both before directly cautious running

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

provoke retaliatory attacks from the creatures they steal from. It’s better to be cautious and overlooked than to be considered dangerous and a threat. In a couple of situations, kobolds might

retaliation usually prevents them from trying to directly harm the gnomes, but they might spit in the milk, balance dishes on tables so they’re easily knocked over and broken, or scatter sewing

Tower of Storms

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak

3rd level, but lower-level characters can survive if they’re cautious and rest often. Before running this location, review the underwater combat rules in the Basic Rules.

Running Horror Games

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Running Horror Games While preparing and running frightening adventures, keep in mind the ebb and flow of suspense. Atmosphere, pacing, description, and player involvement all influence a game’s tension and directly contribute to how scary your adventures feel.

Pack Attack

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

Tower. They come running in wolf form, hoping to trap prey on the island by cutting off access to the causeway. Leading the hunt is Kiril Stoyanovich, a werewolf with 90 hit points. Accompanying him are

the Forgotten Realms. The werewolves know that the tower has magical defenses, so they are cautious. Kiril tries to lure the characters outside for a final showdown, but pulls his pack into the woods

The Doomvault

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5

network of which the Bloodgate was a part gave her the ability to open portals directly into the Doomvault. The following sections contain details on the logistics of running an adventure set there. When

Séances

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Séances At certain times in the adventure, characters have the opportunity to commune with the House of Lament’s spirits, contacting them directly through a series of séances involving a spirit

here for ease of reference, as the séances occur at multiple points throughout the adventure. Prior to running a séance, choose or randomly determine which spirit the party will contact. The key

Creeping Transformations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

characters’ last visit. The mind flayer fanatics of the godlet Ilvaash have begun their ritual, and the open rifts to the Far Realm directly beneath the town have accelerated the townsfolk’s

homes to protect themselves and others. Regular, cautious visits from their friends keep these four people tenuously grounded, so there haven’t been any further violent incidents. Other residents show

Able Scavengers

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

they steal from. It’s better to be cautious and overlooked than to be considered dangerous and a threat. In a couple of situations, kobolds might abandon this careful approach. First, because of their

hatred of gnomes, city kobolds often go out of their way to target gnomes’ houses and shops. Even in such cases, the kobolds’ fear of retaliation usually prevents them from trying to directly harm

The Zhentarim

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

full extent of the threat, as corruption and madness have already infiltrated their secret outpost since those initial reports (see chapter 9). However, even the most cautious member of the Zhentarim

is key to the plan, and though she ultimately won’t withhold that access from the adventurers, she intends to make sure it’s not given away for free. Davra deals with the adventurers directly — and

Simple Traps

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

experience, the characters can become overly cautious, and you run the risk of the action grinding to a halt as the players search every square inch of the dungeon for trip wires and pressure plates

. Traps are most effective when their presence comes as a surprise, not when they appear so often that the characters spend all their effort watching out for the next one. Running a Simple Trap To prepare

Roleplaying Devils

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

is therefore not truly killed. However, a devil that is killed in the Nine Hells is dead forever; not surprisingly, that’s why devils tend to be more cautious in their dealings at home than abroad

roles in this story. Before running the adventure, it’s worth taking the time to familiarize yourself with the “Devils” entry in the Monster Manual, which not only describes the most common types of

Squaring Off Against the Cult of the Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons

Squaring Off Against the Cult of the Dragon Characters have several options at Castle Naerytar, and events there can go in many directions. Here are the key points to keep in mind when running this

, both of these characters head directly for the gate beneath the castle and teleport to Talis the White’s hunting lodge (see chapter 7). For purposes of this adventure, do everything you can to ensure

Roleplaying

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

moment now and then to involve someone else. You might have an NPC address another character directly: “And what about your hulking friend? What will you pledge in exchange for my favor?” If a player

strong character needs to bodily prevent the NPC from running away. Dexterity. An NPC is Hostile toward intruders, so the characters must talk from hiding. Or the social interaction provides a

Squaring Off Against the Cult of the Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Squaring Off Against the Cult of the Dragon Characters have several options at Castle Naerytar, and events there can go in many directions. Here are the key points to keep in mind when running this

, both of these characters head directly for the gate beneath the castle and teleport to Talis the White’s hunting lodge (see chapter 7). For purposes of this adventure, do everything you can to ensure

Campaign Tracking

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

them! If they leave a door open, it should stay open until someone closes it. No one’s memory is infallible, so it pays to keep records. Jot notes directly on an adventure map to keep track of open

can help you design adventure content that provides opportunities for character development. Keep a running tally of the adventurers’ classes and levels, as well as any quests and downtime activities

Inquisitive Agencies of Sharn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

Brina d’Medani, a Khoravar who settled in Sharn after running afoul of the Emerald Claw on a mission in Karrnath. Other members of the Warning Guild rely primarily on wealthy clients referred to them

directly by House Medani. Guild Affiliation Whether or not any of the characters possess dragonmarks, their agency can choose to affiliate with either House Tharashk’s Finders Guild or House

If the Characters Decline

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

If the Characters Decline If the characters are suspicious, or if they are being particularly cautious, they might not want to hand over the Rod of Seven Parts or rest in their quarters. Below are

to Pandesmos Outlook (shown on map 9.1) or directly at the cave entrance. In the former case, Alustriel can provide directions to the cave from the outlook. If this happens, skip parts of the next

Horror Characteristics

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

. 4 Escape. I believe there is something beyond the world I know, and I need to find it. 5 Legacy. I must do something great so that I’m remembered, and my time is running out. 6

there. 10 I’m exceptionally cautious, planning laboriously and devising countless contingencies. 11 I have a reputation for defeating a great evil, but that’s a lie and the wicked force

Encounters (A-C)

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

of the dale, she prefers the taste of reindeer, walrus, and polar bear flesh to that of humanoids. The dragon has a healthy respect for humanoids and has never threatened Ten-Towns directly, though it

never acknowledged his death and still speaks to his body as if he were alive. He was, while he lived, her only friend and confidant. Arveiaturace the White Wyrm and Her Mysterious Rider Running the

Battle Balloon

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

below. In the center of the deck, directly below the balloon, sits a large magic furnace, whose formidable lifting power is rumored to involve trapped elementals. The airship’s captain controls the arcane

privately financed or loaned out by Head Office under extraordinarily cautious terms, battle balloons can be customized with unique equipment — different siege weapons, lifting and cargo gear, and so forth

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6

Running the Adventure As with the previous adventures in this series, it is up to you to add to the considerable detail given herein, filling in any needed information to color the whole and bring it

will be found by the giants (a 10 percent chance after the first raid, 20 percent following the second, and so forth). A nearby ravine leads directly from the safe cave to the spiny, broken heap of

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