build before defined conduct resolve

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

violated, or a coup that removed you from a position of authority. QUICK BUILD You can make a barbarian quickly by following these suggestions. First, put your highest ability score in Strength

Kobold

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

a scale color more akin to that of a chromatic or a metallic dragon. A kobold’s cry can express a range of emotion: anger, resolve, elation, fear, and more. Regardless of the emotion expressed

by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your

Warforged Legacy

Species Eberron: Rising from the Last War

and crystal eyes embedded beneath a reinforced brow ridge. Beyond these common elements of warforged design, the precise materials and build of a warforged vary based on the purpose for which it was

. Warforged Personality The warforged were built to serve and to fight. For most of their existence, warforged had a clearly defined function and were encouraged to focus purely on that role. The Treaty

Wizard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, defined and united as a class by the spells they cast. Drawing on the subtle weave of magic that permeates the cosmos, wizards cast spells of explosive fire, arcing lightning, subtle deception, and brute

other wizard? Perhaps you’re simply eager to put your newfound magical skills to the test in the face of danger. QUICK BUILD You can make a wizard quickly by following these suggestions. First

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, paladins are rarely of any evil alignment. Most of them walk the paths of charity and justice. Consider how your alignment colors the way you pursue your holy quest and the manner in which you conduct

yourself before gods and mortals. Your oath and alignment might be in harmony, or your oath might represent standards of behavior that you have not yet attained. QUICK BUILD You can make a paladin

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

, hags, and alien entities of the Far Realm, warlocks piece together arcane secrets to bolster their own power. Sworn and Beholden A warlock is defined by a pact with an otherworldly being. Sometimes the

their patrons in dreams or waking visions, or deal only with intermediaries. QUICK BUILD You can make a warlock quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability

Chapter 8: Bastions

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

, and it provides opportunities for a character to craft magic items, conduct research, harvest poisons, build ships, and carry out a range of other activities. As DM, you decide whether Bastions are

Vistani

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

Vistani The Vistani (singular: Vistana) are wanderers, traveling about in horse-drawn, barrel-topped wagons, which they build themselves. Compared to Barovians, they are flamboyant, dressing in

are closely knit. They resolve disagreements through contests that end with reconciliatory singing, dancing, and storytelling. The Vistani are quick to act when their lives or traditions are threatened and are merciless when they believe they must be.

1Q. Great Hall

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

1Q. Great Hall The cultists eat their meals and conduct most of their business in this high, wide hall. The eastern end of the hall is used for dining and socializing. The western half is where

inner ward. Even asleep, the guard drakes are at normal alertness. Treasure The southwest corner of the room is a makeshift carpentry shop, where cultists build new chests and boxes to hold the

1Q. Great Hall

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

1Q. Great Hall The cultists eat their meals and conduct most of their business in this high, wide hall. The eastern end of the hall is used for dining and socializing. The western half is where

inner ward. Even asleep, the guard drakes are at normal alertness. Treasure The southwest corner of the room is a makeshift carpentry shop, where cultists build new chests and boxes to hold the

Actions in Exploration

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

in action.) In such situations, have the characters take turns, though it’s usually not necessary to roll Initiative as you would in a combat encounter. Resolve one character’s actions before moving

to the next. There’s no hard-and-fast rule about how long to spend on each character’s activity, but make sure no one is waiting for their turn for too long. You can build tension in an exploration

It's Your World

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

, but they’re not the only set of assumptions that can do so. You can build an interesting campaign concept by altering one or more of those core assumptions, just as well-established D&D worlds have done

the “Here there be dragons” notations? What if great empires cover huge stretches of countryside, with clearly defined borders between them? The Five Nations of the Eberron setting were once part of

Using Your Journal

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

cameo to this halfling? This halfling could be tied to a bigger plot or have information that could help the characters resolve some conflict. Suddenly, a minor trinket foreshadows bigger events to come

whatever your players throw at you, and you can even borrow pieces of various ideas to incorporate into future adventures. Not every adventure needs to build on earlier plots; a good stand-alone

Welcome to Leilon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

the town’s shallow mud flats) to be transferred to cities along the Sword Coast. Two hundred years ago, the wizard Thalivar made his home here and raised a tower at the town center to conduct his

attempt to build docks for barges, made to cross the marsh and meet merchant ships in the sea. Outside of town, a settler camp nestles under the trees alongside the High Road. At the center of town, the

Running a Séance

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

house are willing to be channeled only once per day, so the party must wait until after the following dawn to conduct another séance. Preparation and Ambiance. Plan for séances in a way that creates a

spirits’ house, and before the dead accept the trespassers, these spirits try to build a rapport through at least three interactions. The séances described in the following sections outline the

2. Vast Cavern

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage

four articulated metal legs. Zox Clammersham is using the scaladar under his control to build the Simulacrux and to defend it, should it come under attack. The Simulacrux is designed to replicate

, and immunity to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage from nonmagical weapons that aren’t made of adamantine. Destroying the arch all but dooms the project, since Zox lacks the resolve to start

Iroas's Influence

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

ingrained in the ethos of Akros, the polis that claims him as its patron. His precepts and codes of conduct are incorporated in the civil and military laws of Akros. Iroas values strength and

axe. Iroas pushes his followers to be ready at all times to meet conflict head-on. Divine Relationships Iroas is defined by his opposition to his twin brother, Mogis. Although both love battle, Iroas

Fireside Contests

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Giants of the Star Forge

character must complete the contest’s objective before the other competitors. The objective for each contest is included in the contest descriptions that follow. Opponent and Conduct. One Fireside giant

awards the party a potion of flying. Stone Giant’s Resolve Each competitor must sit or stand atop a wooden post beneath a roaring waterfall. If a competitor’s body ceases to be in contact with the

Neo-Noir Intrigue

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

. There are ways to resolve these problems, but the answers aren’t always simple or obvious. There can certainly be times when decisions are straightforward. If the Emerald Claw is about to detonate a

pieces of gold out of Khorvaire. There are spies who will do anything to protect their nations and petty criminals trying to build empires. There’s a place in Eberron for selfless heroes and truly vile

Hobgoblin

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

potential slaves can be found. They build and conquer strongholds in strategically advantageous locations, which they then use as staging areas to expand their territory. Hobgoblin warlords never

tire of combat, but they don’t take up arms lightly. Before they attack, hobgoblins conduct thorough reconnaissance to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of their foes. When assaulting a stronghold, they

Creating a Paladin

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

pursue your holy quest and the manner in which you conduct yourself before gods and mortals. Your oath and alignment might be in harmony, or your oath might represent standards of behavior that you

have not yet attained. Quick Build You can make a paladin quickly by following these suggestions. First, Strength should be your highest ability score, followed by Charisma. Second, choose the noble

Welcome to Leilon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sleeping Dragon’s Wake

to conduct his mystical studies. The House of Thalivar was topped with a planar beacon that lured creatures from other planes into the structure and trapped them there. After Thalivar mysteriously

, new settlers attempt to build docks for barges, made to cross the marsh and meet merchant ships in the sea. Outside of town, the settlers’ campground becomes ever smaller as new buildings made of

Lockbury Henge

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

otherwise irritate the korreds, Argantle and Jagu emerge from their megaliths and attack the characters for their insolence. Otherwise, the rule of hospitality (see “Rules of Conduct” in chapter 2

her, chewing on pebbles and glaring at the characters. Treasure. The character who helped Argantle win the game receives a gift, in accordance with the rule of reciprocity (see “Rules of Conduct” in

Creating a Rival

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

Creating a Rival In essence, a rival is a somewhat specialized NPC. You can use chapter 4 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide to build a new NPC for this purpose, or pick one from your current cast of

you resolve one or more workweeks of downtime, pick one of the ways a rival’s plans might be advanced and introduce it into play. Think about how a rival might operate in order to bring specific

Acererak

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

necromantic device called the Soulmonger, then hid it in the heart of the tomb. ACERERAK’S TRAITS Ideal. “Why be a god when I can be a creator of gods?” Bond. “I build dungeons to trap and slay

powerful adventurers. Their deaths and souls are my nourishment.” Flaw. “I underestimate the resolve of my enemies.” Acererak Medium undead, neutral evil Armor Class 21 (natural armor) Hit Points

The Revered Queen

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

position as the supreme ruler of the githyanki with a grand proclamation that defined the githyanki’s all-encompassing mission. They had been bred and trained for war by their one-time masters and had

Vlaakith: she knows how to build fanatics. But alas, fanatics are good for nothing of lasting consequence. The Bitter Truth In the time since Vlaakith made this promise to her people, she has called

The Abyss

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

character’s turns, he or she can make a DC 15 Charisma saving throw. On a success, the character regains control until he or she rolls another 1. Important Layers The layers of the Abyss are defined by the

such objects in from demiplanes and Material Plane worlds that figure into the schemes of the Spider Queen. Lolth’s servants also build dungeons amid the webbing, trapping and hunting Lolth’s hated

Mortuary Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary

trots up to the characters and drops a bony hand at their feet. The dog wants to play fetch. 5 Ten melancholy Dusters (commoners) conduct an open-casket funeral for a cheery skeleton named Merle, who

Mortuary toward his orrery (detailed later in this supplement). 2 Two guardian nagas slither up to the party. The nagas are collecting stories about those who have passed. 3 A death tyrant, eager to build

Putting the Planes Together

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

, like a hole torn in the fabric of the cosmos. Other Visions As you build your own cosmology, consider the following alternatives. The Omniverse. This simple cosmology covers the bare minimum: a Material

. The Egyptian cosmology is defined by the daily path of the sun — across the sky of the Material Plane, down to the fair Offering Fields in the west, where the souls of the righteous live in eternal

Points of Interest

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

amounts of stone became available for building. The laborers also took the time to build a tavern, the Miner’s Respite, and spend their off hours there drinking, swapping tales, and gambling. The game

smugglers who operate in the Saltmarsh area. Gellen Primewater relies on this drop point to conduct much of his business. Lizardfolk Lair This location is featured in Danger at Dunwater. Use the

Drow

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

in their subterranean realm, where they feel secure and in control. Underdark Cities. The drow build fantastic cities in enormous caverns where food and water are abundant. Their ability to sculpt

plagues all elvenkind.” — Nelar Autumnwell, elf cleric of Corellon Larethian A drow city is a sprawling metropolis enclosed by high walls. Non-drow visitors must conduct their business outside

Building a Dungeon

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

creatures that typically build dungeons. You can choose a creator from the table or roll randomly, or choose some other dungeon builder appropriate for your campaign. Dungeon Creator d20 Creator

control the dungeon and conduct their rites there. Tomb. Tombs are magnets for treasure hunters, as well as monsters that hunger for the bones of the dead. Treasure Vault. Built to protect powerful

Gnome Gods

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

send an omen to nudge a group of gnomes in a certain direction, or even manifest an avatar in the middle of a gnome burrow. When Garl makes one of these rare appearances, it is to resolve a dispute that

worked together to replace it with a stronger one made of iron, but her resentment over the mishap lingers. Gnomes build their homes in hidden and defensible places because Gaerdal teaches them these

How to Play

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

resolve those actions. Sometimes, resolving a task is easy. If an adventurer wants to walk across a room and open a door, the DM might just say that the door opens and describe what lies beyond. But

uncertain, the Dungeons & Dragons game relies on rolls of a 20-sided die, a d20, to determine success or failure. Every character and monster in the game has capabilities defined by six ability

Factions of Gracklstugh

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

Deepking. The lairds hold council to resolve disputes and discuss future plans. Each clan has its own holdings in Gracklstugh and specializes in a certain craft or service. Duergar Clans Smithing Clan

efficiency, stoicism, and hard work, and these values are exemplified in their capital. Everything the duergar make or build has a purpose and function; the only aesthetic they value in architecture is

D&D Beyond

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