decide interest are broader

Simic Scientist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. 3 I’m eager to explain every detail of my most intricate experiments and theories to anyone who shows the least bit of interest. 4 I assume that everyone needs even the most basic

very different. 7 I borrowed a lot of money from an Orzhov syndic to help finance my research. 8 A Rakdos ringmaster has taken an interest in my research which, come to think of it, might

Golgari Agent

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. 4 Roll an additional Golgari contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival. 5 I joined the Gruul in a battle against the Boros once, and the chief of that small clan thanks

stole something valuable. 8 I found a baby beast and sold it to a Rakdos wrangler who remains grateful to me. 9 A Selesnya druid and I share an interest in the same garden, and we have

Rakdos Cultist

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

Orzhov oligarch has taken an interest in my career, like a patron of the arts. 8 Roll an additional Rakdos contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival. 9 A Selesnya healer

Orzhov Representative

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

. Orzhov Contacts d8 Contact 1 The spirit of an ancestor has taken an interest in me. 2 An older cousin has the ear of a powerful oligarch. 3 I know a knight who is

Orzhov contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival. 8 My childhood friend is now a Rakdos torturer. We still meet for drinks occasionally. 9 I have the key to a vault where

Selesnya Initiate

Backgrounds Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica

my former guild and joined the Selesnya along with a close friend. 4 The dryad at the head of my enclave has taken an interest in my activities. 5 A sibling is an instructor at the guild

Selesnya contact; you can decide if the contact is an ally or a rival. 10 I have a sibling in the Simic Combine, and we argue every time we see each other.

Redbrand Ruffians

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

with a number of NPCs in town, the characters decide to confront the Redbrands at the Sleeping Giant tap house. The characters decide to investigate Tresendar Manor. Skip the encounter and go straight to

“Redbrand Hideout.” If the characters show no interest in the Redbrands, a gang of the ruffians seeks them out and picks a fight in the street. Run this encounter as the characters are leaving one of the locations in the town.

Brevity

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

Brevity Keep your descriptions short and evocative. Focus on the more important information to keep players’ interest and to highlight important clues and details. Players need to know about

significant features their characters can perceive—especially things like monsters in a room—before they decide what to do. Allow your players to ask follow-up questions, and provide additional description as needed.

Sex

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

Sex You can play a male or female character without gaining any special benefits or hindrances. Think about how your character does or does not conform to the broader culture’s expectations of sex

character’s sexual orientation is for you to decide. Height and Weight Race Base Height Height Modifier Base Weight Weight Modifier Human 4'8" +2d10 110 lb. × (2d4) lb. Dwarf, hill 3'8" +2d4

Yuan-ti Pureblood Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

another society and wish to be part of it. 3 I respect my superiors and obey them without question. My fate is theirs to decide. 4 I have an interest in an unsuitable mate, which I can&rsquo

interest of maintaining the strength of their personal bloodline. The yuan-ti have abandoned their humanity and consider non-serpentine humanoids to be lesser creatures, barely more civilized than

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.

Prepare to Be Scared

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

for everyone at the table. If your character laughs in the face of every danger, they undermine the adventure’s threats and its broader atmosphere. When creating and playing your character, consider

hail from another D&D setting, a place of your own design, or a more mysterious homeland? If you decide your character calls some corner of Ravenloft home, ask your DM which domains they could

High Elves: The Aereni

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

council of undead high elves. The greatest heroes of the Aereni join the Undying Court after death, joining their heroic ancestors in immortality. The Aereni are isolationists who have little interest

in the world beyond their island. The Five Nations are a place of chaos and war, so why would any sensible elf venture into that madness? As you make an Aereni elf character, decide what has caused

Types of Reporting

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

Types of Reporting Decide as a group, in consultation with your DM, what kind of reporting you do for the newspaper. It’s possible that different members of your group have different specialties, or

anyone can understand. 8 Personal Interest. You seek out stories of personal triumph over adversity, such as how people are rebuilding and working together in the wake of the Last War. 9 Travel. You

Aftermath of the Last War

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

the untapped resources of the Plains. The halflings have no interest in change, but it might be inevitable. Lathon Halpum believes that if the tribes can work together, they could become a nation of

outsiders from the Plains and to maintain the ancient traditions. The halflings must decide whether the tribes will choose the path of peace or return to war.

A Minor Issue

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

pass by. When you approach, the boy cries, “The gemstone mine is closed because of monsters! Speaker Masthew is offering fifty gold to anyone who clears it out!” If the characters express interest

, or they can go to the tavern to see the speaker. If the characters decide to ignore the quest, the mine remains closed for several weeks before the kobolds mysteriously vanish, enabling the miners

Guests of the Stone Guard

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

Guests of the Stone Guard Whenever circumstances see the Stone Guards develop an interest in the party (including being arrested or witnessing the giant’s rampage without taking part), the characters

about their preference, or decide on your own what happens next: Gartokkar Xundorn intervenes on behalf of the Keepers of the Flame, which can lead to a meeting with Themberchaud (see “Themberchaud’s

Choosing a College

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

, such as a background choice. From the start, your character is making decisions that will lead to their eventual college choice. Chapter 1 describes each of the colleges. How do you decide which of

students, perhaps living in the same residence hall or taking the same classes, or united by a common extracurricular interest. It’s also possible that your characters are just meeting for the first

Mission Gone Wrong?

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

characters’ mission and an explanation of how their actions were misinterpreted when they returned. They also express interest in joining the alliance. The merfolk, after recovering from their

consternation, decide to consider the characters’ actions an honest — if uncivilized — mistake. They agree to accept the town’s help in the looming conflict. Then they call upon the council to again enlist

Life in the Domains of Dread

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

basis for comparison, domain inhabitants call those who speak of other worlds liars. For them, the following topics are standard aspects of life in their home domain or in a broader collection of

, but their words are understandable. DM Option: Domain Languages. If you want to highlight the differences between domains, you can do away with Common and decide that the inhabitants of each domain

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

decide if and when such foes join an ongoing battle. This might lead to deadly combat encounters for the characters, since new opponents can rush in to join a fight that is still in progress, or arrive while the characters try to rest after a tough battle.

Roleplaying a Yuan-ti

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

to decide. 4 I have an interest in an unsuitable mate, which I can’t suppress. 5 I respect and emulate a great hero or ancestor. 6 An enemy destroyed something of value to me, and I will find where it

The Northlook

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

the cycles of an adventurer’s life. He often cuts a break for customers who are between jobs, allowing them to stay here on credit and then presenting them with a bill inflated by interest charges to be

fish unless he’s well compensated, and unless the deed can be done without ruining his trophy. (The ring, if you decide it’s here, is stuck in the fish’s throat and can be retrieved without surgery.)

Tips for New Dungeon Masters

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

attacks hit. After a certain number of hits and misses, players can usually pinpoint a creature’s AC on their own. However, in the interest of speeding up combat, you can divulge a creature’s AC once

, 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

11. Frulam Mondath's Chamber

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen

Naerytar. Rezmir allowed us to keep some pearls, a ring, and a handful of small stones.” Other papers are of less interest; most of them have bad poetry about dragons. The smaller chamber off the main one

might decide to confront them here. If the attackers plow through her forward guards, Mondath might retreat down the chute to area 9 and join forces with Cyanwrath or even flee from the cave. She has

Arrival in Phandalin

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

replaced by a council of three prominent citizens, elected every two years. However, the recent abdication of one councilor and the town’s growing size have prompted the townsfolk to decide that it’s

and potential conflicts of interest. The characters can become involved in the mayoral debate if the players wish. If they don’t, wrap it up and let the characters interact with the townsfolk as they

11. Frulam Mondath's Chamber

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

. Rezmir allowed us to keep some pearls, a ring, and a handful of small stones.” Other papers are of less interest; most of them have bad poetry about dragons. The smaller chamber off the main one contains

to defend Mondath, her response is up to you. If the fight in the barracks takes a heavy toll on the characters, she might decide to confront them here. If the attackers plow through her forward guards

Loremonger

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

, you are a studious individual, usually with an interest in history or technical subjects. You might revel in your role, working as a central figure in your franchise as you use your knowledge to

, your whisper jar becomes an uncommon magic item that can tap into the broader lore of Acquisitions Incorporated. As a bonus action, you ask the jar for information on a specific subject and make a DC 15

Places of Interest

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

Places of Interest Most of Vermeillon’s buildings contain nothing but decaying furniture and whatever belongings were left behind when the inhabitants fled, but a few locations hold treasure or hints

source of the disappearances, stop them, and rescue anyone she could. As it happened, she was the last villager taken by the meenlocks. If the characters decide to explore the house, see “Mayor

Sylvira Savikas

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

they present the box to her, she snatches it out of their hands and studies it closely. She takes similar interest in the Shield of the Hidden Lord (which she calls “the Shield of Gargauth”), but avoids

escape the shield there. Sylvira leaves it to the characters to decide what to do with the shield. A small part of her is relieved if the characters decide to take it with them, as she knows the evil

More Downtime Activities

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

× 5 gp. 21–30 You make an enemy. This person, business, or organization is now hostile to you. The DM determines the offended party. You decide how you offended them. 31–40 You are caught up in a

whirlwind romance. Roll a d20. On a 1–5, the romance ends badly. On a 6–10, the romance ends amicably. On an 11–20, the romance is ongoing. You determine the identity of the love interest, subject to your

Elf Queen's Palace

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Scions of Elemental Evil

eyes regard you with intense interest. “Step forward, heroes,” the queen says. “Word of your exploits has brought solace to my ears in these troubled times, and I am honored that you’ve answered my

(see appendix A). The queen explains their function. Before proceeding, the characters must decide who wears the boots.

The Lords' Alliance

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

before other concerns. In the years soon after its founding more than one hundred fifty years ago, there was more interest in membership, and the Alliance accepted some members from farther south. Since

to a narrow conception of the world. You might decide to change some of the details, either to surprise your players or to account for events that have transpired since they obtained the information herein. You’re encouraged to take what’s presented here and make it, and the Forgotten Realms, your own.

U6. Standing Stones

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

for as long as possible, and she doesn’t willingly identify other wereravens with whom she’s acquainted. She can’t be persuaded to accompany the characters if they decide to confront Baba Lysaga

. However, Muriel knows Barovia well enough to point out other nearby locations that might interest the adventurers, including the ruined mansion of Argynvostholt (see chapter 7) and the ancient burial

Village

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

small boats remain tied up at these piers, the others having been used by the grippli who retreated to the trading post. The yuan-ti have no interest in the small boats that are moored here—meaning that

if they remain undamaged, the characters could use them for transport when they decide to leave this place behind. Pond Mother’s Home The religious center of the village, this enormous building made

Complications and Rivals

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

excellent adventure seeds. Whenever a complication or rival draws the interest of the players, the DM can make a note of that for future development. As the campaign progresses, the agendas of rivals

change over time, just as the characters’ goals and agendas change as a result of their franchise’s success (or their efforts to stave off failure). The DM can decide how to invoke complications as the

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