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Returning 35 results for 'defenses instead are bards'.
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Monsters
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
choose to succeed instead.
Shapechanger Savant. Lazav can use a bonus action to polymorph into a Small or Medium humanoid he has seen. His statistics, other than his size, are the same in each form. Any
equipment he is wearing or carrying isn't transformed.
Psychic Defenses. Unless Lazav is incapacitated, he is immune to magic that allows other creatures to read his thoughts, determine whether he is
Monsters
Acquisitions Incorporated
Evasion. If Viari is subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no damage if he succeeds on the saving throw, and only half
adventurer was nearly cut short during a battle of which the bards still sing. Unleashing a devastating attack with the aptly named Apocalypse Dagger, the rogue destroyed a giant single-handedly — and lost
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
.
3
I secretly look forward to adventurers trying to infiltrate my lair. How else could I try out new defenses?
4
Give me a storied helmet or scimitar over a pile of gold any day.
5
No
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
Resistance (3/Day). If the corrupter fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Spider Climb. The corrupter can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
Lair
This villain resides in a place of power and safety, whether that’s a hidden thieves’ guildhall or a lavish manse. The lair is filled with clever defenses to disorient, weaken, and
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the infiltrator fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Veiled Presence. The infiltrator’s AC includes its Wisdom modifier, and the infiltrator
’s a hidden thieves’ guildhall or a lavish manse. The lair is filled with clever defenses to disorient, weaken, and kill intruders.
The villain’s challenge rating increases while the
Monsters
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
Devil’s Sight. Magical darkness doesn’t impede Zariel’s darkvision.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Zariel fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic
crawl over the structure, ensuring that no intruders breach their defenses.
Lair Actions
On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Zariel can take one of the following lair actions; she can
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Spider Climb. The dragon can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without
adventurers trying to infiltrate my lair. How else could I try out new defenses?
4
Give me a storied helmet or scimitar over a pile of gold any day.
5
No creature can outsmart my defenses—if
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
instead resets to 350 hit points, and it recharges its Steam Breath. Additionally, the dragon turtle can now use the options in the "Mythic Actions" section for 1 hour. Award a party an additional
instead.
Unusual Nature. The dragon turtle doesn't require food or drink.Multiattack. The dragon turtle makes one Bite or Tail attack and two Claw attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +16
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Shift Perception (1/Day). The dragon can cast hallucinatory terrain, requiring no spell components
defenses.
Emerald Dragon Lair Features
The emerald dragon lair shown in map 5.8 is a series of ancient vaults situated beneath a city built in the caldera of a dormant volcano. The vaults fell into disuse
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Tunneler. The dragon can burrow through solid rock at half its burrowing speed and can leave a 20
(and more paranoid) dragons employing several layers of such defenses.
Emerald Dragon Lair Features
The emerald dragon lair shown in map 5.8 is a series of ancient vaults situated beneath a city
Zariel
Legacy
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Monsters
Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes
, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Zariel has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Regeneration. Zariel regains 20 hit points at the start of her
of all kinds crawl over the structure, ensuring that no intruders breach their defenses.
Lair Actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), Zariel can take a lair action to cause one of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Bard Subclasses A Bard subclass is a specialization that grants you features at certain Bard levels, as specified in the subclass. Bards form loose associations, which they call colleges, to preserve
Harmony with the Cosmos Bards of the College of Dance know that the Words of Creation can’t be contained within speech or song; the words are uttered by the movements of celestial bodies and flow
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
College of Glamour The College of Glamour is the home of bards who mastered their craft in the vibrant realm of the Feywild or under the tutelage of someone who dwelled there. Tutored by satyrs
, eladrin, and other fey, these bards learn to use their magic to delight and captivate others. The bards of this college are regarded with a mixture of awe and fear. Their performances are the stuff of
Goblin
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
traps, snares, and nets to catch the unwary, and when their hunting patrols encounter other beings, they always look for ways to capture their foes instead of killing them. Goblins that run up against
the fringes of a society first test its defenses by stealing objects, and if these crimes go unpunished, they begin stealing people.
Enslaved creatures receive the worst treatment the goblins can dish
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
stopped in their tracks by the daunting defenses of the gate quarter. More than one reckless attack by orcs, trolls, or giants was driven back from the gate. In time, those savage foes found other ways
to attack the dwarves of the Sumber Hills, and the stronghold was finally abandoned. The gates of Tyar-Besil lie in ruin now, broken not by the siege engines of enemies but instead by the tremors
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
Giant Skeleton The animated skeleton of a giant is deadly not only because of its size and strength, but because it has defenses normally possessed only by undead of much greater power. GIANT
Giant but can’t speak
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Evasion. If the skeleton is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal
skeleton of a giant — deadly not only because of its size and strength, but because it has defenses normally possessed only by undead of much greater power. Undead Nature. A skeleton doesn’t require air
Languages understands Giant but can’t speak
Challenge 7 (2,900 XP)
Evasion. If the skeleton is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
, and bards and rogues certainly have a place on the plains. Outlander is a logical background, but you could easily be a bold folk hero, a dashing entertainer, or a clever charlatan. You could even be an
. Hermit and Outlander are sound backgrounds, but you could be an acolyte or a sage who consults with spirits instead of reading books. Warriors and shamans alike often wear masks in order to present a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
Ancient Blue Dragon Ancient blue dragons think beyond dominating groups of short-lived servants. Instead, they seek to claim their places above other dragons and their world’s most powerful
. Antonio José manzanedo Shattering the enemy’s defenses, an ancient
blue dragon leads its armies in conquest Ancient Blue Dragon Gargantuan Dragon (Chromatic), Lawful Evil
AC 22 Initiative +14 (24)
HP
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
can mop up any crew left alive on deck (see “Dreadnaught Locations” for information on both these defenses). Characters whose ship was destroyed earlier are instead “rescued” by the galleon. When the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
, paladins might not swear their oaths to ideals, but instead swear fealty to powerful sorcerers. To capture this story concept, you could build a new paladin spell list with spells meant to protect
firmly in the world by associating the class with a particular race or culture. For example, you might decide that bards, sorcerers, warlocks, and wizards represent the magical traditions of four
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
against itself (real or imaginary), planning attacks against known rivals, and preparing its defenses against all possible threats. It considers itself the center of the world, in a narcissistic way
might be merciful and pacify the creature with a charm ray or a sleep ray instead of killing it outright. Of course, this mercy has a purpose; the defeated opponent is interrogated, subjugated, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Keys from the Golden Vault
imparts the following information: Grave Theft. Two halflings dug up his grave in the dead of night and stole his Canaith mandolin (an instrument of the bards). Frody wants it back. (“It was a gift
characters slay Frody instead, he reappears 24 hours later as a neutral good ghost and haunts Toadhop until his spirit finds rest—which happens only when Golden Axe is returned to Frody’s grave.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
attract. She is the patron of rangers in the same way that Milil is the patron of bards, but even rangers rarely pray to her directly. They instead pray to Gwaeron Windstrom, who they believe will
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep. Trance. Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such
is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires. Subrace. Ancient divides among the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
throws against being charmed, and magic can’t put you to sleep. Trance. Elves don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. (The Common word for such
is rich and varied, and their songs and poems are famous among other races. Many bards learn their language so they can add Elvish ballads to their repertoires. Subrace. Ancient divides among the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
. Issar does not deign to speak to the captives under his command. Instead, he’s chosen a Chultan boy named Khoti to translate his subtle, unspoken gestures. A twitch of the tail could be interpreted as an
(Persuasion or Intimidation) check. Armed captives who come to their senses try to slaughter as many yuan-ti as they can. They know the temple’s defenses and general layout, except with regard to areas 11 and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
Chapter 15: Throne A character who draws the Throne card from a Deck of Many Things gains ownership of a keep. But how big is the keep, and what are its defenses and layout? What lives in the keep
castle appears abandoned by its owners. Instead of courtiers and guards, spectral figures appear behind narrow windows, and a huge serpentine creature slithers through its courtyard. Nevertheless, the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
, permeating every bit of matter and present in every manifestation of energy throughout the multiverse.
Mortals can’t directly shape this raw magic. Instead, they make use of a fabric of magic, a
magic depends on the Weave, though different kinds of magic access it in a variety of ways. The spells of wizards, warlocks, sorcerers, and bards are commonly called arcane magic. These spells rely on
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
encounters instead of using the tables in chapter 2. Once every hour, roll a d20 and consult the table to determine what, if anything, the party encounters. Drow Defenses d20 Encounter 1–10 No
characters take Grin Ousstyl with them, not so much as a guide but to help the party talk its way past drow patrols. The demonic invasion has put Menzoberranzan’s defenses on high alert, making it even
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
Lorehold. Bards thrive in Lorehold, and wizards (particularly those of the School of Divination) are numerous among its students. Clerics (often with the Knowledge or Light domains) are also quite common
falls apart someday. Lorehold Trinkets. When you make your character, you may roll once on the Lorehold Trinkets table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the Player’s Handbook, for your starting
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
vengeance. Viari’s career as an adventurer was nearly cut short during a battle of which the bards still sing. Unleashing a devastating attack with the aptly named Apocalypse Dagger, the rogue destroyed a
Challenge 5 (1,800 XP)
Evasion. If Viari is subjected to an effect that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he instead takes no damage if he succeeds on the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Bladesinging When faced with the endless onslaught of magical possibilities, many wizards suffer identity crises. Some overcome, some break, and some become sword-bards.
Tasha
Bladesingers master
equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses of it when you finish a long rest. Extra Attack 6th-level Bladesinging feature You can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
bards find a home in Silverquill, putting the power of their voices to use with Silverquill magic. Wizards (especially those who study the Schools of Illusion and Enchantment) are common in
may roll once on the Silverquill Trinkets table, instead of on the Trinkets table in the Player’s Handbook, for your starting trinket. Silverquill Trinkets d6 Trinket 1 A black leather notebook
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
influential Talon plans to overthrow General Drakov during the next zombie assault on Lekar by sabotaging the city’s defenses and admitting the zombies to the Bastion Ward.
7 The Jimsonweeds, a
“traitors”?
10 On the night of the new moon, no zombie horde appears at Lekar’s walls. Instead, a undead messenger arrives with a missive for General Drakov.