contrast waning rather

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

hold and controls their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn’t think, “I’m scared.&rdquo

pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome. Cold and Calculating Most humanoids describe cold-blooded people as lacking in

Power of Nature

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

of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the

Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines. Druid spells are oriented toward nature and animals — the power of tooth and claw, of sun and moon, of fire and storm. Druids also

Druid Legacy

Classes Basic Rules (2014)

of nature itself or from a nature deity. Many druids pursue a mystic spirituality of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature

, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines. Druid spells are oriented toward nature and

Power of Nature

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

of transcendent union with nature rather than devotion to a divine entity, while others serve gods of wild nature, animals, or elemental forces. The ancient druidic traditions are sometimes called the

Old Faith, in contrast to the worship of gods in temples and shrines. Druid spells are oriented toward nature and animals — the power of tooth and claw, of sun and moon, of fire and storm. Druids also

Alien Minds

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

their actions. In contrast, lizardfolk see emotions as traits assigned to other creatures, objects, and situations. A lizardfolk doesn’t think, “I’m scared.” Instead, aggressive, stronger creatures

for lizardfolk. Pleasurable things should be preserved and protected, sometimes at the cost of the lizardfolk’s own safety. The most pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome.

Multiclassing

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

Multiclassing Are ability score improvements class-level dependent, rather than total level? Ability score improvements are based on your level in a particular class, not your total character level

strikes? The Sneak Attack feature works with a weapon that has the finesse or ranged property. An unarmed strike isn’t a weapon, so it doesn’t qualify. In contrast, a rogue/ monk can use Sneak Attack with a

Knights of Solamnia

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

Isle in the west or retreated to the protection of their strongholds and keeps, while others disguised themselves to continue their work. Their power waning, the knights today are locked in a bitter

Honor Is My Life.” This principle—to sacrifice all for the sake of honor—guides the actions of every knight, at least in theory. The Measure. In contrast to the Oath, the Measure is a staggeringly

Moving Around Other Creatures

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

Moving Around Other Creatures You can move through a nonhostile creature’s space. In contrast, you can move through a hostile creature’s space only if the creature is at least two sizes larger or

, there’s little room for anyone else. In contrast, as many as twenty Medium creatures can surround a Gargantuan one. Squeezing into a Smaller Space A creature can squeeze through a space that is

Purphoros's Influence

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

Purphoros’s Influence The raw creative force that Purphoros embodies is chaotic, but Purphoros isn’t a god of unbridled chaos. Rather, he shows mortals how to harness that primal energy, shaping it

Purphoros, deeply involved in the project of civilization. Purphoros’s desire to overturn the established order with violence stands in stark contrast to their measured ways. As a result, Purphoros stands aloof from them.

Rogue

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

, but it is no help against a spell or other effect, such as fireball, that delivers its damage after a saving throw rather than after an attack roll. Can a rogue use Evasion if they are surprised? The

, but using a magic item doesn’t fall under Use an Object, as explained in the Dungeon Master’s Guide (see "Activating an Item"). In contrast, using a nonmagical item, such as a healer’s kit, is in

Creature Size

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

. Because larger creatures take up more space, fewer of them can surround a creature. If four Large creatures crowd around a Medium or smaller one, there's little room for anyone else. In contrast, as many as

miniatures or other tokens, follow these rules. Squares. Each square on the grid represents 5 feet. Speed. Rather than moving foot by foot, move square by square on the grid. This means you use your speed

Ability Checks

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

creature’s efforts. In a contest, the ability checks are compared to each other, rather than to a target number. When you call for a contest, you pick the ability that each side must use, deciding

. In contrast, a character with high Intelligence and low Wisdom is probably oblivious but clever. The character might not spot the clean section of wall but, if asked about it, could immediately

Church of the Silver Flame

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

Khorvaire. In contrast to the Sovereign Host, the church maintains a defined structure and creed. Archbishops monitor regions; cardinals lead the church; and the ultimate authority is the Keeper of the

to form in the foundation. In Breland, some priests fell prey to greed or forged ties to criminal organizations. In Aundair, a zealous faction known as the Pure Flame advocates using violence rather

Agents of the Wyrmsmith

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

withholding things from him, but rather than demand disclosure, he has waited and observed. He wants agents of his own, and sees the interest of the Keepers in the adventurers as an opportunity. The dragon

Themberchaud’s replacement, and they have been waging war on the thieves’ guild ever since. But with the egg still lost and their control over Themberchaud waning, the Keepers are exploring all options in

Enemies All Around

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

to possess the material goods in a stronghold’s hoard, and would much rather snatch up living treasure. Using its powers of deception, a green dragon might try to entice dwarves it encounters to ally

reminisce over the defeat of a dragon, or weep as they recall the death of a beloved elder. In contrast to clan gatherings, dwarves who drink alone invariably become morose and sullen — when

Dragon Factions

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

to amass as much wealth and power as possible. The Gem Circle, by contrast, might be dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, while the Metallic Circle is more altruistic, working to further the

necessarily create conflict within a party, though. Rather, those affiliations create a potentially interesting tension between individual goals and the goals of the party as a whole. Dragon Overlords

Mind Flayer Thralls

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

to use humanoids as thralls, since they have a good balance of physical attributes and proper anatomy. Animals, in contrast, require a lot of direct oversight and lack the ability to use tools to help

them, rather than attempting to keep them penned up or docile. Quaggoths Mind flayers find that the quaggoths’ innate, though rarely manifested, talent for psionics makes them excellent thralls. When

Centaur

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

basic physiology, the centaur bands are commonly associated with their own distinct traits. Lagonna band centaurs tend to be sleek and muscular, with powerful legs built for endurance rather than

herds. These herds are voluntary associations, in contrast to the family groups of the Lagonna. When necessary, several small bands join together in a larger herd to target particularly dangerous but

Other Religious Systems

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

), or even forces and philosophies that don’t center on deities. Tight Pantheons In contrast to a loose pantheon, a tight pantheon focuses on a single religion whose teachings and edicts embrace a small

rather than from a specific nature deity, some clerics devote themselves to ideals rather than to a god. Paladins might serve a philosophy of justice and chivalry rather than a specific deity. Forces and

The Greyhawk Setting

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

great white moon, also called the Mistress) and Celene (a smaller blue moon, also called the Handmaiden). Greyspace’s sun orbits Oerth, rather than the other way around. The sun takes 360 days to

except the strange powers of the old hermit living in the nearby woods, which they regard with suspicion and mention only in whispers. By contrast, magic is common enough in the Free City of Greyhawk

Warehouse Environs

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

is Captain Mergen Truff (NG female elf veteran), a laconic figure who would rather be doing “real work” than standing here warning off vagrants too foolish to avoid falling into a massive hole in the

, strapping female human who has seen her share of scuffles and doesn’t back down from a fight. If something took her out, it must be powerful. By contrast, Constable Boot is a runty male human, and

Trielta Hills

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

for storage rather than being left vacant. Almost every family in the town has some space that it uses for its own needs or rents out for use by others. Those who buy storage from a Hardbuckler must

newness of the world as a contrast to the familiarity of their homeland. Few dangerous creatures lurk in the hills — they are so densely settled (on and beneath the surface) that there is little space

Recurring Villains

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

). Organizations as Villains. Rather than use an individual as a recurring villain, you could think in terms of the organization the villain belongs to or represents. For example, low-level adventurers

Villain In contrast to a villain who is a part of the characters’ everyday life, an otherworldly villain isn’t only anonymous but also fundamentally mysterious. It’s not just a question of who the

Combat

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

modifier to the attack and damage rolls of the attack. In contrast, if you make the spell attack of the fire bolt cantrip, you add your spellcasting ability modifier to the attack roll. If you’re a

action—rather than Multiattack or another action in the creature’s stat block—when it uses that rule. A monster, such as a roper, that has a special grappling attack doesn’t follow that rule when

Specific Spells

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

Antimagic Field! In contrast, a spell like Conjure Woodland Beings has a non-instantaneous duration, which means its effect can be ended by Dispel Magic and temporarily disappears within an Antimagic

d8 for damage? The benefit from Polearm Master applies to the opposite end of the weapon and always uses a d4 for damage rather than the weapon’s normal damage die. This is true for a Quarterstaff

Specific Spells

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

step into an antimagic field ! In contrast, a spell like conjure woodland beings has a non-instantaneous duration, which means its creations can be ended by dispel magic and they temporarily

“Identifying a Magic Item” in the Dungeon Master’s Guide). In contrast, casting the identify spell takes only 1 minute (or 11 minutes if it is cast as a ritual) and can be done when a quick

The Seldarine

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

choose, as long as their way of contributing combines with the others to form a grand display of reverence. Such a gathering has the atmosphere of a festival rather than of an organized worship service

Remembrance, and are thus beginning the journey into introversion in the waning days of one’s mortal life. The priests also preside over funeral celebrations, since Labelas is also honored for his role in

Stone Giants

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

would rather not do or that they’re unable to perform, such as chasing kobolds out of a narrow cave or retrieving something from deep within a lake. (Stone giants are poor swimmers; they dislike

most prone to laughter and enjoying fellowship with his siblings. That image of Stronmaus is in sharp contrast to how storm giants are perceived in the world: aloof and dour. Nonetheless, it is an

Locations on the Second Level

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6

the lava and destroy it, rather than let it fall into the hands of his enemies. 7. Torture Chamber At the midpoint of the east–west corridor, steps lead down to the south, ending at a cluttered room

is cleared of opponents. The headsman, by contrast, uses his axe after tossing one victim down the well. Treasure. The stakes of the game include six pieces of jewelry (worth 250 gp each) and ten

Locations E - H

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

the town. Townsfolk who fled into the tundra rather than hide in the mines return 2d6 hours later to find their homes reduced to rubble and their supplies gone. The giants pay no mind to Dasharra’s

. A wooden hangman’s scaffold stands in the center of the marketplace, and on certain nights, when clouds obscure the waning moon, luminous ghosts wander around it, going about the business of the

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