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Returning 35 results for 'both better down cursed rules'.
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
. If the target is a Humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with lycanthropy. While cursed in this way, the target retains its alignment, languages, and equipment
"} poison damage.Delour the wererat is a sly trickster and consummate thief who rules the Moonstalkers alongside his friend Boss Augustus;Augustus. Delour’s honeyed words and calculating mind make
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
"} piercing damage in hybrid form. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wereraven lycanthropy.
Shortsword (Humanoid or Hybrid Form Only). Melee
, modestly give money to charity. They take steps to keep magic items out of evil hands by stashing them in secret hiding places.
Characters as Wereravens. The Monster Manual has rules for characters
Monsters
Quests from the Infinite Staircase
throw or be cursed with mummy rot. The cursed target can’t regain hit points, and its hit point maximum decreases by 10 (3d6);{"diceNotation":"3d6", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Rotting Fist
by evil, Nafik now rules over the upper halls of Amun Sa’s pyramid and the priests he sentenced to an exanimate eternity.Necrotic, PoisonBludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical AttacksFire
Species
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
lost hag.
4
You were cursed as a child. A deal with the spirits of the forest transformed you into a hexblood, now free of the curse.
5
You began life as a fey creature, but an accident
might come to accept over the course of centuries. Once a hexblood undergoes this irreversible ritual, they emerge as a hag NPC no longer under the control of the hexblood’s player, unless the DM rules otherwise.
Folk Hero
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
you.
Suggested Characteristics
A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their
.
d6
Flaw
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of
Deep Dragon Wyrmling
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
"}
Ideal
1
Understanding. True power comes from the ability to discern other creatures’ motivations better than they can discern yours. (Any)
2
Kindred. All dragons are kin to one
it to the surface world. Lost and confused, the wyrmling has been captured by a group of cruel adventurers.
3
A deep dragon wyrmling whimsically rules over a worshipful group of kobolds, sending
Orcus
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Out of the Abyss
chapter 7, "Treasure” of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.Orcus’s Lair
Orcus makes his lair in the fortress city of Naratyr, which is on Thanatos, the layer of the Abyss that he rules
tampering with the dead in my search to better understand death.”
61–80
“I want to achieve the everlasting existence of undeath.”
81–00
“I am awash in
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
;
Suggested Characteristics
A folk hero is one of the common people, for better or for worse. Most folk heroes look on their humble origins as a virtue, not a shortcoming, and their home communities
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and blind to my shortcomings and the risk of failure.
3
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
with me to pursue my destiny.
d6
Flaw
1
The tyrant who rules my land will stop at nothing to see me killed.
2
I’m convinced of the significance of my destiny, and
city, especially hard drink.
5
Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land.
6
I have trouble trusting in my allies.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
, making sure the rules serve the group’s fun. Tutorials in each adventure teach you some of those rules, but you’ll want to reference the D&D Beyond Basic Rules to better understand them. Keep It Secret
explore. Then you use a combination of imagination and the game’s rules to determine the results of the adventurers’ decisions. Adjudicate the Rules. You oversee how the group uses the game’s rules
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->Player’s Handbook
Proficiency Characters and monsters are good at various things. Some are skilled with many weapons, while others can use only a few. Some are better at understanding people’s motives, and others are
better at unlocking the secrets of the multiverse. All creatures have a Proficiency Bonus, which reflects the impact that training has on the creature’s capabilities. A character’s Proficiency Bonus
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Stranger Things
tasted better before the thessalhydra arrived. That’s why he’s sure the monster’s lair is in the apple orchards to the north. A traveling priest says that often lesser monsters worship bigger ones. There
are troglodytes in a nearby set of caverns. They might know something about the thessalhydra. A woodcutter warns them that some of the caves around here are cursed. “Once you enter, you get lost in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Proficiency Characters and monsters are good at various things. Some are skilled with many weapons, while others can use only a few. Some are better at understanding people’s motives, and others are
better at unlocking the secrets of the multiverse. All creatures have a Proficiency Bonus, which reflects the impact that training has on the creature’s capabilities. A character’s Proficiency Bonus
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Running This Chapter In this chapter, the characters explore the halls of Lavoglia, better known as the Palace of Heart’s Desire. Most likely, they’ve learned of Zybilna’s betrayal at the hands of
’ experience as entertaining as possible: Read the description of Iggwilv’s Cauldron in appendix A. Read this chapter in its entirety, and reacquaint yourself with the “Rules of Conduct” and “Death in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
issues as they come up.
When in doubt, make it up! It’s better to keep the game moving than to get bogged down in the rules.
It’s not a competition. The DM isn’t competing against the player
The Dungeon Master The Dungeon Master (DM) has a special role in the Dungeons & Dragons game. The DM is a referee. When it’s not clear what ought to happen next, the DM decides how to apply the rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
are key to the story, as well as one of the locations where Strahd can be found. Chapter 1 also outlines Strahd’s goals, and it suggests adventure hooks to draw the player characters into the cursed
appendix B. Chapter 2, “The Lands of Barovia,” provides an overview of the realm and includes special rules for it and its people, including the mysterious Vistani. Chapters 3–15 detail areas that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
to present the party with one or more of Malaxxix’s custom-made cursed items, exposing characters to the curse of Malaxxix. Sample cursed items and rules for the curse of Malaxxix are included below
Things. Of course, you can also place such a cursed item in your next dungeon or among an otherwise unremarkable treasure hoard.
Once a character attunes to one of Malaxxix’s cursed items, that
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
other curses. A curse that lasts for 1 minute equates to a level 3 spell, while one that lasts until dispelled equates to a level 9 spell. Cursed Creatures Some monsters are associated with curses
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Chapter 1: This Is Your Life The character creation rules in the Player’s Handbook provide all the information you need to define your character in preparation for a life of adventuring. What they
were the greatest influences on you during your formative years, for better or worse? To answer these questions and more, you can use the tables and the advice in this section to compose a well-developed
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Descent into the Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
, the pech. Appendix C features a score sheet for use in competitive play. See the “Tournament Rules” section for how to run the adventure as a tournament-style scenario. Appendix D provides six premade
tantalizing details about Iggwilv the Witch Queen—perhaps better known as the archmage Tasha, famous for her Hideous Laughter spell. This adaptation pays homage to the original by including a score sheet for competitive play.
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
, while one that lasts until dispelled equates to a level 9 spell. Cursed Creatures Some monsters are associated with curses, whether as part of their origins or due to their ability to spread curses
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
Artificer to make magic items. The Dungeon Master’s Guide provides rules for characters— not just Artificers—who want to make magic items of all sorts. Though many different characters can make magic items
, Artificers can do it faster than others; each Artificer subclass improves a character’s speed at making items of a certain category.
When an Artificer crafts a magic item using the normal rules in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
against the player’s better judgment, because “that’s what the character would do.” Since combat isn’t the focus, game rules take a back seat to character development. Ability check modifiers and skill
proficiencies take precedence over combat bonuses. Feel free to change or ignore rules to fit the players’ roleplaying needs, using the advice presented in part 3 of this book. A WORLD TO EXPLORE
Much
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
help you arbitrate issues as they arise. When in doubt, make it up. It’s better to keep the game moving than to get bogged down in the rules. Embrace the shared story. D&D is about telling a story as a
apply the rules and keep the story going. The DM is a storyteller. The DM sets the pace of the story and presents the various challenges and encounters that the players must overcome. The DM is the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
Devil Traits Common traits among devils include the following: Charm. Devils are consummate charmers. Like humans, some are better at it than others. The good ones savor the exchange of pleasantries
by the same rules and obey the same social conventions as mortals. Devils have no problem appearing and acting in whatever manner they need to achieve their end goal — usually a contract for services
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
be useful to a minion, such as magic gloves, boots, armor, or an item it can’t attune itself to. Usually a beholder gives gifts to make a minion more powerful and better at its job, which typically
involves guarding the beholder’s lair. Sometimes it uses gifts as rewards and incentives for exceptional minions; although it prefers to rule by coercion and fear, it understands that better results can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
, transforming them and himself into Undead. Heartless and corrupted by evil, Nafik now rules over the upper halls of Amun Sa’s pyramid and the priests he sentenced to an exanimate eternity. Nafik Medium
) bludgeoning damage plus 21 (6d6) necrotic damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with mummy rot. The cursed target can’t regain hit points
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
piercing damage in raven form, or 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage in hybrid form. If the target is a humanoid, it must succeed on a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or be cursed with wereraven lycanthropy
Lycanthropy The lycanthropes entry in the Monster Manual has rules for characters afflicted with different forms of lycanthropy. The following text applies to wereraven characters specifically. A
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Noble The folk of Saltmarsh care little for nobles and their titles. Although the king technically rules the land, the south has long been left to its own devices. Are you a local noble turning to a
sent here by King Skotti himself. You are expected to keep your ties to the crown secret, the better to gain a clear insight into the region. If folk know that you represent the king, they’ll put their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
it. Characters who search the remains find some treasure (see “Treasure”). Mirror Gate to Level 1 Worked into the mirror’s stone frame is an image of a wizard pointing a wand. This gate’s rules are as
transmutation magic around the helm, which is cursed. Once the helm is donned, it can’t be removed until its wearer dies or until a remove curse spell or similar magic is cast on the helm. Any humanoid
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
of the spectrum, even a hag without lofty status is likely to have strange, single-use items that don’t emulate common spells or even follow the normal rules of magic. For inspiration in devising the
, a hag should be able to use weird magic only once or twice per encounter in her lair, or only once per encounter if she is elsewhere. A hag who is expecting a fight might be better prepared and able
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
idea, I get wildly excited about it until I come up with another, better idea. 7 I live by my own set of weird and wonderful rules. 8 I can’t bring myself to trust most adults. Ideals d8 Ideal 1
good, which is why I live by an ever-changing set of rules. (Chaotic) 5 Honor. A deal is a deal, and I would never break one. (Lawful) 6 Rule of Three. Everything in the multiverse happens in threes. I
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
(commoner) believes she can care for the city’s children better than their parents and works to have the other adults arrested.
2 A priest begins imposing restrictive lifestyle rules on a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
that they better reflect such a setting. For example, when the characters use spells or special abilities that teleport them short distances, they actually make high-flying acrobatic leaps. Ability
actions in the game don’t change the nuts and bolts of the rules, but they make all the difference in the feel of a campaign. Similarly, a class doesn’t need new rules to reflect a cultural influence; a






