekinesis Level 3: Psychic Spells When you cast a Warlock spell that deals damage, you can change its damage type to

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

with the characters as allies, foes, or potential employees when their franchise comes together at the end of the episode. You should feel free to add your own NPCs as well, or change the ones provided

The Foundry

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2

Charisma (Persuasion) check. The characters can change her attitude to indifferent, reducing the check DC to 10, with a suitable bribe (at least 100 gp). Ghared can share any of the following information if

. During the final assault of the orcs, Arundil used his magic to escape the slaughter. He returned to find all his kinfolk dead. Overwhelmed by grief, he tried to repair some of the complex’s defenses

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