contrast rejection get to have real

Deathless Rider

Monsters Monstrous Compendium Vol. 4: Eldraine Creatures

unexplained phenomenon. In either case, deathless riders are undeniably real. They are undead knights, once human, who ride undead steeds through the remotest parts of the wilds. They are sometimes

called lich-knights or fell horsemen. In stark contrast to the knights of Eldraine, the deathless riders are without virtue of any kind. They are few in number—unless many more lurk in the dark

Stone Giant Dreamwalker

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

surroundings, and this delirium leaches out into the world around them, affecting other creatures that get too close. Believing that they’re living in a dream and that their actions have no real

there is permanent, so nothing there is real. What happens on the surface doesn’t matter. Promises and bargains made there needn’t be honored. Life and even art hold less value there

Deep Crow

Monsters Acquisitions Incorporated

., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5);{"diceNotation":"2d6+5","rollType":"damage","rollAction":"Claw","rollDamageType":"slashing"} slashing damage.The only warning you'll get is that fearsome, far-off caw

powers. But one thing all agree on is that ending up a meal for one of these monstrosities is a too-real threat for those who stumble into their deadly lairs. Though the deep crow most immediately

Genasi Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

self-assurance in one genasi and as arrogance in another. Such self- confidence can sometimes blind genasi to risk, and their great plans often get them and others into trouble. Too much failure can

up to the Sword Coast, and into the Western Heartlands to the east. Some remain in their ancient homeland. In contrast, water and earth genasi have no common history. Individuals have difficulty

Entertainer - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

’ve learned that most of the real business of entertainment (or any other venture) happens behind the scenes. It’s easy for you to case what sorts of audiences attend what venue — like

, since I can defuse any amount of tension. 5 I love a good insult, even one directed at me. 6 I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention. 7 I’ll settle for nothing

Hermit - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

determine the details of your discovery and its impact on the campaign. Buldur’s Gate Feature: The Real City You know the Baldur’s Gate most Baldurians ignore, the dog-eat-dog world of the

homeless and unfortunate. You know where to go in the Lower City and Outer City for anonymity. In these slums and alley camps, you can get a damp bed and a bad meal, but also a degree of privacy and no

Charlatan - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

Everybody’s always trying to get a leg up on somebody in Baldur’s Gate. One group’s con artist might be another’s revolutionary. Or maybe you’re just in it for yourself

you make them sound like the real deal. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of HandTool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, Forgery kitEquipment: A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit

Gnome Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

his or her appearance. A male gnome’s beard, in contrast to his wild hair, is kept carefully trimmed but often styled into curious forks or neat points. A gnome’s clothing, though usually

beauties of the world in their long years, but gnomes seem to worry that even with all that time, they can’t get in enough of the things they want to do and see. Gnomes speak as if they can’t

Half-Elf Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

contrast, throw themselves into the thick of society, putting their charisma and social skills to great use in diplomatic roles or as swindlers. Half-Elf Names Half-elves use either human or elven

. EXCELLENT AMBASSADORS Many half-elves learn at an early age to get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and

Preparing for Battle

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

spectators finally reaches High Hill. The grassy slope is spotted with trees and crumbled stone fencing. Near the base, several dozen soldiers in matching armor stand in even formation. The contrast

, if for no other reason than to honor Ispin Greenshield’s last wishes. If a character refuses, Mayor Raven offers to pay them 5 gp to be a judge during the battle, making sure no one uses real weapons

Duration

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

is the DC of the Constitution save to maintain my concentration? The DC is 15 in that case. When temporary hit points absorb damage for you, you’re still taking damage, just not to your real hit

points. In contrast, a feature like the wizard’s Arcane Ward can take damage for you, potentially eliminating the need to make a Constitution saving throw or, at least, lowering the DC of that save. Can a

Duration

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

is the DC of the Constitution save to maintain my Concentration? The DC is 15 in that case. When Temporary Hit Points absorb damage for you, you’re still taking damage, just not to your real Hit

Points. In contrast, a feature like the Abjurer Wizard’s Arcane Ward can take damage for you, potentially eliminating the need to make a Constitution saving throw or, at least, lowering the DC of that save

Not-So-Dead Wizard of Thay

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

the lowest level (area P16), because this room’s magic can transform an illusory creature or object into a real one (within limits). The simulacrum thinks it can use the rune chamber to turn itself

return and quash the simulacrum’s efforts to test the rune chamber. Neither the simulacrum nor Krintaas is aware that the real Dzaan is dead (see “Toil and Trouble”). When the characters show up

Developments

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

grieve, but they won’t take any action against the characters. In contrast, the kobolds are furious with grief, throwing themselves at the characters in frenzied, suicidal attacks. The ice trolls

expanse of the Sea of Moving Ice and find a new home where Arauthator can’t track them. The dragon is vengeful, but with everything else going on, Maccath believes Arauthator won’t put any real effort into

Fallbacks, The

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

confident her guidance can get them there. Called the Fallbacks, the team includes Anson, a human Fighter too stubborn to stay down; Cazrin, a self-taught, human Wizard determined to test her

theoretical mettle against the real world; Baldric, a dwarf Cleric who refuses to tie himself to a single deity when he can trade favors with them all; Lark, a tiefling Bard with as many secrets as songs; and Uggie, a pet otyugh.

Draw In the Players

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

Draw In the Players If an adventure situation directly affects the characters or the people and places they care about, that is often enough motivation for the characters to get involved. (However

the following: Avoiding Stereotypes. Show how multiple people from the same culture are different. Don't use a real-world accent in a disparaging way. Beautiful Diversity. Feature members of

Developments

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

grieve, but they won’t take any action against the characters. In contrast, the kobolds are furious with grief, throwing themselves at the characters in frenzied, suicidal attacks. The ice trolls

expanse of the Sea of Moving Ice and find a new home where Arauthator can’t track them. The dragon is vengeful, but with everything else going on, Maccath believes Arauthator won’t put any real effort into

Atmosphere

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

your players. Settle on a single defining factor that sums up a settlement’s personality and extrapolate from there. Maybe a city is built around canals, like real-world Venice. That key element

cities present a distinct aesthetic, clearly identifiable in contrast to human-built ones. Soldiers patrol the streets to quell any hint of dissent in a city ruled by a tyrant, while a city fostering

Diplomats or Wanderers

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

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in contrast

get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and human energy without human boorishness. They often make excellent

Multiclassing

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

. When multiclassing, do you get the cantrips from all your classes? If any of your classes grants you cantrips, you get all of them. Do you gain proficiency in more saving throws when multiclassing? A

class offers various starting proficiencies that you get if it is your first class. If the class isn’t your first, you get only the starting proficiencies listed for that class in the Multiclassing

Sentinel

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

feat doesn’t specify the bonus attack’s timing, and when a reaction has no timing specified, the reaction occurs after its trigger finishes (DMG, "Adjudicating Reaction Timing"). In contrast, an

or the Mobile feat? Does the character with the Sentinel feat still get the opportunity attack? The second benefit of the Sentinel feat is intended to counteract the Disengage action only. An enemy

Diplomats or Wanderers

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

, wandering the wilds as trappers, foresters, hunters, or adventurers and visiting civilization only rarely. Like elves, they are driven by the wanderlust that comes of their longevity. Others, in contrast

get along with everyone, defusing hostility and finding common ground. As a race, they have elven grace without elven aloofness and human energy without human boorishness. They often make excellent

Roleplaying Phandalin NPCs

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

and what they want. You don’t need to be an actor or stand-up comedian to get good drama or humor out of your NPCs, but if you want to ham it up, here’s some advice: Relax. Don’t worry about

impressing your players with your thespian skills (or lack thereof). Get inside the NPCs’ minds. Imagine how they might react to the characters, and strive to be realistic. Mug it up. Scowl, smile, snarl

Goblin Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

castes that give goblins their reputation for cowardice. Pariahs. Some goblin families are the lowest of the low, composed of the most dimwitted, least educated, and weakest goblins. They get the worst

new leader can act as the real boss. If the creature brushes aside such manipulation, the tribe falls into line behind the new tyrant—better to abide the new rule than conspire against it and be

Ability Checks

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

free to do so; the only real cost is the time it takes. With enough attempts and enough time, a character should eventually succeed at the task. To speed things up, assume that a character spending

different way to get past the guard or try the check again against another guard at a different gate. But you might decide that the initial failure makes those checks more difficult to pull off

Thornwell's Offer

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

Thornwell’s Offer If the characters are less likely to get involved in the adventure out of altruism, they can be approached by a mysterious, handsome, well-groomed human female dressed in black-and

summary of those events. She then goes on to say that she believes Jarme Loveage was innocent, and that the real killer is still out there. She recommends that they meet with Master Refrum, who has

Adventurers' Guild Contacts

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

“grow up,” get a “real job,” and contribute to society 9 A kindly mentor who loves to tell stories of past exploits in front of the guildhall fireplace 10 A sad, older adventurer who tells cautionary tales in the vain hope that younger members avoid making the same mistakes

jobs, bounties, and rewards before you can 4 A bitter enemy who nurtures a grudge over some past wrong (real or imagined) and does everything possible to undermine you 5 A naive adventurer who admires

Mapping a Wilderness

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

Mapping a Wilderness In contrast to a dungeon, an outdoor setting presents seemingly limitless options. The adventurers can move in any direction over a trackless desert or an open grassland, so how

different scales to help you design your world and the starting area of your campaign. Especially when you get down to province scale (1 hex = 1 mile), think about paths of travel — roads, passes, ridges and valleys, and so on — that can guide character movement across your map.

Leaving the Chasm

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

Leaving the Chasm Once the characters get what they came for, there’s little reason to stay. In fact, characters who stay too long run the risk of encountering six gnolls returning from a hunt

they leave alive remain a potential threat to Ten-Towns. Real Adventure Hook If the characters retrieve the hook of fisher’s delight, they might decide to keep it, or they might try returning it to

Foreword

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

. We’ve visited Waterdeep before, but not like this. Clever heroes will respect the city’s rules. Those who get on the city’s bad side are in for a rough time, as the City of Splendors is home to some of

Waterdeep, I wish to thank Ed Greenwood for making the City of Splendors what it is: the kind of magical place you wish in your heart was real. Chris Perkins December 2017

Travel-Montage Approach

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

Travel-Montage Approach Sometimes the destination is more important than the journey. If the purpose of a wilderness trek is to get the characters to where the real adventure happens, gloss over the

(in fact, that’s a good phrase to search for) both real and fantastical. As striking as real-world scenery can be, wilderness travel can be used to remind the players that their characters are in a

Roleplaying

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

your head and chin high conveys confidence. Use Voices. Changing the volume of your voice and borrowing speech patterns from real life, movies, or television can make NPCs distinctive. Engaging the

readily get involved in social interactions, you can create situations tailored for their characters. Perhaps the NPC in question is a family member or a contact of a particular adventurer and

Deathless Rider

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monstrous Compendium Volume Four

result of imagination trying to account for a terrifying and unexplained phenomenon. In either case, deathless riders are undeniably real. They are undead knights, once human, who ride undead steeds

through the remotest parts of the wilds. They are sometimes called lich-knights or fell horsemen. In stark contrast to the knights of Eldraine, the deathless riders are without virtue of any kind. They are

Running the Adventure

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a7

information that player characters would have no way of knowing, and avoid facial expressions or voice tones that might either give helpful hints or mislead players. The real enjoyment of this adventure

here simply assumes that the expedition has arrived at the site of the Tomb of Horrors. After relating the salient features of the “Legend of the Tomb,” you may fill in whatever other background is needed to get the characters to the site.

Rogue

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

doesn’t limit the number of times you can use it in a round. You sometimes get a chance to use Sneak Attack on someone else’s turn. The most common way for this to happen is when a foe provokes an

the fighter’s turn, and if the attack qualifies, it can use Sneak Attack. Both of those options rely on the use of your reaction, so you could do only one of them in a round. Because you get only one

D&D Beyond

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