both bonds down complex rather

Leonin Iconoclast

Monsters Mythic Odysseys of Theros

in ages past, today their prides largely avoid contact with other peoples and spurn the gods that ignored their plight. Since then, the leonin have flourished, finding strength in their bonds with

warrior;tribal warriors, but those who hunt the servants of the gods rather than game are known as leonin iconoclasts.

Rosie Beestinger

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

complex than merely seeking after adventure. She has long sought for ultimate meaning in the stars, and to seek justification for her belief that her bonds to her expansive family are reflected in the

High Fae Mage

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

also form strong bonds with the elemental powers of Eldraine, allowing the mages to call on forces like the eastern wind or the fiery hearth. “The high fae are capable of magic that would make

frequently engage in deceptions and other complex games of wits against one another. Most high fae remain secluded deep within the wilds of Eldraine. They draw power from motes of light found

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. They have a knack for finding the most straightforward solution to a problem, and have little patience for dithering. Kind and

Curious Halflings are an affable and cheerful people. They cherish the bonds of family and friendship as well as the comforts of hearth and home, harboring few dreams of gold or glory. Even adventurers

Reborn

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

sensations or visions of the past to come rushing back. Rather than sleeping, reborn regularly sit and dwell on the past, hoping for some revelation of what came before. Most of the time, these are dark

alongside complex designs for clockwork organs. 6 You were released after being petrified for generations. Your memories have faded, though, and your body isn’t what it once was. 7 Your

Soldier Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

combined with the rigid discipline of military service leave their mark on all soldiers, shaping their ideals, creating strong bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and

mistake in battle that cost many lives—and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. 4 My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Charlatan Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

them like they were children’s books. It’s a useful talent, and one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage. You know what people want and you deliver, or rather

Charity. I distribute the money I acquire to the people who really need it. (Good) 4 Creativity. I never run the same con twice. (Chaotic) 5 Friendship. Material goods come and go. Bonds of

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

, empathetic, and generally peaceful — unless roused to action. Their flaws and bonds alike grow naturally from their close ties to the community. Personality Traits d8 Personality Trait

1 I never raise my voice or lose my temper. 2 I feel the pains and joys of everyone around me, friend or foe. 3 I would rather make a friend than thwart an enemy. 4 I’m

Courtier

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather than the

. d6 Ideal 1 Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization. (Lawful) 2 Generosity. My talents were

Tabaxi Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

of the world beyond their home. Barterers of Lore Tabaxi treasure knowledge rather than material things. A chest filled with gold coins might be useful to buy food or a coil of rope, but it’s

on a particularly interesting item when an owner refuses to sell or trade it. Tabaxi Names Each tabaxi has a single name, determined by clan and based on a complex formula that involves astrology

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

a set of beliefs about the nature of life. Simic members’ bonds and flaws derive from their scientific research — including their creation of new life forms, which they can become very

interfere with the conclusions of logic. (Lawful) 6 Superiority. My vast intellect and strength are directed toward increasing my sway over others. (Evil) Bonds d6 Bond

Loyalty

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

can track the loyalty scores of groups of NPCs, such as those belonging to each faction, rather than having to track NPCs individually. The characters must balance the goals and bonds of their followers in order to maintain and improve their loyalty.

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

of evil that calls for them to butcher or eradicate all who oppose them. In keeping with their goal of domination, the yuan-ti would rather capture potentially useful opponents than kill them. They use

rather than among other creatures, including my own kind. 4 I sometimes become consumed by philosophy. 5 I believe I am superior to others of my caste. 6 I am driven by wanderlust

Soldier - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

soldiers, shaping their ideals, creating strong bonds, and often leaving them scarred and vulnerable to fear, shame, and hatred. d8 Personality Trait 1 I’m always polite and

keep that mistake secret. 4 My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. 5 I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. 6 I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong.

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage. You know what people want and you deliver, or rather, you promise to deliver. Common sense should steer people away from things that

come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever. (Good) 6 Aspiration. I’m determined to make something of myself. (Any) d6 Bond 1 I fleeced the wrong person and must

Dimir Operative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. (Chaotic) 6 Nihilism. I don’t believe in anything, and anyone who does is a fool. (Neutral) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I discovered a secret I can’t let

d6 Flaw 1 I like secrets so much that I’m reluctant to share details of a plan even with those who need to know. 2 I would let my friends die rather than reveal my true

Low Netheril

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Netheril’s Fall: Tales of Terror, Treasure, and Time Travel

. Family and Magic Out of sight of the mages, Low Netherese honored complex and rich customs marked by a profound storytelling tradition and unbreakable family bonds. Tattoos kept records of every parent, spouse, and child in a family.

Chapter 2: Traps Revisited

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

elaborate approach — describing traps in terms of their game mechanics and offering guidance on creating traps of your own using these new rules. Rather than characterize traps as mechanical or magical, these rules separate traps into two other categories: simple and complex.

Wicked Personality

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

Wicked Personality Detailing the Darklord’s personality gives them a unique identity that will help motivate them in your adventures. To do this, give them ideals, bonds, and flaws similar to those

obtain a bond. Flaws. In one sentence, describe how the Darklord’s personality causes them to act against their own best interests, especially in their quest to win their bonds and desires. Flaws are

Character Advancement

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

Character Advancement If you want to use story-based level advancement, the characters receive experience points for achieving the following milestones rather than defeating monsters: Encountering a

advancement occurs only once, even if the characters later encounter another faction leader. Entering the Tomb Complex. When the characters enter the fourth tier of the ziggurat for the first time

Izzet Engineer

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

protocols will lead us toward progress more surely than any belief system. (Lawful) 5 Fun. I love my job! Despite the dangerous working conditions, there’s nothing I’d rather do

. (Chaotic) 6 Power. Someday I’ll find or create the magic that will make me the most powerful being in Ravnica. (Evil) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I have dedicated my life

Monsters as NPCs

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

Monsters as NPCs Named monsters that play a significant role in an adventure deserve the same attention you would give to a humanoid NPC, with mannerisms as well as ideals, bonds, flaws, and secrets

. It craves powerful magic items and surrounds itself with gold, platinum, and precious gems. Its bond is to its lair — an elaborate cavern complex carved out between the twisting sewers of Waterdeep

Traps in Play

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

sides, a mechanism inside fires a hail of poison needles toward anyone in front of it. After inspecting the chest and making a few checks, the characters are still unsure if it's trapped. Rather than

24d10 Complex Traps Complex traps work like standard traps, except once activated they execute a series of actions each round. A complex trap turns the process of dealing with a trap into something more

Traps in Play

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

sides, a mechanism inside fires a hail of poison needles toward anyone in front of it. After inspecting the chest and making a few checks, the characters are still unsure if it’s trapped. Rather than

18d10 24d10 Complex Traps Complex traps work like standard traps, except once activated they execute a series of actions each round. A complex trap turns the process of dealing with a trap into something

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

other useful items, but if they are at risk of discovery, they run away rather than attack anyone in the house. By fleeing before they can be seen or identified, they avoid getting into a situation

divination (to find raw materials and foresee threats to the tribe). The main reason why kobolds depend on arcane magic rather than divine is Kurtulmak’s imprisonment, which makes it difficult for

Keep Features

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

Keep Features The water cultists are busy repairing Rivergard, but parts of the complex remain inaccessible. For example, the upper floors of the north tower and the water tower are filled with

. He leads bandits, who work for money rather than ideology, and water cultists. Only some of the commoner servants lack loyalty to Grimjaw and the cult. Doors. Interior doors are made of wood. It

The Great Wheel

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

between Bytopia and Arcadia; rather, this theoretical positioning is based on the philosophical shading among the three planes and the relative importance they give to law and good. Other

deities and Fiends reside Planes arranged in a complex system of orbits, with planes exerting greater influence on the Material Plane the closer they draw to it

Communication and Disposition

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

refusal to do so automatically prompts an attack. In such an attack, the lizardfolk’s first priority is the expulsion, rather than the death, of the intruders, but they fight to the death if provoked. Once

. Lizardfolk rarely use metaphors or complex sentences. Their speech is almost always literal — halting, but not primitive. They might pick up the meaning of an idiom, but only with some difficulty. Names

Creating a Blue Dragon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

fortune that I can’t stop laughing or chuckling. 7 I would rather destroy my lair and lose my hoard than allow anyone to steal from me. 8 I am sometimes secretly impressed by what other

Display. One should never take risks or waste resources by using power if one can achieve the same results merely by the threat of power. (Any) 6 Loyalty. I don’t form bonds with those outside my

Suggested Characteristics

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

life to the fullest, knowing that tomorrow I might die. 4 I live for the thrill of the hunt. 5 I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse. 6 I expect

that gets in my way. (Evil) Bonds d6 Bond 1 I keep my thoughts and discoveries in a journal. My journal is my legacy. 2 I would sacrifice my life and my soul to protect the innocent. 3 My torment

The True Threat

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

them to participate rather than the elves. Members of these four races have come together, overlooking their previous rivalries and differences, to negotiate an agreement of cooperation. But even as

the lizardfolk strive to hold their alliance together in the face of a common foe, the bonds are beginning to fray. How the characters perform their mission, and what sort of relationship they establish

Roleplaying a Yuan-ti

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

Personality Trait 1 I see omens in every event and action. The serpent gods continue to advise us. 2 I have very high standards for food, drink, and physical pleasures. 3 I prefer to be alone rather

emulate. (Any) 6 Power. Everything I choose to do is determined by whether it will make me smarter and stronger. (Evil) Yuan-ti Bonds d6 Bond 1 I will see our empire rise again and, in so doing, win

Leonin

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

past, today their prides largely avoid contact with other peoples and spurn the gods that ignored their plight. Since then, the leonin have flourished, finding strength in their bonds with one another

, but those who hunt the servants of the gods rather than game are known as leonin iconoclasts. Leonin Iconoclast While leonin don’t deny the existence of the gods, most denounce them, believing the

Suggested Characteristics

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

careful, for I have no way of telling friend from foe here. (Any) Bonds d6 Bond 1 So long as I have this token from my homeland, I can face any adversity in this strange land. 2 The gods of my

so secretly) convinced of the superiority of my own culture over that of this foreign land. 2 I pretend not to understand the local language in order to avoid interactions I would rather not have. 3 I

Alignment

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

plane of lawful evil. A devil does not choose to be lawful evil or tend toward lawful evil, but rather it is lawful evil in its essence. If it somehow ceases to be lawful evil, it changes into something

help you bring him or her to life as you play the game. Four categories of characteristics are presented here: personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. Beyond those categories, think about your

D&D Beyond

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