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Returning 35 results for 'both before design contests rules'.
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Species
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
blossom into hard feelings, loud arguments, and head-butting contests, but they rarely escalate beyond that.
Creating Your Character
When you create your D&D character, you decide whether your
character is a member of the human race or one of the game’s fantastical races. If you create a character using a race option presented here, follow these additional rules during character creation
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. (Though the Monster Manual doesn’t explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply
those rules to these aquatic dragons.)
Dragon Turtle Personality Traits
d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Trait"}
Trait
1
I speak slowly and deliberately
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Unearthed Arcana
Apocalyptic Subclasses August 21, 2025
Get ready for the end of a world with the latest innovations from the D&D Game Design Team! This document presents four new subclasses for the Druid (Circle
of Preservation), Fighter (Gladiator), Sorcerer (Defiled Sorcery), and Warlock (Sorcerer-King Patron). The material uses the rules in the Player's Handbook. Learn more about this playtest directly from the designers in this article!
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
contested by the goblins’ passive Wisdom (Perception) score to avoid being surprised. See the Basic Rules for more information on ability check contests. Thickets. The thickets around the clearing are
difficult terrain, but they aren’t dangerous—just annoying. They provide half cover to creatures behind them. (See “Difficult Terrain” and “Cover” in the Basic Rules for more information.)
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
Credits Lead Designer: Justice Ramin Arman
Designer: Dan Dillon
Rules Developer: Ron Lundeen
Art Director: Fury Galluzzi
Lead Editor: Judy Bauer
Editor: Hannah Rose
Graphic Designer
: Bill Benham, Siera Bruggeman, Robert Hawkey
Product Manager: Natalie Egan
D&D Beyond Product Manager: Jeff Turriff
Digital Design Team: Jay Jani, Sean Stoves, Adam Walton
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
if it’s wielded in a way contrary to its design; if you use a Ranged weapon to make a melee attack or throw a Melee weapon that lacks the Thrown property, the weapon counts as an improvised weapon. An
improvised weapon follows the rules below. Proficiency. Don’t add your Proficiency Bonus to attack rolls with an improvised weapon. Damage. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the DM
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
if it’s wielded in a way contrary to its design; if you use a Ranged weapon to make a melee attack or throw a Melee weapon that lacks the Thrown property, the weapon counts as an improvised weapon. An
improvised weapon follows the rules below. Proficiency. Don’t add your Proficiency Bonus to attack rolls with an improvised weapon. Damage. On a hit, the weapon deals 1d4 damage of a type the DM
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Giants of the Star Forge
Fireside Contests The Fireside contests are described below. They can be run in any order. The rules of the Fireside contests are as follows. Competitors. Any number of characters can partake in each
feather token (tree). Concluding the Contests If the party wins two or more of the contests, Diasma is thoroughly impressed. She and three of her fellow giant wrestlers offer to accompany the party to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
The Role of Rules Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules
are meant to help organize, and even inspire, the action of a D&D campaign. The rules are a tool, and we want our tools to be as effective as possible. No matter how good those tools might be, they
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
The Role of Rules Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to
help organize, and even inspire, the action of a D&D campaign. The rules are a tool, and we want our tools to be as effective as possible. No matter how good those tools might be, they need a group of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Romeo and Juliet. It was a departure from the more expected adventure design of the time in that violent solutions to problems aren’t an automatic path to victory—inquisitive minds and compassionate
hearts carry the heroes further than strength of arms.
This updated version of the adventure reimagines Caerwyn and Porphura’s—originally Porpherio’s—garden as the Eternal Garden, a domain in the Feywild, and the Green Man as the Gardener, the benevolent archfey who rules it.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Combat Encounters Design your adventure for one of the four tiers, as set forth in chapter 1 of the Player’s Handbook: tier 1 includes levels 1–4, tier 2 is levels 5–10, tier 3 is levels 11–16, and
2, five 13th-level characters for tier 3, and five 18th-level characters for tier 4. Use that assumption when creating combat encounters, whether you use the encounter-building rules in the Dungeon
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
Credits Designers: Christopher Perkins, Will Doyle, Steve Winter
Additional Design: Adam Lee
Story Consultants: Pendleton Ward, James Lowder
Story Creators: Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee
, Richard Whitters
Lead Rules Developer: Jeremy Crawford
Managing Editors: Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins
Editors: Michele Carter, Scott Fitzgerald Gray
Editorial Assistance: Matt Sernett
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
the rules for monster customization and encounter building in the Dungeon Master’s Guide—to build your own adventures. Consult appendix B for monster lists that will help your adventure building. What’s
New in the 2025 Version?
This is the 2025 version of the fifth edition Monster Manual. If you’ve read the 2014 version, much of this book will feel familiar, since the fundamental rules and variety
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Credits Lead Designer: Justice Ramin Arman
Art Director: Emi Tanji
Designers: Dan Dillon, Carl Sibley
Rules Developers: Jeremy Crawford, Makenzie De Armas, Ron Lundeen, Carl Sibley
Lead
Design Department: Justice Ramin Arman, Makenzie De Armas, Amanda Hamon, Ron Lundeen, Ben Petrisor, Patrick Renie, F. Wesley Schneider, Jason Tondro, James Wyatt
Editorial Department: Judy Bauer, Janica
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
).
Behind the Design: Save Ends Effects
Save ends effects are one way of saving space in stat blocks and making them less complex for GMs to run at the table. Much like how stat blocks just reference the
poisoned condition instead of spelling its rules out each time, we didn’t want to fill up the pages by repeating long sentences similar to this one: “A target poisoned in this way can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of their turns, ending the effect on themself on a success.”
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Noteworthy Features Those familiar with Hazlan know the following facts: The wizard Hazlik rules Hazlan. His apprentices have free rein to exploit the land and its people to further their magical
experiments. Inhabitants claim the eyelike design called the Eye of Hazlik bears Hazlik’s blessing and wards off dangerous magic. Magic is unreliable in Hazlan, resulting in dangerous side effects. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
, discuss with your group how much fear ties into the game’s rules. Would you prefer to keep frightful reactions narrative, or would you like to use game rules that present additional challenges and
benefits? Ask your DM about the possibility of using the rules for inspiration to motivate fearful character reactions, as detailed in the “Fear and Stress” section of chapter 4. Using this system, a
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
George, Amanda Hamon, Cassandra Khaw, Renee Knipe, Kira Magrann, Molly Ostertag, Ben Petrisor, Jessica Price, Taymoor Rehman, Jessica Ross, John Stavropoulos, Jabari Weathers, James Wyatt
Rules
Design: Trystan Falcone, Emi Tanji, Trish Yochum
Cover Illustrators: Scott M. Fischer, Anna Podedworna
Interior Illustrators: Helder Almeida, Mark Behm, Eric Belisle, Zoltan Boros, Christopher Burdett
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Boo’s Astral Menagerie
Credits
Project Lead & Writer: Christopher Perkins
Art Director: Kate Irwin
Rules Developer: Jeremy Crawford
Editors: Judy Bauer, Kim Mohan
Senior Graphic Designer: Trish Yochum
Irwin, Bob Jordan, Emi Tanji, Trish Yochum
Design Manager: Steve Scott
Design Department: Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Makenzie De Armas, Dan Dillon, Amanda Hamon, Ben Petrisor, Taymoor Rehman, F
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
Credits
Project Lead: Christopher Perkins
Writers: Justice Ramin Arman, Sadie Lowry, Jeffrey Ludwig
Art Director: Kate Irwin
Adventure Developers: Dan Dillon, Christopher Perkins
Rules
Design Manager: Steve Scott
Design Department: Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Makenzie De Armas, Dan Dillon, Amanda Hamon, Ben Petrisor, Taymoor Rehman, F. Wesley Schneider, James Wyatt
Art Department
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
, Erin Roberts, James L. Sutter
Rules Developer: Jeremy Crawford
Editors: Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Janica Carter, Laura Hirsbrunner, Adrian Ng, Jason Tondro
Senior Graphic Designer: Trish Yochum
of Studio Operations: Kyle Brink
Game Architects: Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins
Design Manager: Steve Scott
Design Department: Justice Arman, Judy Bauer, Eytan Bernstein, Janica Carter
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
Credits
Project Lead: Christopher Perkins
Writers: Christopher Perkins, Jeremy Crawford, Ari Levitch
Art Directors: Kate Irwin, Richard Whitters
Rules Developers: Jeremy Crawford, Dan
Design Manager: Steve Scott
Design Department: Sydney Adams, Judy Bauer, Makenzie De Armas, Dan Dillon, Amanda Hamon, Ben Petrisor, Taymoor Rehman, F. Wesley Schneider, James Wyatt
Art Department
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
in the legal code of Waterdeep, but guilds are mentioned in the oldest surviving legal documents — penned by Ahghairon himself — and the rules of Guild Law are respected by wise city folk. Guilds
Stonecutters, Masons, Potters, and Tile-makers design and craft any decorative elements of wood, stone, or ceramics, and after the Most Careful Order of Skilled Smiths and Metalforgers has manufactured
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
the event. Fashion Show Rumors d6 Rumor 1 Another designer stole the student’s design and is trying to pass it off as their own work! 2 An alumni designer is here to watch and recruit models for
outfit’s value, along with some comparable outfits also being sold at the auction. Buying Fashions. A character can bid on a design being auctioned off, ultimately winning it for the price listed in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
forcing a saving throw, use the standard formula for calculating a save DC (see “Calculated DCs” below). Calculated DCs For some ability checks and most saving throws, the rules default to the following
checks that are contests between two creatures. For example, if one creature is holding a door shut, use its Strength modifier and Proficiency Bonus to set the DC for opening the door. When another
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
contests, saving throws, or attack rolls. Having proficiency with a skill or tool can also grant automatic success. If a character’s proficiency bonus applies to his or her ability check, the character
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
tell you how to design new class features. The best place to start is by looking at other class features, or at spells, feats, or any other rules for inspiration. You’re almost certainly going to have
some missteps, as features that seem good on the surface fall apart in play. That’s all right. Everything you design will need to be playtested. When introducing new class features, be sure the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
an original design created by the Heuristic Arcane Research and Development department of Acquisitions Incorporated. But the wizards of Halruaa developed similar skyships in ages past, and the Cult of
. The standard design of an Acquisitions Incorporated-grade airship features an enormous balloon covered in a rope net. Trailing lines connect the balloon to the vessel of metal and wood suspended
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
shall be marooned.
Article 4: No Shipboard Conflicts. All disputes shall be settled on land.
At your discretion, Captain Gargenhale’s code can include additional rules, perhaps of your own design
to abide by the following rules:
Article 1: Don’t Eat Each Other. No crew member shall partake of another crew member’s flesh or drink their blood.
Article 2: No Hymns. Many crew members’ ears are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
component, then it’s impossible for anyone to perceive the spell being cast. So, since you can’t see the casting, counterspell is of no use. Metamagic rules state you can’t use multiple Metamagic
level If you know this rule yet are still unsure whether a particular spell qualifies for Twinned Spell, consult with your DM, who has the final say. If the two of you are curious about our design
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Curses Alexandre Honoré The curse of demonic possession
has devastating effects Every curse has rules that govern it. A curse typically takes one of the forms detailed below. Bestow Curse The
supernatural punishment, such as breaking a vow, defiling a tomb, or murdering an innocent. Such a curse can have any effects you design, or it might be a customized version of another type of curse
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
Pyrokinetic,
The Society
Behind the Design: Minion Trait
You might ask, why not just give minions 1 hit point and take no damage when they save for half, like in fourth edition? First, spells that use
lower-level one will do? Similarly, the fourth edition design could lead to a kobold minion illogically surviving a fireball spell while a “stronger” standard kobold next to them dies, despite both
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Curses Every curse has rules that govern it. A curse typically takes one of the forms detailed below. Bestow Curse The simplest curses are created by the Bestow Curse spell. The effects of such
murdering an innocent. Such a curse can have any effects you design, or it might be a customized version of another type of curse discussed in this section. A creature affected by such a curse should
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
, heal, and get information they need for the next part of their adventures. In addition, they can buy any of the equipment described in the Basic Rules from Myla (see “Kobolds”). During their time at
” in the Basic Rules). She becomes friendly as soon as the characters demonstrate that they care about the cloister’s safety, such as by fighting the zombies at the beach or undertaking any of the