descended impact are best

Air Genasi

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Air genasi are descended from djinn, the genies of the Elemental Plane of Air. Embodying many of the airy traits of their otherworldly ancestors, air genasi can draw upon their connection to the

your character’s height or weight randomly, consult the Random Height and Weight table in the Player’s Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best represents the build you imagine for your character.

Aasimar Legacy

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Whether descended from a celestial being or infused with heavenly power, aasimar are mortals who carry a spark of the Upper Planes within their souls. They can fan that spark to bring light, ease

character’s height or weight randomly, consult the Random Height and Weight table in the Player’s Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best represents the build you imagine for your character.

Chapter 2: Elves

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

Chapter 2: Elves The most ancient tales speak of elves as the children of the god Corellon. Unlike many similar myths involving other races, these tales are true. Elves are all descended from a

one incident set all the many races of elves on their present paths, determined their unique life cycle, and triggered an unflagging hatred between the drow and the elves of the Material Plane. No other event has had such momentous impact on elven history as the one that began it all.

Fire Genasi

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

Descended from efreet, the genies of the Elemental Plane of Fire, fire genasi channel the flamboyant and often destructive nature of flame. They show their heritage in their skin tones, which can

or weight randomly, consult the Random Height and Weight table in the Player’s Handbook, and choose the row in the table that best represents the build you imagine for your character.

New Race: Verdan

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

New Race: Verdan The verdan owe their existence to chaos. Descended and transformed from a large clan of goblins and hobgoblins, those who became the verdan were simply living their lives, doing

goblinoid things. But then passing through the shadow of That-Which-Endures changed them forever. Now the newest race to call Faerûn home, the verdan do their best to find their way in an unfamiliar world

The Mark of Asmodeus

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

— as they ever have been. Some do choose to serve the Lord of the Nine Hells and his schemes, while others align themselves with different fiendish factions, or none at all, doing their best to stay

those not descended from Asmodeus might exhibit different qualities; see the “Tiefling Variants” sidebar.

Verdan

Species Acquisitions Incorporated

The verdan owe their existence to chaos. Descended and transformed from a large clan of goblins and hobgoblins, those who became the verdan were simply living their lives, doing goblinoid things. But

then passing through the shadow of That-Which-Endures changed them forever. Now the newest race to call Faerûn home, the verdan do their best to find their way in an unfamiliar world

Flavors of Fantasy

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

Robert E. Howard and Fritz Leiber? Your choice can have a impact on the flavor of your campaign. Heroic Fantasy Heroic fantasy is the baseline assumed by the D&D rules. The Player’s Handbook describes

an effort to destroy monsters or villains. This genre is also common in fantasy fiction. Most novels set in the Forgotten Realms are best described as heroic fantasy, following in the footsteps of many of the authors listed in the Appendices of the Player’s Handbook.

When Not to Shake It Up

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

repetition and dearth of meaningful stakes. Some D&D campaigns fall into the same trap, stringing world-spanning disasters together one after another with little impact on the characters or the world. Thus

, it’s probably not in the DM’s best interest to reorder the world every single time there’s a lull in the action, lest world-shaking events become ordinary. As a general rule, a campaign can sustain up

Newspaper Contacts

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

printed page. Depending on the editor, you might not even recognize the stories when they’re printed, and your editor’s personality and goals can have a tremendous impact on your work for the paper

journalism.” 5 An editor who is more interested in keeping powerful friends happy than in reporting the truth 6 An editor who thinks the way to make reporters do their best work is by making them compete

Strixhaven's World

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

wherever it best fits the needs of your campaign. It could be in a world of your own creation, in a published D&D setting (such as the Forgotten Realms or Eberron), in the planar cosmopolis of Sigil, or in

an interplanar nexus that allows it to draw students from across the Material Plane or the entire multiverse. Whatever world you decide to place Strixhaven in, three elements of the wider world of Arcavios might have some impact on adventures in the school.

Heliod as Campaign Villain

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

a wide-ranging impact on the pantheon and the mortal world. The Heliod’s Divine Schemes table offers examples of how the god might have a mythic impact on the mortal world, embroiling the characters

hubris of nobles who boast of having the best hounds, Heliod turns all dogs into wolves and monsters that kill and run wild. 4 Heliod arms a champion with his weapon, Khrusor, but the hero goes

Heavy Armor

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

lb. Plate 1,500 gp 18 Str 15 Disadvantage 65 lb. Of all the armor categories, heavy armor offers the best protection. These suits of armor cover the entire body and are designed to stop a wide

chafing and to cushion the impact of blows. The suit includes gauntlets. Splint. This armor is made of narrow vertical strips of metal riveted to a backing of leather that is worn over cloth padding

Draw In the Players

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

, see “Respect for the Players” in chapter 1 for advice about harming the people and places characters love.) If the adventure situation doesn’t have an obvious impact on the characters or the people or

things they care about, you can use other techniques to draw in the players. These are best tailored to the motivations of your players and their characters. For example, some adventuring groups are

Rime Hulk

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

Rime Hulk Rime hulks are a withered branch of the frost giant family tree, descended from ancient giants who withdrew from the world and succumbed to their elemental nature. Most rime hulks dwell in

the start of the rime hulk’s next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage only. In all seriousness, though, it’s best not to get caught up in what these hulks were or

Secret of Chief Yarb-Gnock

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

wrecked caravan, he engineered a costume for himself. Disguised as a half-metal goblin, he infiltrated the goblins’ lair and did his best to fit in, cleverly using silent image spells to hide the

for “home,” became the goblin tribe’s dream of a better future. As the goblins were finishing construction of their new home, everlasting winter descended upon Icewind Dale. Fewer caravans made their

Dragon as Schemer

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

provides inspiration to help you turn dragon-related adventure hooks into adventures that impact the characters in your game. Cross-Purposes d6 The Dragon’s Schemes… 1 …directly target one or more

…create an opportunity for a character to pursue a personal goal. 6 …cause an accident or catastrophe that threatens the characters. An adventure featuring a dragon’s schemes often works best as

Background

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase

about their fate in hopes of receiving an answer from the sages. Unknown to outsiders, the sages’ talents come from their best-guarded secret: a series of ancient, magical tomes called the Books of

defend the sages and obey their every order—to meet with Derwyth, a fellow star-watcher near the star’s estimated point of impact. In the tower hands’ absence, Shalfey’s power-hungry successor, the sage

Kruphix as Campaign Villain

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

Silence. Just as Kruphix reins in the worst excesses of the other gods, the best chance of foiling Kruphix as a villain lies in the nature of Kruphix himself. A campaign in which Kruphix is a villain

judgments might have a mythic impact on the mortal world and make divine conflicts more severe rather than less. Kruphix’s Divine Schemes d4 Scheme 1 Shadowy forces steal a holy artifact

Kobold Inventor

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

Kobold Inventor Inventors. A kobold inventor captures bugs, scoops up exotic dungeon slimes, and uses the best stolen ingredients to make unlikely weapons that it can use in combat. Kobold Inventor

. Green Slime Pot. The kobold throws a clay pot full of green slime at the target, and it breaks open on impact. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 5/20 ft., one target. Hit: The target is covered

Assigning Assets

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

standing against the best warriors in Faerûn. Temple of Tiamat. The temple is necessary as the site of the ritual. Damaging it can help weaken Tiamat if the ritual is successful. Red Wizards. Red

can have an enormous impact on the battle. Metallic Dragons. The metallic dragons will be outnumbered by their chromatic cousins. However, they cooperate with allies better than the evil dragons do

Sundabar

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

of power shifts toward the surface and into human hands. The city is descended from the citadel of Sundbarr, a stronghold of Delzoun constructed two thousand years ago around a strange volcanic rift

were meeting in was crushed. Despite the best efforts of Aleina Brightlance of Silverymoon’s Knights in Silver to organize a defense, and the valiant efforts of the Sundabar garrison, orcs streamed

Sanctuary

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

’ best shot at rescuing the townsfolk is to overpower Group C and take control of the back door. In the temple, they can arrange a distraction to keep Groups A and B occupied at the front while the

next impact. How frequently you roll the die is up to you! One roll every 15–20 seconds is a good target for an average group. Be flexible, judge the players’ level of tension, and don’t let anyone relax

Sanctuary

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

’ best shot at rescuing the townsfolk is to overpower Group C and take control of the back door. In the temple, they can arrange a distraction to keep Groups A and B occupied at the front while the

next impact. How frequently you roll the die is up to you! One roll every 15–20 seconds is a good target for an average group. Be flexible, judge the players’ level of tension, and don’t let anyone

Shipwright

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

fully repaired. Life at Sea Your life at sea and in port has shaped you; you can roll on the following table to determine its impact or choose an element that best fits your character. d6 Sea’s

Horror Pacing

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

of calm. The best horror adventures are like roller coasters, ratcheting up suspense and releasing it before building toward the next harrowing moment. Also, mix up social interaction, exploration

bursts. Focus less on senses and more on descriptions of impact—a splash of crimson, who knows where it came from? Split the characters’ attention. Roleplay other creatures begging, panicking, and trying

Using Survivors

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

survivors are designed to engage with terrifying circumstances, but their triumph over such threats is not assured. Players’ decisions will certainly impact the survivors’ fates, but if it seems like doom

general role like noble, villager, or sailor with a touch of talent. Make use of these ready-made characters in whatever ways suit your adventure best.

Adventure Models

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants

kind who is coordinating the weaker giants’ activities. Clash of Titans Sometimes giants are background elements to an adventure that has more to do with the impact of the giants’ actions on the

and a dragon are oblivious to the destruction they’re causing Delve into the Past The best reason for delving into the past is to discover a path to a better future. —Diancastra In the world of

Warehouse Environs

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

the part of a drunken passerby. If confronted, Otis does his best to maintain the facade. He moves away from the adventurers as quickly as possible, but he circles back to watch them as they interact

on the part of the adventurers, the party and Acquisitions Incorporated can be held liable. Two members of the City Watch — Sergeant Ava Teeshe and Constable Yander Boot — descended into the fissure a

Armor and Shields

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

Of all the armor categories, heavy armor offers the best protection. These suits of armor cover the entire body and are designed to stop a wide range of attacks. Only proficient warriors can manage

better armor. Chain Mail. Made of interlocking metal rings, chain mail includes a layer of quilted fabric worn underneath the mail to prevent chafing and to cushion the impact of blows. The suit

Occultant

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

calls on how best to “clean up” any incorrect readings or misunderstandings. Noteworthy Occultants: Talanatha Three-Coins Essential Functions: Track kills; assess the value to the franchise of the

), whose beads resemble tiny skulls. Read the Kill Also at rank 1, your occultant abacus not only tracks your franchise’s kills, it helps you determine the impact of those kills on the franchise’s fate

Nautiloid Down

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

to communicate using telepathy, Vorryn and Dredavex prefer to speak aloud in Gnomish or Undercommon, with an accent best described as “gooey.” Vorryn is persnickety and exasperated most of the time

courses through the ship’s veins. Equipment is scattered everywhere, both from the impact of the crash and because of subsequent repair work. Approaching the Nautiloid As you trudge deeper into a

Dragon Encounters

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

you’re crafting a whole adventure around a dragon or just want to throw a dragon with an interesting personality into the party’s path, how do you put a dragon to best use in an encounter? Start by

relationship between dragon and minions can impact an encounter. With these four questions in mind, you can look to the Dragon Encounter Complications table for suggestions of quirks, special effects, and

Meeting the Inhabitants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle

Kobolds are small reptilian Humanoids who believe they are descended from dragons and often live near them. Over the centuries, many bands of kobolds have been drawn to Stormwreck Isle by the lingering

to friendly by engaging her in conversation on her favorite topics: history, ethics, and the impact of individual actions on the world. A character who learns Varnoth’s name and succeeds on a DC 15

The Zhentarim

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

the best guards or mercenaries money can buy. And if the cargo is shady or the cause you’re fighting for is questionable or even unjust, the Zhentarim don’t mind. Affiliation with the Zhentarim can be

have any particular interest in morality, and evil acts have no impact on her attitude toward the party. She disapproves of taking any wyrmspeakers alive, though, fearing the power of such dangerous

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