build before detail creating rival

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

worried that recent misdeeds will be revealed To add the right amount of detail to a rival you want to create, give some thought to what that NPC is trying to accomplish and what resources and

Zlan

Monsters Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn

liches, creating an amalgamated form. Zlan is the foremost mind among the liches and controls the body, The other liches rage and scheme about being subsidiary to someone they once considered both a

rival and an equal. The Zlan Liches table gives a brief description of each component. Zlan Liches Name History Argent Black Emerged from the Negative Plane, fed on hate and

Valenar High Elf

Species Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to find challenges worthy of a hero. In creating a Valenar, think about your patron ancestor. Your class should reflect their class; if you

particular rival who channels the same ancestor, or one who channels a rival of your ancestor? It’s also important to think about why you are traveling with a group of player characters

Valenar Wood Elf

Species Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

is why your people constantly seek out conflict; you need to find challenges worthy of a hero. In creating a Valenar, think about your patron ancestor. Your class should reflect their class; if you

particular rival who channels the same ancestor, or one who channels a rival of your ancestor? It’s also important to think about why you are traveling with a group of player characters

Barbarian Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

fraught with peril: rival tribes, deadly weather, and terrifying monsters. Barbarians charge headlong into that danger so that their people don’t have to. Their courage in the face of danger makes

the closeknit family structures of the tribe, but eventually find them replaced by the bonds formed among the members of their adventuring parties. Creating a Barbarian When creating a barbarian

Changeling

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, their features almost devoid of detail. It is rare to see a changeling in that form, for a typical changeling changes their shape the way others might change clothes. A casual shape—one created

physician. Personas can even be passed down through a family, allowing a younger changeling to take advantage of contacts established by the persona’s previous users. Creating Your Character At 1st

Wizard Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

. Creating a Wizard Creating a wizard character demands a backstory dominated by at least one extraordinary event. How did your character first come into contact with magic? How did you discover you had

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

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

protection and durability 2 Fin Clade, focused on movement 3 Gyre Clade, focused on cyclical patterns and metamagic 4 Guardian Project, focused on creating guard monsters and super

. 3 I’m eager to explain every detail of my most intricate experiments and theories to anyone who shows the least bit of interest. 4 I assume that everyone needs even the most basic

Creating a Darklord

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

must first conceive its central antagonist and prisoner: its Darklord. The following sections detail how to develop a Darklord that contrasts your characters and can serve as a central rival in your horror adventures.

Creating a Darklord Domains are mocking reflections of the evils they confine. Each has a purpose, being a prison designed to torture a deliberately chosen villain. To devise a Domain of Dread, you

Geryon (Variant)

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

use this opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle

Effects The region containing Geryon’s lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Chilling Wind. Freezing strong winds howl around the area within 1 mile of

Owlin

Species Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

character might be nocturnal. Or perhaps your character is simply prone to rise later, embodying the common nickname of night owl. Creating Your Character If you create an owlin character, follow these

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

Adult Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

positive energy for healing and nurturing. Creating a Crystal Dragon Use the Crystal Dragon Personality Traits and Crystal Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of distinctive crystal

crystal dragon has ripped open holes to the Elemental Planes of Air and Water, creating flash glaciation that encroaches upon inhabited lands. Connected Creatures Crystal dragons are among the

Ancient Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

light, or channel positive energy for healing and nurturing. Creating a Crystal Dragon Use the Crystal Dragon Personality Traits and Crystal Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your portrayal of

. 8 A crystal dragon has ripped open holes to the Elemental Planes of Air and Water, creating flash glaciation that encroaches upon inhabited lands. Connected Creatures Crystal dragons

Klauth

Monsters Storm King's Thunder

might rival him in power, in a fighting style marked by sudden attacks and just as sudden disappearances. Klauth spends many waking hours scrying Faerûn with his spells, and he probably knows more

of abandoned mines and dwarven strongholds. Caves with volcanic or geothermal activity are the most highly prized red dragon lairs, creating hazards that hinder intruders and letting searing heat and

Fighter Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

left behind. There are greater risks, perhaps, but also much greater rewards—few fighters in the city watch have the opportunity to discover a magic flame tongue sword, for example. Creating a

Fighter As you build your fighter, think about two related elements of your character’s background: Where did you get your combat training, and what set you apart from the mundane warriors

Emerald Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

create illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals

must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can watch how

Geryon

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

opportunity to replace his hated rival. Among the archdevils, Geryon is known for his martial prowess. He is a ferocious hunter and a relentless tracker. He often joins his troops in battle; he loves

The region containing Geryon’s lair is warped by his magic, creating one or more of the following effects: Chilling Wind. Freezing strong winds howl around the area within 1 mile of the lair

Harengon

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

dangers during adventures. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race such as the

Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores

Aarakocra

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

taper to sharp talons. Feathers cover their bodies—usually red, orange, yellow, brown, or gray. Their heads are also avian, often resembling those of parrots or eagles. Creating Your Character

regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to

Satyr

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

existence, most often to the Material Plane. There they seek to bring a bit of their home plane’s splendor to other worlds. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a

, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them

Shadar-kai

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, shadar-kai can live to be over 750 years old. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical

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

Water Genasi

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

others were born to non-genasi parents who lived near a place suffused by a genie’s magic. A typical genasi has a life span of 120 years. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose

determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those

Sorcerer Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

enormous flexibility in using the spells they know. Creating a Sorcerer The most important question to consider when creating your sorcerer is the origin of your power. As a starting character, you&rsquo

, the lich who created you as an experiment, or the deity who chose you to carry this power. QUICK BUILD You can make a sorcerer quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your

Creating a Campaign

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

Creating a Campaign The world you create is the stage for the adventures you set in it. You don’t have to give more thought to it than that. You can run adventures in an episodic format, with the

characters as the only common element, and also weave themes throughout those adventures to build a greater saga of the characters’ achievements in the world. Planning an entire campaign might seem like

Bugbear

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

formidable build, bugbears are quiet skulkers, thanks to a fey magic that allows them to hide in spaces seemingly too small for them. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your

the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or

Shifter Legacy

races Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

they can temporarily enhance their animalistic features by entering a state they call shifting. Shifters are similar to humans in height and build but are typically more lithe and flexible. Their

Weretiger Swiftstride 5 Werewolf (wolflike) Longtooth 6 Werewolf (doglike) Wildhunt Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

knowledge of anatomy to use by narrating the injuries my enemies suffer in grisly detail. 8 Like a wild animal, I lash out viciously when I’m provoked — and I’m easily provoked

meaningful connections with others. Roll twice on the Golgari Contacts table (for an ally and a rival) and once on the Non-Golgari Contacts table. Golgari Contacts d8 Contact 1 One

Cleric Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

. Creating a Cleric As you create a cleric, the most important question to consider is which deity to serve and what principles you want your character to embody. The Gods of the Multiverse section

a troublemaker? What are your ultimate goals? Does your deity have a special task in mind for you? Or are you striving to prove yourself worthy of a great quest? QUICK BUILD You can make a cleric

Monk Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

mission than merely slaying monsters and plundering their treasure. Creating a Monk As you make your monk character, think about your connection to the monastery where you learned your skills and spent

lawful in alignment. QUICK BUILD You can make a monk quickly by following these suggestions. First, make Dexterity your highest ability score, followed by Wisdom. Second, choose the hermit background

Rogue Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

treasure. Creating a Rogue As you create your rogue character, consider the character’s relationship to the law. Do you have a criminal past—or present? Are you on the run from the law or from

. QUICK BUILD You can make a rogue quickly by following these suggestions. First, Dexterity should be your highest ability score. Make Intelligence your next-highest if you want to excel at

Air Genasi

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

descendants of a genie, while others were born to non-genasi parents who lived near a place suffused by a genie’s magic. A typical genasi has a life span of 120 years. Creating Your Character

regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to

Kenku

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

most often found in the Shadowfell and the Material Plane, and they tend to have the coloration typical of ravens. Creating Your Character At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a

as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but

Kender

Species Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

others might become professional thieves. Creating Your Character If you create a kender character, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When

use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You’re free to

Young Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

spells that create illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations. Creating an Emerald Dragon Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon

and must be convinced to defend the school in a contest against a rival college. 7 An emerald dragon invisibly tails a party of adventurers, causing trouble for the heroes so the dragon can

Adult Moonstone Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

lock of a loved one’s hair, or a painting of a favorite place. A story of happy times fondly remembered is more precious to a moonstone dragon than a sack of gold. Creating a Moonstone Dragon

of an arcanaloth seeking a powerful Feywild artifact. 5 An adult moonstone dragon attempts to help a beholder worried that its dreams will soon give birth to a rival beholder. 6 Members of

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