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Returning 35 results for 'combat were runs'.
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Adult Deep Dragon
Legacy
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monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
of far-off lands. Many seek out new insights and tricks that they can use against other denizens of the Underdark, preferring social manipulation and crafty dealmaking to exerting themselves in combat
dragon.
Underground River. Where an underground river runs along the outside edge of the lair, the dragon has slowed its flow with a rocky dam, creating a small pool in which to bathe and raise aquatic
Ancient Deep Dragon
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
far-off lands. Many seek out new insights and tricks that they can use against other denizens of the Underdark, preferring social manipulation and crafty dealmaking to exerting themselves in combat
. Where an underground river runs along the outside edge of the lair, the dragon has slowed its flow with a rocky dam, creating a small pool in which to bathe and raise aquatic delicacies.
Guest Suite
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Fighter A human in clanging plate armor holds her shield before her as she runs toward the massed goblins. An elf behind her, clad in studded leather armor, peppers the goblins with arrows loosed
armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
Fighter A human in clanging plate armor holds her shield before her as she runs toward the massed goblins. An elf behind her, clad in studded leather armor, peppers the goblins with arrows loosed
armor, and a thorough knowledge of the skills of combat. And they are well acquainted with death, both meting it out and staring it defiantly in the face.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
staircase made of sculpted ice.
Combat here alerts the ogres in area 6, the cultists in area 9, the stone giants in area 10, and the kobolds in area 15. One of the cultists runs to area 11 and alerts
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
staircase made of sculpted ice. Combat here alerts the ogres in area 6, the cultists in area 9, the stone giants in area 10, and the kobolds in area 15. One of the cultists runs to area 11 and alerts Rezmir
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Pit Fighting Pit fighting includes boxing, wrestling, and other nonlethal forms of combat in an organized setting with predetermined matches. If you want to introduce competitive fighting in a battle
-to-the-death situation, the standard combat rules apply to that sort of activity. Resources. Engaging in this activity requires one workweek of effort from a character. Resolution. The character must
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Tracking Time If tracking the passage of time is important during exploration, use a time scale appropriate for the situation at hand: Rounds. In combat and other fast-paced situations, the game
spell or similar effect runs out. For example, they might use the Locate Object spell to point them in the direction of an item they seek, so you need to know how far they get in the 10 minutes the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
the basilisks from their hooks and lead them into battle like war hounds. If the alarm has not been raised but combat ensues here, one broodguard runs to sound the gong in area 9. If the triceratops is
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
subtlety and precision over simply busting heads. Add in your knowledge of the more cerebral aspects of combat, including all-important insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy, and it’s
look at the balance sheet. But there’s one exception to that nonrule that can make a big difference in the successful operation of a franchise — the focused, no-frills approach to combat of the champion
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
The Old Tunnel A narrow tunnel runs from the cellar beneath the keep to the bank of the stream (area 2). The tunnel is wide enough to allow warriors to pass through it in single file. In the keep
try to ambush the raiders after they pass. If the check fails, the raiders spot the character; roll initiative and proceed with combat. If the grate had to be broken open with a Strength check, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
The Old Tunnel A narrow tunnel runs from the cellar beneath the keep to the bank of the stream (area 2). The tunnel is wide enough to allow warriors to pass through it in single file. In the keep
try to ambush the raiders after they pass. If the check fails, the raiders spot the character; roll initiative and proceed with combat. If the grate had to be broken open with a Strength check, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
the kenku in the shin, causing it to release him, and hides under some old furniture. This act initiates combat as the kenku draws its sword. If he has a clear path to the stairs, Squiddly runs down
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
Nontraditional Traditions The diversity of monk traditions makes those traditions different from each other in abilities as well as in attitude. And since an Acquisitions Incorporated franchise runs
versatility of a wizard. Especially in a franchise without a dedicated combat spellcaster, your elemental affinity comes in handy. Way of the Kensei Monks following the Way of the Kensei often appear to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
sturdier than the average deep gnome, taking point on any attack. The Stoneheart Enclave Stone is a resilient defense against oozes, making earth elementals the perfect force to combat them. Nomi
lurking, any elemental brought to the battle runs the risk of being driven insane. Nomi and Gurnik agree that if the Steadfast Stone is cleansed and Ogrémoch’s Bane is banished, the Stoneheart Enclave
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
arms and clawed fingers are outstretched in a threatening manner. The mannequin is attached to a rope that runs through pulleys fastened along the length of the hallway ceiling. When one or more
prestidigitation cantrip. Have the players roll initiative, and run this as a combat encounter with the “vampire” acting on initiative count 5. On its turn, the mannequin flies over the characters, 10 feet
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a3
very slippery—moving across this difficult terrain costs 3 feet of speed for every 1 foot traveled). Any sudden actions, including those necessary for combat, might result in the character taking a
spill. A character who takes the Dash action or tries to fight while in the room must first succeed on a DC 10 Dexterity saving throw or fall prone. Moat. The 10-foot-wide section of floor that runs
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
boxed text to set the scene as the characters arrive in Elturel: Around the corner of a still-standing structure runs a woman with two toddlers, one on each arm. In her wake amble three infernal
those NPCs in combat.
The easiest option is to have the NPCs stay back and out of the way, limiting their options to following the characters or hiding from enemies. During fights, you can effectively
Magic Items
Infernal Machine Rebuild
. The first time during a combat that a creature attacks you with a metal weapon, that creature has disadvantage on the attack roll.
Metal rusts in response to your touch—including metal armor you
determination, giving you hints of potential future events. For example, your sword might become suddenly bloodstained to warn of an upcoming combat encounter, your clothes might become damp to warn of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
, revealing a series of parallel waterfalls cascading from a ridge that runs alongside the river. A chain of sparsely forested islands lies along the far side of the river opposite the base of the falls
spends an action can attempt this check, convincing the weretigers to stand down if they’re successful. All the weretigers flee from combat when any of them are reduced to 10 hit points or fewer. Dukha’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
you. South of the ruin, an untamed garden runs rampant, surrounded by broken walls that are no longer able to contain it. East of the ruin, someone has erected a crude wooden fence, forming a circular
experience points for the ghost only if they lay Ulrich’s spirit to rest, not if they defeat the ghost in combat. Fortunes of Ravenloft If your card reading reveals that a treasure is hidden in Berez
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
perceives to be a threat, she sounds the alarm as she runs down to the main entrance (area O2) to pull up the drawbridge, taking 2 rounds to do so. The duergar in the bunker is armed with a heavy
entrance without being detected. ROLEPLAYING THE DUERGAR
When the characters arrive, the outpost contains five duergar (including Nildar), who behave as described here.
Before entering combat
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
one person starts as the DM and runs the game as normal. That person’s character becomes an NPC who can tag along with the group or remain on the sidelines, as the group wishes. At any time, a player
can spend a plot point to become the DM. That player’s character becomes an NPC, and play continues. It’s probably not a good idea to swap roles in the middle of combat, but it can happen if your group
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a3
her song, she enters the water in a long, arching dive.
Water covers more than half of the cavern. The floor drops off sharply, creating a pool that is 12 feet deep. A ledge runs from the southern
. She retreats from close combat and conceals herself in the water. The nereid has a pet named Chac, a giant lightning eel (see appendix B). If she calls to Chac for aid, she does so on her turn when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
with the vehicle to make sure nothing goes awry with it during the journey. A merrenoloth can navigate its ship safely through the worst storms, always stays on course, and never runs afoul of the
myriad hazards that can thwart lesser captains. A merrenoloth can hold its own in a fight, but it prefers to avoid combat when possible. In fact, it typically specifies in its contracts that it is under
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
characters make a lot of noise in area 6 or force their way through the doors to the west, the duergar turn invisible and attack as soon as the characters arrive. At the start of combat, two duergar
use their Enlarge action while the third opens the valve on the copper tank and aims its nozzle at the characters. During the second round of combat on the same initiative count as the duergar, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Monster Behavior The attitudes, motivations, and behavior of the monsters in an encounter help determine how a social interaction plays out (and whether it might erupt into combat) and influence the
course of combat. Brian Valeza Kobolds build a barricade to keep adventurers at bay Initial Attitudes A published adventure typically notes or implies whether a creature’s initial attitude toward the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
looking for trouble. The lizardfolk there don’t like visitors.” (True)
“My uncle Umbrusk runs the tavern in the keep. He hears all kinds of gossip in the taproom.” (True)
Mallyn, a Friendly wanderer
, or Indifferent (see the D&D Beyond Basic Rules). Regardless, creatures defend themselves in combat.
Game Trail
You spot a regal elk on the trail beside a dense thicket. Startled by your
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
The Caverns The passages and caverns beyond the secret door in the south wall of room 21 all decline perceptibly toward the sea. The passage that runs north of areas 25 and area 26 and the interior
area 27 and area 28. If the smugglers are caught off guard, most of them are scattered throughout the caverns. Be sure to place them in a way that does not overwhelm the characters, but once combat
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
frighten most of them away. The magmins run alongside the giants, eager to please. Whenever a fire giant points to a building or other flammable structure, a gang of magmins runs toward the target and tries
initial volley of boulders. Their job is to distract the town’s defenders and engage enemy archers in melee combat. The axe beaks act on the orcs’ initiative count. Rules for mounted combat can be found
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
tranquil beauty of Mantol-Derith is undone by sounds of combat to the northeast, where you hear the thunderous boom of metal against stone and see panicked svirfneblin running from 8-foot-tall
retreated to their respective enclaves with their goods and livestock. A stream runs nearby, crossed by two stone bridges leading to the drow and Zhentarim enclaves. The stream is 5 feet deep and fed by the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
, then quickly move to the next part of the story.
More DM Advice
Play Time. Learning to pace an adventure to make sure that it runs in a set time frame takes practice, but here are some tips to
game can spark great storytelling and acting moments.
Remember, though, that part of the DM’s job is to keep the game’s story moving forward. If describing every single attack roll in a long combat gets boring, just say how much damage the attack deals and get to the next exciting moment.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
race hard, even if it’s in the group’s best interest for a particular dinosaur to win. A race runs a length of 300 feet; this is abstract, as a race actually covers a lot more ground. Every round
combat statistics are listed on the Racing Dinosaurs table. If a dinosaur has half or fewer of its starting hit points, the rider makes Animal Handling checks with disadvantage. For simplicity, riders
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
a bond of loyalty, gratitude, or love. You can delegate decisions about an NPC’s actions to one of the players, especially in combat, but you can override the player’s decisions to reflect the NPC’s
Score can never be raised above its maximum. When other party members act in a manner that runs counter to the NPC’s alignment or personality, reduce the NPC’s Loyalty Score by 1d4. Reduce the NPC’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
who runs a thieves’ guild out of a festhall. When a charming sea captain arrives with a hold full of booty from a faraway land, Sapphiria decides to steal it. Zaniness ensues when she falls in love
, and has at them. If the characters fall in combat, Jarlaxle and his guards stabilize dying party members before dragging all of them to a snowy alley and leaving them there with their gear. After the