build before drive concerned 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

by the promise of riches? Did you join forces with soldiers of those lands to face a shared threat? Did monsters or an invading horde drive you out of your homeland, making you a rootless refugee

Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

insults with vengeance. Like the branches of a young tree, elves are flexible in the face of danger. They trust in diplomacy and compromise to resolve differences before they escalate to violence. They

. “All that haste, their ambition and drive to accomplish something before their brief lives pass away—human endeavors seem so futile sometimes. But then you look at what they have

Warlock Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

gained. Rather, the vast majority of warlocks spend their days in active pursuit of their goals, which typically means some kind of adventuring. Furthermore, the demands of their patrons drive

determine how big a part your pact will play in your character’s adventuring career. Your patron’s demands might drive you into adventures, or they might consist entirely of small favors you can

Halfling Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

colors. Halfling practicality extends beyond their clothing. They’re concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of halflings keep their

communities are threatened. Pastoral Pleasantries Most halflings live in small, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of their own or even hold much

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

Cleric Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

her holy symbol as light pours from it to drive back the zombies crowding in on her companions. Clerics are intermediaries between the mortal world and the distant planes of the gods. As varied as the

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

Adult Crystal Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

drive the yetis out. 3 An adult crystal dragon and an elf archmage have been friends for centuries and often go stargazing together on the peaks of their favorite mountains, but the dragon is

above to build their lairs. Then, like gem cutters seeking the perfect diamond, they spend much of their lives refining, polishing, and enhancing the beauty of their lairs. Crystal dragons&rsquo

Adult Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

drive the giant away. 2 An adult topaz dragon and an adult bronze dragon are finding their centuries-old enmity turning into a more romantic passion. 3 A djinni hopes to convince a topaz

sun and have no desire to get wet, beyond enjoying a bit of sea spray in the air. But they love being able to see the water, so they build their lairs on the heights of seaside cliffs or near perfect

Selesnya NPCs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

civilization and untamed nature. But the guild’s drive isn’t only to draw people into a peaceable community: the Selesnya aim to build an army. They aren’t naive; they realize that the ambitions of other guilds

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

elements. Thus, druids oppose cults of Elemental Evil and others who promote one element to the exclusion of others. Druids are also concerned with the delicate ecological balance that sustains plant

? Perhaps your homeland was befouled by evil, and you took up an adventuring life in hopes of finding a new home or purpose. QUICK BUILD You can make a druid quickly by following these suggestions

Paladin Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

while you were at prayer? Did another paladin sense the potential within you and decide to train you as a squire? Or did some terrible event—the destruction of your home, perhaps—drive you to

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

Hobgoblin Warfare

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual

Hobgoblin Warfare The drive to subjugate and pillage is part of hobgoblins’ supernatural nature, though a few might repress their warlike tendencies or turn them to more useful ends. Roll on or

choose a result from the Hobgoblin Strategies table to inspire how a hobgoblin carries out its conquest. Hobgoblin Strategies 1d6 The Hobgoblin Works To... 1 Build a vessel to carry hobgoblin armies

Character Creation

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

of the corruptible, the resolve of the truly heroic—the Dark Powers savor these traits. Whether for a night or an eternity, Ravenloft seeks heroes of all sorts and pits them against their greatest

also explore how mystery might drive your character. Horror Trinkets. Learn what creepy curio inspires or haunts your adventures. Monster hunters Gennifer and Laurie Weathermay- Foxgrove corner the werewolf Natalia Vhorishkova

Ephara's Influence

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

culture fall under Ephara’s influence. Scholarship is closely connected to Ephara, as is art—particularly poetry, sculpture, and architecture. Ephara is also highly concerned with civic wisdom and

those who build new cities and those who free others from tyranny. Ephara knows that not all threats to a city come from outside it, and she encourages her followers to watch out for tyranny and

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.

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

Divine Ordeals

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

being beseeched, or be concerned with upholding the god’s ideals. As a rule, any hero capable of reaching Nyx is worthy of receiving an ordeal in most gods’ eyes. Additionally, a god will typically only

dreamscape constructed by the god. Work to craft an ordeal that provides a significant challenge for the character to overcome. Fundamentally, an ordeal is a test of the character’s heroic drive, as

The Dungeon Master

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

The Dungeon Master The Dungeon Master (DM) is the creative force behind a D&D game. The DM creates a world for the other players to explore, and also creates and runs adventures that drive the story

game sessions to resolve. When strung together, these adventures form an ongoing campaign. A D&D campaign can include dozens of adventures and last for months or years. A Dungeon Master gets to wear

Mogis's Villains

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

Mogis’s Villains Unquestionably, Mogis makes an excellent villain. His lust for bloodshed and willingness to fight all comers makes him easy to build a campaign around if you want a straightforward

associated with vicious monsters bent on wholesale destruction. He isn’t at all concerned with subtlety, but rather with creating mayhem. Adventures that bring characters into conflict with agents 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

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

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

created for themselves. Example Rivals d20 Rival 1 Tax collector who is convinced the characters are dodging fees 2 Politician who is concerned that the characters are causing more trouble than they

Creating a Barbarian

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

adventuring life? Were you lured to settled lands by the promise of riches? Did you join forces with soldiers of those lands to face a shared threat? Did monsters or an invading horde drive you out of

your people because of a crime you committed, a taboo you violated, or a coup that removed you from a position of authority. Quick Build You can make a barbarian quickly by following these suggestions

Hidden Rune

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

pause between two great moments in their history. The mission of this scholarly order is to collect the accumulated learning of the past and preserve it so a future giant civilization can build upon

believe they have any active role to play in building the future of giantkind. They are concerned only with preserving the past so that giants of the future—however that grand future might come into being

The Mourning and You

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

represents you channeling these vengeful ghosts. Is there a way to lay these spirits to rest? Do they have unfinished business they want you to resolve? As a sorcerer your arcane powers could be the

that you may be increasing the power of the Mourning with each spell you cast? As a warlock your patron could be interested in the Mourning and drive you to learn more about it. Your patron could even

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

Small and Practical

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

concerned with basic needs and simple pleasures and have little use for ostentation. Even the wealthiest of halflings keep their treasures locked in a cellar rather than on display for all to see. They have

, peaceful communities with large farms and well-kept groves. They rarely build kingdoms of their own or even hold much land beyond their quiet shires. They typically don’t recognize any sort of halfling

A Treasury of Dragons

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

(supernatural gifts explicitly connected to a dragon’s power). Chapter 3 presents tips, advice, and tables to help Dungeon Masters build encounters, adventures, and whole campaigns around dragons

dragons, but only secondarily a book about Dragons—that is, creatures with the Dragon type. Most of this book is concerned with the chromatic and metallic dragons described in the Monster Manual, as

Decisionist

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

to Head Office. Decisionists are also concerned with franchise morale and teamwork, helping all members of the franchise work together effectively. All decisionists vary in their approach to the task

franchise party. Noteworthy Decisionists: Donaar Blit’zen (“C” Team), Kelshi Annab Essential Functions: Receive one extra vote on franchise matters; resolve interparty conflicts Position Proficiencies: In

Creating a Warlock

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

your pact will play in your character’s adventuring career. Your patron’s demands might drive you into adventures, or they might consist entirely of small favors you can do between adventures. What kind

with intermediaries. Quick Build You can make a warlock quickly by following these suggestions. First, Charisma should be your highest ability score, followed by Constitution. Second, choose the

Creating a Paladin

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

some terrible event — the destruction of your home, perhaps — drive you to your quests? Perhaps you stumbled into a sacred grove or a hidden elven enclave and found yourself called to protect all such

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

Adventure Models

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

,” both in chapter 2). The Against the Giants table offers suggestions for adventure hooks you can use to build an adventure following this theme. On the world I call home, three linked mountain ranges

scions of giants’ gods described in chapter 6). An adventure might also challenge characters to drive the giants (and other forces of destruction) away from settled lands. The giant in a scenario like

Cleric: Order Domain

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica

else, rather than to a specific individual or the passing influence of emotion or popular rule. Clerics of order are typically concerned with how things are done, rather than whether an action’s results

level, you can invoke the power of law to drive an ally to attack. If you cast a spell with a spell slot of 1st level or higher and target an ally with the spell, that ally can use their reaction

When Clans Collapse

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

individuals in a clan to fall prey to occasional bickering and infighting. Abbathor’s influence affects some dwarves more than others, and even those with the strongest resolve can be tempted to

dedication to its goals strains the bonds between elements that must work together for the clan to prosper. Feuds between artisans drive wedges between families. Dwarf traders strike deals that fail to benefit

Dellmon Ranch

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

their land, and they aren’t willing to let a bunch of orcs drive them off. They’ve heard the stories of the rampaging orc war bands and seen the scouts nearby. When the attacks began on the smaller

father’s never-give-in mentality. Perd is concerned for the safety of the children and privately wonders if staying was a mistake. Perd’s wife, Marka (female Tethyrian human scout) worries about

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