decide improvise are begins - Search

Marlos Urnrayle

Monsters Princes of the Apocalypse

5 or more, the creature is instantly petrified. Otherwise, a creature that fails the save begins to turn to stone and is restrained. The restrained creature must repeat the saving throw at the end of

, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see Marlos until the start of its next turn, when it can decide to avert its

Inheritor

Backgrounds Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

determines the properties of your inheritance and how they figure into the item’s history and importance. For instance, the object might be a minor magic item, or one that begins with a modest

your adventuring career, you can decide whether to tell your companions about your inheritance right away. Rather than attracting attention to yourself, you might want to keep your inheritance a secret

Adventure Structure

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

group should be able to complete the adventure in twelve sessions of play. Each chapter begins with an overview that gives you a sense of what is ahead for the heroes and recaps what has happened so

the characters do something unexpected, improvise as best you can while gently steering them toward their main goal. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger to set the stage for the next session, assuming

Preparing for the Play

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

have time to memorize all the lines, we’ll need to improvise.” Tossing the script over one shoulder, he says, “Worry not! I’ll feed you lines from the wings if you get stuck!” Have each player roll

once on the Performers’ Roles table to determine what role Stagefright assigns to that player’s character. If two players get the same result, Stagefright lets them decide which one of them takes that

Xaryxis Is Spared

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

Xaryxis Is Spared If Xaryxis was not destroyed, the characters return home to find their world on the brink of annihilation. As the planet begins to fracture, the characters might decide to help evacuate and resettle survivors on the other worlds of their system.

The Golden Vault

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

handler might be able to obtain it for them, provided the equipment is readily available and not too expensive. If you decide to use the Golden Vault as the characters’ patron organization, work with

the players to determine what heroic or impressive deeds their characters performed in their backstories to gain the attention of the Golden Vault. Then improvise a roleplaying scene in which the characters meet their Golden Vault handler.

Set Expectations

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

genres of horror from chapter 2 interest you. Being transparent with your players allows them to decide if this is a game they want to play, which is best to know before play begins.

Running This Chapter

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

Running This Chapter This chapter begins after the characters retrieve the fifth piece of the Rod of Seven Parts. A character who holds that piece instinctively knows that the sixth piece is located

archaeologists. The archaeologists are in dire straits, and it’s up to the characters to decide whether to help. Eventually, the characters realize that the sixth piece of the Rod of Seven Parts is located

Tales Remembered

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

in the village makes an appearance at the reception, and the characters can find anyone they’ve already met in the village with whom they might want to talk. Soon after the reception begins, Becklin

tales Ispin might have told them. Characters are invited to participate in this comic tale telling. They’re welcome to improvise their own tales about Ispin, taking cues from what they know about their

Level

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

game, or if you are joining an existing D&D campaign, your DM might decide to have you begin at a higher level, on the assumption that your character has already survived a few harrowing adventures

-level character has 0 XP. A higher-level character typically begins with the minimum amount of XP required to reach that level (see “Beyond 1st Level” later in this chapter). QUICK BUILD Each class

Encounters

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

the DM, you decide how much to tell the players and when. All the information the players need to make choices comes from you. Within the rules of the game and the limits of the characters’ knowledge

characters don’t need to take turns, but you need to give each player a chance to tell you what their character is doing so you can decide how to resolve everyone’s actions. In combat, everyone takes

Feature: Inheritance

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

item, or one that begins with a modest ability and increases in potency with the passage of time. Or, the true nature of your inheritance might not be apparent at first and is revealed only when certain

conditions are met. When you begin your adventuring career, you can decide whether to tell your companions about your inheritance right away. Rather than attracting attention to yourself, you might

Adventure Duration

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

Adventure Duration Every adventure in a shared campaign begins and ends in the same play session. (If a group of participants wants to take longer to finish and all are willing to do so, they can

working with the temple’s enemies, add a layer of tension. Consider leaving some details or plot points for the DM to decide. For example, the DM might have the option to pick which member of the temple guards is the traitor, ensuring that the scenario is different for each group.

Special NPCs

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

begins, make photocopies of the six NPCs corresponding to the location you’ve chosen. These NPCs are gathered in appendix D. Each NPC comes with a brief description, personality traits (a bond, an

ideal, and a flaw), and a stat block. When the giant attack begins, give one NPC to each player and tell the player where the NPC is at the start of the encounter, as noted in the encounter description

Journey Back to Leilon

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention

the coming battle. There is one invisible stalker per two members of the party, including sidekicks. The encounter begins when the characters hear the captain yell from his cabin as he is attacked

. The stalkers fight to the death. Storm Galas Windrage creates a storm to distract the characters and their allies before the coming battle. When the storm begins, read the following boxed text aloud

Encounters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

sections offer more detailed information on how an encounter typically unfolds, in three steps. Step 1: Describe the Situation As the DM, you decide how much to tell the players and when. All the

bookshelf. Outside combat, the characters don’t need to take turns, but you need to give each player a chance to tell you what their character is doing so you can decide how to resolve everyone’s

A Campaign of Heists

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

between jobs. If you go this route, encourage the players to create a crack team and a base of operations, a supporting cast of allies, and other hallmarks of a heist crew. Have your group decide on

these details before play begins so the adventures progress seamlessly. To ensure the characters are always prepared for their next heist, make sure their level matches the heist’s level, as shown in the

Introduction

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

and referee. The DM creates adventures for the characters, who navigate its hazards and decide which paths to explore. The DM might describe the entrance to Castle Ravenloft, and the players decide what

way? Or cast a spell to carry them over the chasm? Then the DM determines the results of the adventurers’ actions and narrates what they experience. Because the DM can improvise to react to anything

Introduction

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

storyteller and referee. The DM creates adventures for the characters, who navigate its hazards and decide which paths to explore. The DM might describe the entrance to Castle Ravenloft, and the players decide

gives way? Or cast a spell to carry them over the chasm? Then the DM determines the results of the adventurers’ actions and narrates what they experience. Because the DM can improvise to react to

Fallen Clock Tower

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

failed checks cause significant sections of the tower to crumble, you might decide that the DC of the check to climb across increases, or that checks are made with disadvantage. Using the Controls

successful, the tower begins to rapidly age and crumble. If advanced too far, or if any check made to operate the red component is failed by 10 or more, the tower collapses into the valley with a

Investigating the Monastery

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

does producing something that would pique the Black Earth cultists’ interest. If admitted, the characters are escorted to Qarbo so that he can decide what to do with them (see “Audience with Qarbo” in

raise the alarm. However, the cultists do respond aggressively to the sounds of fighting. When a fight begins in an area, check adjacent areas to see if any other monsters or villains are nearby. Then

The Skull Dunes

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

decide otherwise. When the characters first come ashore, the hills of sand are smooth and trackless, and the loose sand counts as difficult terrain. As the characters soon discover, the dunes are filled

skeletons. Once they slay twenty or more skeletons, phase two begins. Phase Two. All the skeletons within 2 squares of the party animate and attack. Rather than assail the characters individually, half the

Supernatural Gifts

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

character in Theros begins with one supernatural gift chosen from those in this section. Work with the DM to decide where your character’s gift came from. Is it tied to the god you serve? Was it the

Blastoff!

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

choosing, dealing 88 (16d10) bludgeoning damage plus 56 (16d6) fire damage to each creature aboard. If it reaches space, the tower begins to orbit the planet, as magical wards kick in to provide

occupants with artificial gravity and a continuous supply of air and heat. If the characters were inside the Barn Door for the launch and have come along for the ride, you can decide what measures might

Complications

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild

the Mad, and in the process of completing the Infernal Machine. Machine Fight Complications d100 Result 01–15 Lynx attunes to the Infernal Machine and begins to use its powers. 16

–00 Both Lynx and Sir Ursas decide that events have grown too heated and escape into the city. High bounties are set for their capture.

Bottom Card: Reward or Ruin

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

and don’t need to consume any of their rations. They eat well that night, and each character begins the next day with inspiration. Reduced Travel Time. The characters find a shortcut that reduces the

: Encounter. The characters’ failure leads to a difficult combat encounter. Use the card to help you decide what kind of creature is encountered. Exhaustion. The stress of overcoming the challenge

Leaving Elturel

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

players might come up with. If they do, be prepared to improvise. Raw materials for putting together such equipment can be found in the shops and warehouses of Elturel. Once the characters have

collected the necessary resources, you can decide which ability checks might come into play as they create their improvised equipment — and to determine how well that equipment works. Use the following

Tips for New Dungeon Masters

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

, followed by a die expression in parentheses, like this: 10 (3d6). You decide whether to use the average or roll the dice. Using average damage speeds up play, but it might feel less exciting, and players

does it reveal everything that a creature might say or do. You’re expected to improvise and bring creatures to life as best you can. For example, the adventure describes Mister Light (one of the

31. Amber Cavity

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

and don’t leave area 31. Destroying the monolith causes the limbs and the vestige within to vanish without a trace. Whether the vestige is destroyed or released is for you to decide. Mark of the Raven

. The amulet from area 22 begins glowing when it’s brought into this area. If a character uses an action to present the Mark of the Raven, Mara does not attack on the next turn, the light from the amber

Business Rival: Emmek Frewn

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

, he bought a smaller, less impressive building in the same alley and turned it into a pub, which he calls Frewn’s Brews. If you decide to introduce Emmek as a business rival, choose an unmarked building

around right now, his plan to ruin the characters’ establishment begins with borrowing some money. Plans Emmek secures a 150 gp loan from Istrid Horn (see appendix B). He spends 50 gp for the services of

The Attack

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

and the followers of Myrkul independently decide they are too big a threat to let live. (If the characters have already dealt with both spies, this encounter doesn’t happen.) Use the Backlot Map to

sidekicks, approach from the other direction. Velleen is a female Damaran master thief (see appendix A). As the combat begins, the two evil groups recognize each other, and also attack one another when

Purpose

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

. Include the settlement’s name, decide how big it is, add a dash of flavor (“The smell of the local tanneries never lifts from this town”), and let the adventurers get on with their business. The history

settlement, start adding these local features so that it begins to feel a little more like a home base, albeit a temporary one. Let the settlement develop as the need arises. Home Base A settlement

Demogorgon Rises!

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

water farther out bubbles and begins to foam. A thick, oily tentacle bursts forth, followed by another. Then two monstrous heads break the surface, both resembling hideous, angry baboons with wickedly

decide how they intend to escape. Escape by Land. Fleeing by land requires dodging terrified kuo-toa, and even fighting fish-folk driven to a killing frenzy against the characters for having drawn this

Adventure Background

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

, however, the settlers of Leilon just might survive. This adventure begins at a modest roadside inn, where the characters can make some friends and get the first taste of the larger battle in which they

, etc.) to assist in its construction, making the shrine more grandiose than it might otherwise be. Alternatively, if one of the characters worships a different deity, they might decide to invest in a

Secretarian

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

below, you can add your proficiency bonus to an ability check to convince a suspicious crowd of your good (or at least non-evil) intentions, encourage franchise hirelings to work faster, or improvise

, whenever your franchise begins a major quest or mission, make a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check. On a success, you can learn up to three rumors related to creatures or organizations involved in the

Search Results