both before drive combat relying

Rubblebelt Stalker

Monsters Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Ambusher. In the first round of a combat, the stalker has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn yet. Nimble Escape. The stalker can take the Disengage or Hide

or clambering across rooftops. They favor ambush tactics and avoid confrontations with stronger forces, relying on their superior mobility to make their escape.

Sacred Statue

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

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

soul; it then animates this effigy and uses the statue to drive out the intruders.Cold, Necrotic, PoisonAcid, Fire, Lightning; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical Attacks

Swashbuckler

Classes Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. While some warriors are brutes clad in heavy armor, your method of fighting looks almost like a

performance. Duelists and pirates typically belong to this archetype. A Swashbuckler excels in single combat, and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent. Swashbuckler

Swashbuckler (SCAG)

Classes Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. While some warriors are brutes clad in heavy armor, your method of fighting looks almost like a

performance. Duelists and pirates typically belong to this archetype. A Swashbuckler excels in single combat, and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent.

Red Ruin

Monsters Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

Draconic Devotion. While Red Ruin can see a Dragon that isn’t hostile to her, she has advantage on attack rolls. Mounted Combat Master. When Red Ruin is mounted and a creature targets her

, leading to speculation about her actual identity. She also speaks little, relying on sharp hand gestures to direct dragonnel-riders in flight.Fire

Stone Cursed

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Cunning Opportunist. The stone cursed has advantage on the attack rolls of opportunity attack;opportunity attacks. False Appearance. If the stone cursed is motionless at the start of combat, it has

, animating the statue and turning it into a useful guardian. Stone cursed possess a malevolent drive to slay the living, yet they are utterly loyal to whoever performed the ritual to animate them, and

Vinyl Record

Equipment

Combat Utility Whimsy 15 15 15 These black disks are covered in a continuous spiral that moves to the center of the disk—believed to be an ancient and lost way of

objects are found in caches where they are often stacked like plates in a restaurant. But discoveries are few and far between, and merchants are sure to drive a hard bargain.

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

of his drow foe, then turns to drive his armored elbow into the gut of another. These barbarians, different as they might be, are defined by their rage: unbridled, unquenchable, and unthinking fury

by walls and crowds. They thrive in the wilds of their homelands: the tundra, jungle, or grasslands where their tribes live and hunt. Barbarians come alive in the chaos of combat. They can enter a

Marine

Backgrounds Ghosts of Saltmarsh

who rarely lose composure on the battlefield. Marines who leave the service tend to work as mercenaries, but their combat experience also makes them excellent adventurers. Though they are self-reliant

difficult and struggle to say the right thing in social situations. 3 My intensity can drive others away. 4 I hold grudges and have difficulty forgiving others. 5 I become irrational when

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

(such as the ability to see in darkness or to read any language) to access to powerful spells. Unlike bookish wizards, warlocks supplement their magic with some facility at hand-to-hand combat. They

gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit of their goals, which typically means some kind of adventuring. Furthermore, the demands of their patrons drive

Cleric Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

her holy symbol as light pours from it to drive back the zombies crowding in on her companions. Clerics are intermediaries between the mortal world and the distant planes of the gods. As varied as the

their combat training to let them wade into melee with the power of the gods on their side. Divine Agents Not every acolyte or officiant at a temple or shrine is a cleric. Some priests are called to

Pentival

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

. Acererak spread these rumors, relying on combat between Pentival and Tarnhem to weaken them both, after which he could capture and imprison them for his own purposes. Pentival uses the half-red dragon

How to Play

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

relying on the roll of a die to determine the results of an action. The DM narrates the results of the adventurers’ actions. Describing the results often leads to another decision point, which brings

the flow of the game right back to step 1. This pattern holds whether the adventurers are cautiously exploring a ruin, talking to a devious prince, or locked in mortal combat against a mighty dragon

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

skills of combat, mastering a variety of weapons and armor. Even so, their martial skills are secondary to the magical power they wield: power to heal the sick and injured, to smite the wicked and the

while you were at prayer? Did another paladin sense the potential within you and decide to train you as a squire? Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to

Rubblebelt Stalker

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

clambering across rooftops. They favor ambush tactics and avoid confrontations with stronger forces, relying on their superior mobility to make their escape. Rubblebelt Stalker Medium humanoid (any

round of a combat, the stalker has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn’t taken a turn yet. Nimble Escape. The stalker can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on

Area Information

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rrakkma

disadvantage. At the beginning of combat, the star spawn hulk moves toward the gith and attacks in melee, while the star spawn seer uses its Psychic Orb attack directly on the star spawn hulk, relying

shunting the rrakkma involuntarily back through the gate to Pandemonium. Playing the Pillars COMBAT Due to the disorienting nature of the Far Realm, the adventurers make any initiative checks with

Divine Ordeals

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros

described in chapter 1. Will the character’s drive prove strong enough to overcome everything else? An ordeal is a single encounter, which might involve combat, interaction, a series of ability checks

dreamscape constructed by the god. Work to craft an ordeal that provides a significant challenge for the character to overcome. Fundamentally, an ordeal is a test of the character’s heroic drive, as

Character Objectives

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

combat encounter, characters might have to fight their way through evil minions before attempting to disrupt the ritual’s magic. This could also drive an exploration encounter, where the challenge is

its own ends. An encounter aimed at making peace might involve only social interaction, perhaps with the threat of combat if negotiations go poorly. It could also begin as a combat encounter, with the

The Winged God

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

Warriors (Neutral) who demand that the merchant surrender his goods. In combat, the kobolds shout things like “For the Winged God!” and “Fight to reclaim our home!” If four of them fall in battle, the

if the adventurers drive off the dragon. Kobold Camp. If the adventurers follow fleeing kobolds, they can find the kobolds’ camp on a nearby outcropping. The kobolds there don’t fight, though, instead

Goristro Raid

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

“treasure” that the erinyes are after: a unicorn named Sterling in an iron cage. Nykaia explains that Kypris will drive the war machine close to the goristro. The three erinyes will then fly to the

the demons in the palanquin. True Treasure Revealed. Once combat finishes, the three erinyes carry down their claimed treasure: A large cage lands with a thud before the vehicle. Through the iron

Vision and Light

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

Vision and Light The most fundamental tasks of adventuring--noticing danger, finding hidden objects, hitting an enemy in combat, and targeting a spell, to name just a few--rely heavily on a

its surroundings without relying on sight, within a specific radius. Creatures without eyes, such as oozes, and creatures with echolocation or heightened senses, such as bats and true dragons, have

Chapter 1: Playing the Game

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

drawbridge? The adventure continues from there, relying on the DM’s descriptions to set the scenes. Later in the chapter, other examples of play focus on certain aspects of D&D play: social

interaction, exploration, and combat. Rules Glossary If you read a rules term in this book and want to know its definition, consult the rules glossary, which is appendix C. This chapter provides an

Vision and Light

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

Vision and Light The most fundamental tasks of adventuring — noticing danger, finding hidden objects, hitting an enemy in combat, and targeting a spell, to name just a few — rely heavily on a

blindsight can perceive its surroundings without relying on sight, within a specific radius. Creatures without eyes, such as oozes, and creatures with echolocation or heightened senses, such as bats and true

Red Ruin

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

identity. She also speaks little, relying on sharp hand gestures to direct dragonnel-riders in flight. Red Ruin Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil Armor Class 20 (plate, shield) Hit Points 150 (20d8

Dragon that isn’t hostile to her, she has advantage on attack rolls. Mounted Combat Master. When Red Ruin is mounted and a creature targets her mount with an attack, Red Ruin can cause the attack to

Swashbuckler

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

Swashbuckler You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. While some warriors are brutes clad in heavy armor, your method of fighting looks

almost like a performance. Duelists and pirates typically belong to this archetype. A Swashbuckler excels in single combat, and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent

Swashbuckler

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

Swashbuckler You focus your training on the art of the blade, relying on speed, elegance, and charm in equal parts. While some warriors are brutes clad in heavy armor, your method of fighting looks

almost like a performance. Duelists and pirates typically belong to this archetype. A Swashbuckler excels in single combat, and can fight with two weapons while safely darting away from an opponent

Stand and Fight

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

similar statistics. On her first turn in combat, Ilvara casts conjure animals to summon two giant spiders to fight alongside the drow, while Asha casts spirit guardians on herself and concentrates to

by the drow, and the dark elves follow them into daylight. Under the light of the sun, the drow have disadvantage on their attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks relying on sight. The drow can

Adult Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

beauty of the ocean. (Good) 6 Code of Combat. I despise most other dragons, but I meet them face to face without resorting to the base trickery I use on lesser creatures. (Lawful) Topaz

drive the giant away. 2 An adult topaz dragon and an adult bronze dragon are finding their centuries-old enmity turning into a more romantic passion. 3 A djinni hopes to convince a topaz

Flavors of Fantasy

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

to drive the action of a campaign: Evil Cult. Wicked cultists infiltrate a peaceful realm to free an ancient evil entity trapped in a dungeon. Releasing the entity would surely spell the realm’s doom

symbolize the decadence and corruption of civilization, and mages are the classic villains of these settings. Magic items are therefore rare and often dangerous. Consider conflicts like these to drive the

The Emerald Enclave

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

The Emerald Enclave Members of the Emerald Enclave are spread far and wide across the Sword Coast and the North. They usually operate in isolation, relying on their own abilities and instincts to

. Some are charged with defending sacred glades and preserving the natural balance. At times, however, all members of the order are called together to combat foes great enough to disrupt or destroy

Stone Cursed

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monsters of the Multiverse

the burned feathers of a cockatrice, awakens a dim echo of the petrified victim’s spirit, animating the statue and turning it into a useful guardian. Stone cursed possess a malevolent drive to slay

the living, yet they are utterly loyal to whoever performed the ritual to animate them, and they obey that being’s orders to the best of their ability. In combat, stony claws that drip with thick, gray

Sparkrender's Ritual

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

characters leave and take a long rest before confronting Sparkrender, or if they flee from combat with Sparkrender and return after they’ve rested. Another possibility is that the characters drive

dragon wyrmling), if they can free Aidron from his chains (see “Freeing Aidron” below). Any surviving kobolds and winged kobolds lurk here, but they stay out of combat if possible. See “Waking the

Unwelcome Party

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

was planning to take her boys to find safety. High Overseer Thavius Kreeg is the leader of the city, and Harkina hopes that he is working on a plan to rescue survivors and drive away the devils. If

those NPCs in combat. The easiest option is to have the NPCs stay back and out of the way, limiting their options to following the characters or hiding from enemies. During fights, you can effectively

How to Play

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

, often relying on the roll of a die to determine the results of an action. 3. The DM narrates the results of the adventurers’ actions. Describing the results often leads to another decision point

, which brings the flow of the game right back to step 1. This pattern holds whether the adventurers are cautiously exploring a ruin, talking to a devious prince, or locked in mortal combat against a

Plot Points

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

you like, especially if you want the players to drive more of the story. Once every player at the table has spent a plot point, they each gain 1 plot point. Option 1: What a Twist! A player who spends a

can spend a plot point to become the DM. That player’s character becomes an NPC, and play continues. It’s probably not a good idea to swap roles in the middle of combat, but it can happen if your group

D&D Beyond

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