build blocking diffusing contingency ruling

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium

The Role of Rules Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules

contingency. If the rules tried to do so, the game would become unplayable. An alternative would be for the rules to severely limit what characters can do, which would be counter to the open-endedness of

Parcels of Land

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

the local ruler or ruling body, but is leased to a character with the understanding that it can be taken away, especially if his or her loyalty is ever called into question. A parcel of land, if

. A character who receives a parcel of land is free to build on it and is expected to safeguard it. He or she may yield the land as part of an inheritance, but can’t sell or trade it without permission

Parcels of Land

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

local ruler or ruling body but is lent to a character with the understanding that it can be taken away, especially if the character’s loyalty is ever called into question. Characters who receive a

parcel of land are free to build on it and are expected to safeguard it. They may yield the land as part of an inheritance, but they can’t sell or trade it without permission from the local ruler or

The Role of Rules

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata

The Role of Rules Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to

players to bring them to life and a DM to guide their use. The DM is key. Many unexpected things can happen in a D&D campaign, and no set of rules could reasonably account for every contingency. If

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

gerontocracy, with the oldest member ruling the roost. This elder carries the bulk of the responsibility for enforcing traditions, settling disputes, setting the course for the group’s travels, and

Build Your Group

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Build Your Group Dragonmarked houses employ adventurers who suit their needs. The roles characters play in a group with a dragonmarked house patron often have more to do with their relationship to

connection to its ruling family or its businesses. The Adventurer, though, is hired by the house for more traditional adventuring skills—usually capabilities that the house’s other agents lack. The Adventurer

Secret of Chief Yarb-Gnock

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Secret of Chief Yarb-Gnock Ruling a goblin horde is a thankless job. That’s a hard lesson for a rock gnome sorcerer to learn. Five years ago, before Icewind Dale became the perpetually frozen

became the new chief after the previous one choked to death on a mountain goat tongue. By then, Yarb-Gnock had already drawn up plans to build a fortress in the mountains. Karkolohk, the Gnomish word

Build Your Group

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Build Your Group Newspapers employ a wide range of adventurers to bring news back to the home office. Consider some or all of these roles for the characters in your party: Voice of BRELAND

Claddik, is the most public face of its leadership, and her connection to Korranberg’s ruling Council of Nine is well known. But she is not the ultimate authority determining what gets printed and what

A World of Giants

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

for countless generations. As you build such a world, consider these four key questions: How do different kinds of giants live together? The world might have a single empire of giants where giants

giants ruling the world as Annam intended, perhaps the All-Father hasn’t turned his back on his children. He might be a much more active deity here, and giants might be more engaged in his worship

Kobold Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

sewer tunnels, paying them with food and tools the kobolds wouldn’t have access to on their own. If they are treated well and left alone to do the job, the kobolds work industriously and build a

, they might build a warren and make a permanent home there, while continuing to expand the town’s sewers as the community grows. These so-called “city kobolds” live underground but

Fierna and Belial

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

whatever emotion she chooses to evoke. Belial, meanwhile, doesn’t attempt to sway others with his interpersonal skills and focuses on the duties of ruling a layer of the Nine Hells. The two seem to hate and

Belial, but his contingency plans rescue him from possible disaster. Other devils might gain a brief advantage over the two lords because of their infighting, but whenever any true threat to their rule

Example Simple Traps

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

triggers the trap. Falling Portcullis Simple trap (level 1–4, moderate threat) Some folk who build dungeons, such as mad wizards in search of new victims, have no intention of allowing their visitors to make

creature that steps on the pressure plate triggers the trap. Effect. An iron portcullis drops from the ceiling, blocking an exit or a passageway. Countermeasures. A successful DC 20 Wisdom (Perception

Human Ethnicities in Faerûn

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

build sturdy ships that are capable of weathering the tumultuous seas around their home. Ffolk Names: (Male) Artur, Bern, Colin, Manfred, Tristan; (female) Alicia, Gennifer, Meridith, Elaine, Olivia

, Phaele, Sarade; (surnames) Avhoste, Darante, Maurmeril, Stamaraster Imaskari An uprising of Mulan slaves brought about the ruin of Imaskar and its ruling wizards thousands of years ago, but some

Shipwreck Locations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

seconds. C4: Captain’s Quarters The door to the captain’s quarters is barricaded from the inside, though the heavy wooden bar blocking the door is half rotten. A character who tries to force the door

Blood Lord, the demon lord Orcus is a fiend whose power rivals that of the gods. Ruling over hordes of demons in the nightmarish plane of existence called the Abyss, Orcus yearns to transform the

Locations A - D

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

by the War of the Silver Marches, which drew away many of Adbar’s greatest warriors, including its long-ruling king, Harbromm. King Harbromm led his knights into battle against the orc hordes invading

summon them to their throne hall for an audience. King Morinn and Queen Tithmel tell the characters about their suspicions concerning Ironslag and ask them to investigate. In return, they offer to build

Necropolis Locations (Y1-Y9)

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

barrier, which is immune to all damage and can’t be dispelled by dispel magic. The barrier also extends into the Ethereal Plane, blocking ethereal travel. Any creature that touches the barrier for the

, they learn three facts from the Ythryn Lore table, which Xerophon shares to build trust. The doppelganger also knows that to bypass the force field around the Spire of Iriolarthas, one must perform the

Locations M - P

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder

difficult on even the best of days. The forest is patrolled by wood elves, who defend the woods from poachers. Visitors who leave the inhabitants of the Misty Forest alone, and who build their campfires

great expense), and that achievement bodes well for Neverwinter’s future. Dagult Neverember is the Lord Protector of Neverwinter, ruling in the absence of a true heir to Neverwinter’s crown. At

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