building before detail concern remain

Acolyte Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

. Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being, and work with your DM to detail the nature of your religious service. The Gods of the Multiverse section contains a sample pantheon

your chosen deity or pantheon, and you have a residence there. This could be the temple where you used to serve, if you remain on good terms with it, or a temple where you have found a new home. While

Firbolg Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

heart of the world and monuments to the durability of life. In their role as caretakers, firbolgs live off the land while striving to remain in balance with nature. Their methods reflect common

Shepherds As caretakers of the land, firbolgs prefer to remain out of sight and out of mind. They don’t try to dominate nature, but rather seek to ensure that it prospers and survives according to its

Eladrin Legacy

Species Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes

, a time of unfettered energy. Some eladrin remain associated with a particular season for their entire lives, whereas other eladrin transform, adopting characteristics of a new season. When

Everything dies eventually. Why bother building anything that is supposedly meant to last? 2 Nothing matters to you, and you allow others to guide your actions. 3 Your needs come first. In

Acolyte - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

;performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power. Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being, and work with your DM to detail the nature of your

, if you remain on good terms with it, or a temple where you have found a new home. While near your temple, you can call upon the priests for assistance, provided the assistance you ask for is not

Triton Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

and worse, so you know you can count on them in a fight. — Brego Stoneheart, sea captain Tritons guard the ocean depths, building small settlements beside deep trenches, portals to the

variety of social institutions, kingdoms, and other customs bewildering. For all their proud culture, they remain innocent of the surface world. The typical triton protectorate is tightly regimented

Starting Location

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

Free City of Greyhawk, described later in this chapter, is an ideal starting location and illustrates the kinds of things to consider as you detail a starting location. If you’re building your own

Starting Location Begin your campaign in a location you can detail, such as a village, a neighborhood in a larger city, an outpost, or a roadside tavern. Be prepared to give players enough

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

the moss-covered building where I took part in my first reclamation mission. 5 I found something in the sewer that must never come to light. 6 I am forever grateful to the reclaimer who

Metallic Dragons

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

return of Tiamat. However, it remains to be seen whether they do so in concert with the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast, or whether they strike on their own with no thought or concern for the fate

the overall plan of battle. Moreover, if they can be brought into the alliance represented by the Council of Waterdeep, they can help defend humanoid territories from the cult’s devastating raids. This is covered in greater detail in chapter 14.

Orc Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

for survival in the material world, but to keep Maglubiyet at bay in the conflict on the planes. Her children will remain in her care, and if need be she wouldn’t hesitate to take to the field

more than a few hundred members, because a larger group would need a prohibitive amount of resources to remain strong. As a rule, a tribe is violently hostile toward any other tribe it meets, seeing the

Metallic Dragons

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat

return of Tiamat. However, it remains to be seen whether they do so in concert with the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast, or whether they strike on their own with no thought or concern for the fate

the overall plan of battle. Moreover, if they can be brought into the alliance represented by the Council of Waterdeep, they can help defend humanoid territories from the cult’s devastating raids. This is covered in greater detail in chapter 14.

Metallic Dragons

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

return of Tiamat. However, it remains to be seen whether they do so in concert with the humanoid factions of the Sword Coast, or whether they strike on their own with no thought or concern for the fate

the overall plan of battle. Moreover, if they can be brought into the alliance represented by the Council of Waterdeep, they can help defend humanoid territories from the cult’s devastating raids. This is covered in greater detail in chapter 14.

Ancient Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

suffer my displeasure. (Lawful or Evil) 5 Preservation. I am the ocean’s steward, tending reefs and waters to ensure that they remain unspoiled. (Lawful) 6 Eradication. The peoples of

, including deep-sea trenches or underwater volcanoes. Dragon turtles are largely unconcerned with the design of their lairs and seldom work to improve them. A dragon turtle’s primary concern when

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. 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

1 I helped create a krasis that I love like a pet and would carry with me everywhere … except it’s the size of a building, and it might eat me. 2 In my laboratory, I

Ancient Deep Dragon Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

rather enjoy the company of people—as long as they remain unaware of my true nature. Deep Dragon Ideals d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"} Ideal

, they use local settlements—and any competent visitors—as pawns in their struggle. 4 An ancient deep dragon has put the folk of a city to work building the dragon a metropolis to rule

Dinev's Rest

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

Dinev’s Rest Closed inn At the south end of town is Caer-Dineval’s inn, a drafty old building with boarded-up windows and a crooked weathervane shaped like a rearing dragon. The place has been out of

business for almost a year. Six duergar hide inside the ramshackle inn and remain out of sight until Xardorok’s chardalyn dragon attacks the town (see chapter 4).

The Dreaming Dark in the War

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

opportunity to call attention to a detail the characters overlooked. Clearly, this character’s subconscious registered the detail as important! Involve a current villain. This can help build the

dungeon with no armor or at school with no clothes. Narratively, these dreams can provide a moment of comic relief or heighten the players own concern about what’s happening in the game.

Trading Post

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

Trading Post As the coastal mist clears, you get your first good look at the grippli trading post. Ramshackle shelters are clustered around a large permanent building. The low rumble of many voices

large building. Assuming the characters are cooperative, the grippli guards take the visitors directly to her. If the party seems trustworthy, she speaks to them. She prefers Primordial (it’s easier on

Random Buildings

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

, roll on the Building Type table. Then roll on the table corresponding to that building to add further detail. If a roll makes no sense considering where the characters are (such as a lavish mansion

Random Buildings Pulse-pounding chases and harrowing escapes within the confines of a town or city can sometimes force characters to dash into buildings. When you need to flesh out a building quickly

Lower Dura

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

trappings of a wealthy lifestyle. There was a time when Lower Dura was the heart of Sharn, and remnants of this glory remain. The Silvermist Theater in Callestan was built to entertain nobles. The ward

of sorts, where all the major criminal powers of Sharn have a stake. Those groups are described in more detail later in this chapter. The district of Fallen is a haunted ruin; this temple district was

Half-Elves and Dragonmarks

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

families among the Khoravar by the time their dragonmarks appeared, and they remain pillars of the Khoravar’s diverse culture. The Khoravar ideal of building bridges supports the work of both houses. With

Purpose

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

Purpose A settlement exists primarily to facilitate the story and fun of your campaign. Other than that point, the settlement’s purpose determines the amount of detail you put into it. Create only

of the inn where the characters spend the night, the mannerisms of the shopkeeper they buy supplies from — you can add this level of detail, but you don’t have to. If the characters return to the same

Approaching the Lodge

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

and width of any building found in Ten-Towns. The lodge has three tall openings on the east side. On the southern side of the building is a tunnel left behind by a remorhaz that raided the lodge’s

characters, but in case that doesn’t happen, they remain outside to attack any characters who try to flee. (Specifically, the wolves wait in area L1, east of the lodge’s main entrance.) If one wolf is slain, the other flees to avoid a similar fate.

General Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

General Features Many of Thundertree’s buildings have crumbled in the years since the town was abandoned, and nature threatens to swallow what remains. Buildings A building in Thundertree is either

any intact building are 2 feet wide and covered by wooden shutters containing 6-inch-wide arrow slits. Creatures on one side of an arrow slit gain three-quarters cover against attacks from the other

General Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

General Features Many of Thundertree’s buildings have crumbled in the years since the town was abandoned, even as nature threatens to swallow what remains. Buildings. A building in Thundertree is

DC 10 Strength check to force open. The windows of any intact building are 2 feet wide and covered by wooden shutters containing 6-inch wide arrow slits. Creatures on one side of an arrow slit gain

2. Northern Terraces

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

seldom seen in myconids. It asks for exasperatingly minor details such as the precise dimensions of bricks or the density of lumber. Gasbide reveals through the rapport that it dreams of building a

of the growers doesn’t care much for Phylo’s new ideas. But though it misses mass meldings, Hebopbe doesn’t see Basidia’s protests as worthy of concern. Hebopbe is infected by Zuggtmoy’s spores, but isn’t yet under her control.

1. Create a Home Base

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

1. Create a Home Base See the “Settlements” section earlier in this chapter for guidance on building this settlement. A small town or village at the edge of the wilderness serves as a fine home base

reasons (legitimate or otherwise), throwing them into the midst of the adventure. For each of these steps, give the locations only as much detail as they need. You don’t need to identify every

Making a Plan

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

the ground. (This tower is detailed in the “Threshold of the Heavens” section.) Occupied Mansion. Small patrols come and go from a ruined mansion a third of the way across the city. (This building is

Spire at the city’s center and find the Dragon Army’s leaders (see “Threshold of the Heavens”). Use the following sections to further detail the ruins as much as you please. This chapter concludes at

Hidden Shepherds

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

Hidden Shepherds As caretakers of the land, firbolgs prefer to remain out of sight and out of mind. They don’t try to dominate nature, but rather seek to ensure that it prospers and survives

according to its own laws. Firbolgs use their magic to keep their presence in a forest secret. This approach allows them to avoid the politics and struggles of elves, humans, and orcs. Such events concern the

V6: Elysian Springs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

V6: Elysian Springs Beside a small alpine lake, an elegant mansion stands untouched by wildfire. A handful of armed people patrol around the building, keeping a nervous watch on the fires to the

evacuated. Those who remain are staff members attempting to protect the property from looters and, if possible, from the spreading fires. These staff members consist of eleven human Guards who are

1. Village of Parnast

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

castle’s detail, but you see two statues standing just before the enormous gate. Cultists posing as villagers are unfriendly toward visitors, while villagers under the cult’s sway remain silent and

Vault Guards

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

interior guards, the party has the run of the building until the next shift’s guards show up. However, the three guards outside the building remain alert to loud noises inside the vault and enter the

Vault Guards Vidorant employs a dozen guards (use the veteran stat block) to protect her treasures—three guards outside and nine inside the vault. Guards remain alert for noises elsewhere in the

Event-Based Adventures

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

importance. Building an event-based adventure is more work than building a location-based one, but the process can be simplified by following a number of straightforward steps. Several steps include tables

steps the villain takes to achieve its goals. Create a timeline showing what the villain does and when, assuming no interference from the adventurers. Building on the previous example, you might

Sumber Hills

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

hear “Sumber Hills,” because it’s there that once had rich quarries and good hunting. Some hunting lodges and keeps owned by wealthy Waterdhavians or adventurers remain — and in recent times have

become homes to bandits and monsters. Those who quarry the Sumber Hills for building stones and gravel often trade tales of finding gemstones and rich veins of ore in the hills — but for the most part

Golems

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

the Dungeon Master’s Guide). The comprehensive illustrations and instructions in a manual detail the process for creating a golem of a particular type. “Beyond the unopenable doors lay a grand hall

.” — Mordenkainen the Archmage, chronicling his party’s harrowing exploits in the dungeons below Maure Castle Elemental Spirit in Material Form. The construction of a golem begins with the building

General Features

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault

structures (about 12 feet high) with stone doors that are 5 feet high and 3 feet wide. Building interiors tend to be unlit (which is of little concern to deep gnomes, who have darkvision), and they contain

table to determine what kind of building it is. Each building’s occupants took everything of value before fleeing Little Lockford, leaving nothing of value for characters to find. Buildings of Little

D&D Beyond

Search Results