building burden diffusing contests replaced

Creating Encounters

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

Creating Encounters Encounters are the individual scenes in the larger story of your adventure. First and foremost, an encounter should be fun for the players. Second, it shouldn’t be burden for you

to run. Beyond that, a well-crafted encounter usually has a straightforward objective as well as some connection to the overarching story of your campaign, building on the encounters that precede it

Undead Attack

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

Triboar Trail and the High Road. Two entrances into the building are apparent: a smaller one at the northern corner, and a larger one, suitable for beasts of burden and wagons, near the first. Right now

Undead Attack This encounter occurs at night. As the characters approach the junction of the Triboar Trail and the High Road, set the scene: An oddly shaped building sits at the juncture of the

Other Things Characters Can Do

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

noise of crashing walls and shattered timbers fades, replaced by the screams of people trapped in the wreckage. There are 1d4 + 1 people trapped in the collapsed building. All of them are commoners

, roll on the table or choose a development you think might spur the character into action. Town in Chaos d20 Development 1–3 Building collapse 4–6 Enlarged duergar 7–9 Invisible

Adjusting for Party Level

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things

and phase spiders in the keep, using the rules for encounter building in the Dungeon Master’s Guide to create an appropriate challenge. Weaker Construct. The stone golem in area 4 can be replaced with

Arrival

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

. Every building sports baskets and clay urns of colorful flowers or is draped in leafy, flowering vines. Minstrels in bright clothing adorned with feathers and shells perform on street corners

Port Nyanzaru. Some of its notable features are described hereafter: Medium and Large dinosaurs are used as beasts of burden to haul two-wheeled carts, to hoist heavy loads on cranes, and to tow

Goblinoid War Camp

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

wooden building in the middle of camp. Here the warlord meets with advisors and makes plans for future conquest. Most of the time, a command center also holds elite bugbear bodyguards that protect

the building. Goblinoid Quarters Each type of goblinoid has its own accommodations within the war camp. Bugbear Dens. After the hobgoblins stake out their territory, bugbear gangs dig their dens

Yartar

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

influence among its fellows in the North. Currently, it is most remarkable for its barge-building operation (and that industry’s importance to the commerce of other settlements) and its annual fairs

Fortuitous Happenstance. The Shieldmeet festival features a number of games of chance, skill, and bravery, from dice and darts, to drunken running, to wrestling and other physical contests

21. Archpriest's Chambers

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

21. Archpriest’s Chambers These caves are coated in slime. 21a. Making a God Kuo-toa. Noolgaloop, a kuo-toa archpriest, is building a statue in the middle of this 30-foot-high cave while two kuo-toa

bare-chested male sea elf. Its hands have been replaced with troglodyte claws, and additional limbs have been added in the form of a bugbear’s severed arms. A pair of rusty shortsword blades thrust

Aboard the Moondancer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

ballistae but has no crew to operate them. Its mangonel was destroyed in a recent engagement, and Captain Sartell hasn’t replaced it yet. Getting a new mangonel was the main reason Sartell was on the

sits in the chair while piloting the ship. Area 12: Upper Cargo Hold. The upper cargo hold contains a dozen healthy mules (which Sartell plans to sell as beasts of burden); sacks of food for the animals

20. Drow Town

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

be empty rooms. The rest are described below. 20a. Kitchen Odor. The smell of meat stew wafts from this building. Servants and Guards. Inside, a manacled bugbear and three goblins shackled together

Quarters Two male drow guards named Krivven and Yazdriirn stand outside the door. They deny entry to all but T’rissa and immediately attack intruders. The building holds the following features: Stuffed

Keranos's Champions

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

idea why Keranos grants you visions, and the burden weighs heavily on your soul. Devotion to Keranos Just as the storm is unpredictable and often dangerous, so is service to the lord of storms

Smiting the unwise and foolish in Keranos’s name Helping a polis successfully plan for or adapt to a threat Building or restoring a temple to Keranos Your piety score to Keranos decreases if you diminish

Helm's Hold

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

has since been replaced by a recently constructed temple to Lady Firehair, called the Heartward Hall. Not far from Heartward lies the town hall, a former inn that has been turned into the council

building where the Speakers of Helm’s Hold meet. The Speakers are the duly elected representatives of the hold, numbering eight in all, plus the Chief Speaker. The current Chief Speaker is Amarandine

N1. St. Andral's Church

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

. St. Andral’s crypt is a 10-foot-square, 5-foot high chamber beneath the chapel. To reach the crypt, Milivoj used his shovel to pry up the chapel floorboards. (The boards have since been replaced.) If

vulnerable to attack by Strahd’s minions (see “St. Andral’s Feast” in the “Special Events” section at the end of this chapter). If the bones are returned to their resting place, St. Andral’s church once again becomes hallowed ground, as though the building was protected by a hallow spell.

Lulu the Hollyphant

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

friend there. His name was Mahadi. Maybe he can help us.” 5 “The Zariel I knew is gone, replaced by a devil with a halo of fire and vengeance. ‘This is who I am,’ she told me. ‘When demons die

mean bone in her little body. She believes in the power of friendship and looks forward to kicking evil’s butt with the characters by her side. If Lulu becomes too much of a burden for you to run as

Kobold Lairs

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

’ territory. Adventurers trying to eradicate a kobold infestation often find themselves stuck in low passages too narrow to turn around in, forcing them to move in single file and putting the burden of combat

offerings such as metal nuggets, raw gems, and teeth can be left. Traps Kobolds are amazingly creative at building traps, especially when adapting natural hazards and salvaged materials. They pound nails

The Walking Statues

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

that war. The Great Drunkard This walking statue stopped its rampage as it approached the Market, then fell backward and sat upon a building. When it settled, its arms fell limp at its sides and its

cobbles. The rubble of the crushed building was long ago rebuilt into a broad stone stair (with railings and a ramp that drunkards are often rolled down) that ascends from the cobbles to the statue’s lap

Vocath's Base

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis

clouds of Vocath is a structure made of gray and black stone, with large crystal formations jutting from the underside. Docks radiate outward from a building that is capped by a crystal dome. Several

ships are moored here, including a galleon and four others that are shaped like a wasp, a scorpion, a lamprey, and a bird, respectively. Attached to the main building is a tower that has its own

Clerks' Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

Creativity blossoms in the Civic Festhall, the headquarters of the Society of Sensation. Sensates spared no expense constructing this majestic building, which reaches nearly one thousand feet in height

describe fill the festhall and its satellite buildings. Contests and duels are held at the Northumber, an outdoor amphitheater, while magical light checkers the stages of its two indoor theaters: the

1. Goblin Bazaar

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

Detritus. Trash and debris litter the floor. Bas-Reliefs. The walls are adorned with bas-reliefs that once depicted dwarves carrying supplies. The dwarves’ faces have been chipped away and replaced with

cartoonish goblin heads drawn in charcoal. Noise. Banging noises can be heard to the north. (The goblins in area 1b are building a wooden stage there.) 1b. Auction Hall The goblins are erecting a

City Celebrations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist

. Many festhalls sponsor Founders’ Day costume contests, with prizes going to those who wear the best recreations of the garb of historical personages. Once banned as frivolous and distracting, the

martial skill, and stage mock battles. Those desiring to join their ranks are given a chance to demonstrate their prowess, usually with wooden practice weapons in contests against veteran soldiers

Market Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Sigil and the Outlands

. Members hone their bodies and minds through rigorous conditioning, and they regularly challenge others in the Market Ward to contests of artistic, athletic, or spiritual prowess. Because Ciphers tend to

Outer Planes and countless material worlds. The bank’s principal office is a monument to opulence and stability: a palatial building constructed from marble. Elite private security, the best that money

Areas of the Fire Temple

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

containing 20 gp and a pair of polished bloodstones worth 50 gp each. Development If the characters defeat these hobgoblins and then leave this part of the dungeon, the guards are replaced by the

drinking a potion of greater healing (see “Treasure”). Reinforcements. These hobgoblins are often loud, engaging in training or contests. The forces in area E6, E7, and E8 might investigate a

Monastery Locations

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

closed monastery doors. The plain doors are made of heavy timber with iron studs. A dusty footpath circles the building. If the characters scout around the other sides of the building, add the

building. Nobody inside the monastery pays much attention to people skulking around outside, although characters who make a commotion might attract the attention of cultists whose windows look out in the

Outer City Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer

. In a wood just a few miles west of the city, he came upon a cylindrical stone building, its open doorway revealing stairs leading down into the forest floor. Atop the building, a smaller statue of

As horses and other beasts of burden aren’t allowed inside the city walls, the Outer City overflows with stables and hostlers, ranging from muddy pens to barns nicer than most inns. Of these, the

Outer City Gazetteer

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

a cylindrical stone building, its open doorway revealing stairs leading down into the forest floor. Atop the building, a smaller statue of Balduran stared back the way he had come. Prevented from

valuable magic potions, and eagerly encourages his shoppers to investigate — and then return to tell him the story. Garynmor Stables and Menagerie As horses and other beasts of burden aren’t allowed inside

Metallic Dragons

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

action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form. Legendary Actions The dragon can take 3

well as this action. Its statistics and capabilities are otherwise replaced by those of the new form, except any class features or legendary actions of that form. Legendary Actions The dragon can

Connected Creatures

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

companions and beasts of burden—perhaps using deinonychus as hunting hounds or herding triceratops like cattle. Domesticated dinosaurs might have a variety of trappings—markings, brands, harnesses, collars

1 fury of Kostchtchie* performing a rite with 2 trolls (attitude for all: 1d6) 5 1 echo of Demogorgon* (attitude: 1d4 + 1) building a two-headed effigy from corpses 6 1 stalker of

Fortress Level 1

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

. This room has been allocated to two champions currently quartered in area 60. The lids were dropped by slaves during construction and have not been cleared away or replaced. 8. Makeshift Storeroom This

followed. He was taken prisoner. Since then, he has worked as a slave, laboring on the building efforts. He and his companions had several magic items to aid them with underwater exploration, but these

Roleplaying a Giant

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

. Often in legends these contests are bloody battles, but some tales have the brothers acting side by side on grand adventures. Surtur is seen as the more clever of the two, and fire giants emulate his

unsurpassed skill at creating and building things. In the fire giants’ world, fire is strength. It burns away impurities and leaves behind only what is strong enough to withstand the heat, such as

Upper Palace Locations

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

naga from the world of Oerth) Thingizzard’s Night Balloon (instructions for building a magic vessel that can float safely through the layers of the Abyss) P39. Roost This 20-foot-square room has an 8

could see the objects of their heart’s desire reflected in it. Any creature that stares into the mirror for 1 minute sees its own reflection fade away, to be replaced by an image of the thing it wants

Locations E - H

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

likely to burden him or the Zoar family. Examples of what he might provide include a meeting with one or more members of the Council of Elders, an arranged meeting with a Lords’ Alliance

tribe dwell here. Perched atop the rocky crest of Griffon’s Nest is the longhouse of the great chief, Halric Bonesnapper. This building is where Halric meets with the other tribal chieftains to settle

Chromatic Dragons

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

these creatures, humanoids are animals, fit to serve as prey or beasts of burden, and wholly unworthy of respect. Dangerous Lairs. A dragon’s lair serves as the seat of its power and a vault for its

territory. Evil lizardfolk venerate and serve black dragons, raiding humanoid settlements for treasure and food to give as tribute and building crude draconic effigies along the borders of their

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