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Returning 35 results for 'breaking before deciding contested rules'.
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Criminal / Spy
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Basic Rules (2014)
You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law. You have spent a lot of time among other criminals and still have contacts within the criminal underworld. You’re far closer
than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
only breaking knees when it can plausibly be claimed as an act of personal revenge. Others join up with crews for protection, or with the Guild itself. A few former Guild members have been cast out of
the organization due to incompetence or after offending a more powerful member, and now shuffle for scraps to survive.
You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law. You have
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
rules glossary. Breaking Objects As an action, you can automatically break or otherwise destroy a fragile, nonmagical object, such as a glass container or a piece of paper. If you try to damage something more resilient, the DM might use the rules on breaking objects in the rules glossary.
describes what happens. Sometimes, however, rules govern what you can do with an object, as detailed in the following sections. What Is an Object? For the purpose of the rules, an object is a discrete
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Rules Glossary. Breaking Objects As an action, you can automatically break or otherwise destroy a fragile, nonmagical object, such as a glass container or a piece of paper. If you try to damage something more resilient, the DM might use the rules on breaking objects in the Rules Glossary.
describes what happens. Sometimes, however, rules govern what you can do with an object, as detailed in the following sections. What Is an Object? For the purpose of the rules, an object is a discrete
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
The Middle Path Many DMs find that using a combination of the two approaches works best. By balancing the use of dice against deciding on success, you can encourage your players to strike a balance
between relying on their bonuses and abilities and paying attention to the game and immersing themselves in its world. Remember that dice don’t run your game — you do. Dice are like rules. They’re
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
examples of rule-breaking are more conspicuous. For instance, an adventurer can’t normally pass through walls, but some spells make that possible. Magic accounts for most of the major exceptions to the rules.
Specific Beats General This compendium contains rules that govern how the game plays. That said, many racial traits, class features, spells, magic items, monster abilities, and other game elements
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
session and for creating situations that facilitate fun. Improviser. A big part of being the DM is deciding how to apply the rules as you go and imagining the consequences of the characters’ actions in a
way that will make the game fun for everyone. Referee. When it’s not clear what ought to happen next, the DM decides how to apply the rules. Storyteller. The DM crafts adventures, setting situations in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
session and for creating situations that facilitate fun. Improviser. A big part of being the DM is deciding how to apply the rules as you go and imagining the consequences of the characters’ actions in a
way that will make the game fun for everyone. Referee. When it’s not clear what ought to happen next, the DM decides how to apply the rules. Storyteller. The DM crafts adventures, setting situations in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
a Dexterity (Stealth) check contested by the guards’ passive Wisdom (Perception) score to carry it off without notice. Each of the guards on duty in the other areas of the outpost has a key to the
gate hanging from a belt ring. Breaking the gate’s lock and forcing it open requires a successful DC 20 Strength check. Magical Wards The drow have placed powerful wards on the slave pen to inhibit
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->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
experience before deciding to become an adventurer? What were the circumstances of your birth? How large is your family, and what sorts of relationships do you have with your relatives? Which people
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
chapter, such as breaking down doors, intimidating enemies, sensing weaknesses in magical defenses, or calling for a parley with a foe. The only limits to the actions you can attempt are your imagination
and your character’s ability scores. See the descriptions of the ability scores in chapter 7 for inspiration as you improvise.
When you describe an action not detailed elsewhere in the rules, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
rights among the student body. For more about this event, see the “Battle of Strixhaven” section. Mage Tower’s Rules Here are the rules of Mage Tower: Each of the two teams has an equal number of
, mascot, or spectator or that would damage the field of play in any way is prohibited. Breaking this rule results in expulsion from the game. Questionable use of magic can be called as a foul by the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
, twenty feet above the floor.
Any character who can see the bridge in area 5 might also notice the goblin guarding the bridge. Doing so requires a Wisdom (Perception) check contested by the goblin’s
the Basic Rules). The ledge between the two escarpments is fragile. Any weight in excess of 100 pounds loosens the whole mass and sends it tumbling down to the east. Any creature on the ledge when it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
amenities. If the council needs a tie-breaking vote to determine whether to commute a prisoner’s sentence, the prison warden—a neutral arbiter with no ties to any Lords’ Alliance member—casts the deciding vote. The remote prison of Revel’s End contains many of the Sword Coast’s most dangerous criminals
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
hard part was deciding how exactly to do that.
We faced an important decision early on in creating the concept for this campaign. In addition to the original 1985 adventure, there was a sequel released
updated stats.
A simple reprint felt like a disappointing option. The Temple of Elemental Evil is available as an ebook, and the conversion from the first edition rules to fifth edition is fairly
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
section, such as breaking down doors, intimidating enemies, sensing weaknesses in magical defenses, or calling for a parley with a foe. The only limits to the actions you can attempt are your imagination
elsewhere in the rules, the DM tells you whether that action is possible and what kind of roll you need to make, if any, to determine success or failure.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Breaking Objects Objects can be harmed by attacks and by some spells, using the rules below. If an object is exceedingly fragile, the DM may allow a creature to break it automatically with the Attack
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
light sources or darkvision. Stalagmites. Found in many of the natural caverns, these spires of rock rise up from the floor and can be used for cover (see “Cover” in the Basic Rules). BOOMING WAVES
underground hot spring. That spring boils over continuously to produce a surge that slams into a narrow funnel, making a sound like breaking surf. Describe this sound to players on occasion. It will pique their curiosity and lure them toward its source, drawing them deeper into the mine as a consequence.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
it has several different abilities, but simply deciding that an item is always active or can be used a fixed number of times per day is easier to manage. Power Level If you make an item that lets a
column suggests an appropriate bonus based on the item’s rarity. Attunement Decide whether the item requires a character to be attuned to it to use its properties. Use these rules of thumb to help you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Breaking Objects Objects can be harmed by attacks and by some spells, using the rules below. If an object is exceedingly fragile, the DM may allow a creature to break it automatically with the Attack
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
disguising of goods by any means, and no use of magic during negotiations and haggling. The punishment for breaking any covenant is equally straightforward: the violator is wrapped in chains and tossed into the Darklake. Recent events in Mantol-Derith have rendered these rules moot.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
“Cover” in the Basic Rules). DISGUISED CHARACTERS
Rather than storm Cragmaw Castle with weapons in hand, clever characters might try to talk their way inside. For example, they might don the scarlet
) check contested by the monsters’ Wisdom (Insight) checks, and give the characters advantage on their checks if the deception is particularly well planned or roleplayed. If at least one character wins
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
creature can’t make opportunity attacks against you for the rest of your turn. SWASHBUCKLERS AND TWO-WEAPON FIGHTING
The Swashbuckler relies on a good understanding of the D&D rules to realize its
attack roll. All the other rules for Sneak Attack still apply to you. Panache At 9th level, your charm becomes extraordinarily beguiling. As an action, you can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
explained in the Rules Glossary). These different modes of movement can be combined with your regular movement, or they can constitute your entire move. However you’re moving with your Speed, you deduct
noted in the monster’s stat block. See the Rules Glossary for more about Speed as well as about special speeds, such as a Climb Speed, Fly Speed, or Swim Speed. Difficult Terrain Combatants are often
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
, you can move a distance equal to your Speed or less. Or you can decide not to move. Your movement can include climbing, crawling, jumping, and swimming (each explained in the rules glossary). These
the rules glossary for more about Speed as well as about special speeds, such as a Climb Speed, Fly Speed, or Swim Speed. Difficult Terrain Combatants are often slowed down by Difficult Terrain. Low
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Wilderness Survival The following rules come into play as the characters explore Ten-Towns and embark on adventures to the icy, windy, hellishly cold reaches of Icewind Dale. Avalanches The following
rules can be used for rockslides as well as avalanches. An avalanche is a mass of snow and debris falling rapidly down a mountainside. A typical avalanche is 300 feet wide, 150 feet long, and 30 feet
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
checks made to jump. Fenthaza (see area 5) carries the keys for these bindings. See “Adventuring Gear” in chapter 5 of the Player’s Handbook for rules on breaking, escaping, and unlocking manacles (and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
bargain between the archdevil Zariel, who rules Avernus, and the treacherous High Overseer of Elturel, Thavius Kreeg. Zariel is capturing cities and using their citizens as fodder in the ongoing
themselves and Elturel from Avernus. Will they use the Sword of Zariel or strike an infernal bargain to free the planetar trapped in the Companion? Will they coax a demon into breaking Elturel’s chains? Or will they cut a deal with the archdevil Zariel?
Diagram 0.1: Adventure Flowchart
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
Angels in the Outlands CoupleOfKooks “If you think you’re prepared for the ultimate struggle between good and evil, the deciding contest between all that is righteous and all that is foul, then to
is called Spireball. The modron happily explains the game’s rules, its stakes, and the two teams, all of which are detailed below. Good versus Evil Two teams—the Noxious Stampede and the Righteous
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
) check contested by the goblin’s Dexterity (Stealth) check. This guard is lazy and inattentive. If no characters are using light sources, each character can attempt a Dexterity (Stealth) check
points, it collapses. Creatures on the collapsing bridge must succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall, taking 2d6 bludgeoning damage and landing prone (see “Being Prone” in the Basic Rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
to use your Sneak Attack against a creature if you are within 5 feet of it, no other creatures are within 5 feet of you, and you don’t have disadvantage on the attack roll. All the other rules for
Sneak Attack still apply to you. Panache At 9th level, your charm becomes extraordinarily beguiling. As an action, you can make a Charisma (Persuasion) check contested by a creature’s Wisdom (Insight
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Charisma (Deception) check contested by the golems’ Wisdom (Insight) check, with advantage on the check if the portrayal is particularly convincing. On a successful check, the golem won’t attack that
is one of Halaster’s gates (see “Gates”). It is composed of one hundred stone jigsaw pieces, each weighing 10 pounds. The rules of this gate are as follows: Only one piece of the arch can be removed at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
involved.” Sometimes the rules allow for any one of two or more proficiencies to apply to a check. When deciding what check a character should make, be generous in determining if the character’s
each ability is used for. (Constitution checks are rare, as tests of a character’s endurance are usually passive or reactive, making a saving throw more appropriate.) Proficiency When the rules or a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Dice The game uses polyhedral dice with different numbers of sides. You can find dice like these in game stores and in many bookstores.
In these rules, the different dice are referred to by the letter
the ones digit. In this case, a roll of 70 and 1 is 71, and 00 and 0 is 100.
When you need to roll dice, the rules tell you how many dice to roll of a certain type, as well as what modifiers to add