Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'designed instance are better'.
Other Suggestions:
destined instances are better
destined instant are better
defined instance are bitter
defined instant are better
design instinct are better
Monsters
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
was designed for.
No two autognomes are necessarily made of the same materials; magic is what gives them their intelligence. Most autognomes are programmed to obey the following three directives
distinguish between species; if an autognome sees a group of adults battling a lunar dragon wyrmling, for instance, it would come to the wyrmling's defense.Poison
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
illusions, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations.
Creating an Emerald Dragon
Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to
their way to avoid interacting with other intelligent creatures. However, their interest in history and culture occasionally gets the better of them, prompting them to seek some engagement with the folk
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
, allowing them to better conceal their treasures from prying eyes and divinations.
Creating an Emerald Dragon
Use the Emerald Dragon Personality Traits and Emerald Dragon Ideals tables to inspire your
avoid interacting with other intelligent creatures. However, their interest in history and culture occasionally gets the better of them, prompting them to seek some engagement with the folk of the world
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
city, especially hard drink.
5
Secretly, I believe that things would be better if I were a tyrant lording over the land.
6
I have trouble trusting in my allies.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
NPCs with Companions Companion creatures are designed to accompany player characters on adventures. If an NPC has a pet or creature servant, it’s recommended you use the creature’s normal stat block
. For instance, if an NPC ranger has an owlbear they work with, that creature would use the normal owlbear stat block and be played by the GM as normal. But if the characters are charged with rescuing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
. Something has changed, and not for the better. This adventure is designed for 10th-level characters. Halls of the Hunting Axe. The legendary burial place of King Torhild Flametongue, founder of the
routine task far more challenging. This adventure is designed for 3rd-level characters, although it is equally playable at lower and higher levels. Iceshield Orcs. An orc tribe displaced by the natural
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Level 7: Maddgoth’s Castle Maddgoth’s Castle is designed for four 9th-level characters, who should amass enough XP to reach 10th level. The characters can forge tenuous alliances with several of the
adventurers first arrive, but he might show up later (see “Aftermath”). Most creatures are reduced to one-twelfth their normal size as they approach Maddgoth’s castle, enabling them to better fit inside
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Old Road arrive at Wroann’s Gate. Getting to the better parts of Sharn from here means passing through Black Arch, a heavily fortified garrison district designed to repel enemies and withstand a full
, but High Walls is designed to serve as a fortress prison if the need arises, and the Sharn Watch keeps an eye out for any signs of unrest.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Appendix B: Character Names Some players and DMs have a knack for coming up with character names on the fly, while others find that task more of a challenge. The tables in this appendix are designed
determine a name. Even though names are associated with races in this appendix, a character might not have a name from their own race. For instance, a half-orc might have grown up among dwarves and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
in a given area, and also of the costs of goods and services there.
For instance, a restaurant that is said to serve food of comfortable quality is one where a patron who lives a comfortable lifestyle (or better) can afford anything on the menu.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
attention of adventurers. These merchants can’t provide the services normally found in a city. For instance, when the characters are in need of a library or a dedicated sage, a trainer who can handle
the griffon eggs they’ve found, or an architect to design their castle, they’re better off going to a large city than looking in a village.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
thoroughfares spanned by bridges and buttresses designed to keep overflowing tenements from tumbling into the streets. As cramped and noisy as the Lower City can be during the day, bustling with
, the mercenaries sometimes seem more like an occupying army than a true police force, better suited to indiscriminate head-cracking than delicate investigation. As such, while most residents are happy
Kobold
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
, designed to collapse under the weight of any creature heavier than a kobold. On occasion, the route through a kobold lair runs along a ledge that borders a cavern or a crevasse, and the kobolds might
provoke retaliatory attacks from the creatures they steal from. It’s better to be cautious and overlooked than to be considered dangerous and a threat.
In a couple of situations, kobolds might
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur’s Gate Gazetteer
thoroughfares spanned by bridges and buttresses designed to keep overflowing tenements from tumbling into the streets. As cramped and noisy as the Lower City can be during the day, bustling with
, the mercenaries sometimes seem more like an occupying army than a true police force, better suited to indiscriminate head-cracking than delicate investigation. As such, while most residents are happy
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
, adventures in a shared campaign are designed to take either 2 hours or 4 hours. In each hour of play, assume the characters can complete the following: Three or four simple combat encounters, or one or
can be different for each group. For more narrative adventures, try to focus on simple but flexible encounters or events. For instance, an adventure requires the characters to protect a high priest of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
bypassing or disabling traps are all part of exploration.
Not everything in your world needs to be explored painstakingly. For instance, you might gloss over an unimportant journey by telling the
all sorts of unusual environments
Maps designed for use with miniatures (see “Miniatures” in this chapter) tend to be player facing, revealing nothing that would spoil the adventure.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
to the adventures that await them in the sea caves, the shipwreck, and the ancient observatory. This adventure is designed to be flexible and give the players the sense that they’re in charge of
course of the adventure—both the paladin and the fighter gaining a better understanding of their role in the world, for example. Use those goals (described under “Individual Quests” below) to help the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
being held aloft by magic, such as the fly spell. If you’d like a flying creature to have a better chance of surviving a fall than a non-flying creature does, use this rule: subtract the creature’s
greater than 0 feet. The rule is designed to simulate the creature flapping its wings furiously or taking similar measures to slow the velocity of its fall. If you use the rule for rate of falling in the
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
, and it's usually worn only by those who can't afford better armor. Chain Mail. Made of interlocking metal rings, chain mail includes a layer of quilted fabric worn underneath the mail to prevent
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
against the player’s better judgment, because “that’s what the character would do.” Since combat isn’t the focus, game rules take a back seat to character development. Ability check modifiers and skill
part of the game. For instance, you might gloss over an unimportant journey by telling the players that they spend three uneventful days on the road before moving along to the next point of interest
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Lost Mine of Phandelver Lost Mine of Phandelver is an adventure in the Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set, designed to take characters from 1st to 5th level. Characters who complete it are at the right
the characters to deliver a letter to Darathra Shendrel, the lord protector of Triboar. In the letter, Harbin demands that the lord protector do a better job of patrolling the territory between their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
Ship-to-Ship Combat The following rules are designed to make ship-to-ship combat simple yet exciting. Starting Distance At the start of an engagement, the DM decides how far a ship is from its
mangonels being the most common. Such weapons are slow to load and fire. Player characters are almost always better off using their own weapons and spells in ship-to-ship combat, reserving shipboard
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
have bars only on the outside—as if they’re designed to keep people inside. Those who question the guards here are told to move along (see the “Curst’s Walls” section for details). Inside, the
multiverse… but we’re still better than you.”
–Tovus Gilaf, former burgomaster of Curst,
to his replacement, Villigus Bazengar
Encounters in Curst While exploring Curst, the characters might have any
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves
ongoing campaign, or as a series that forms a campaign, bringing characters from level 1 to a climactic conclusion at level 12.
These adventures are designed to require minimal preparation (see
in the adventure to fit better into your world, link the adventure villains to organizations and events that are important in your campaign, and plant clues to the themes of your campaign in the dragon’s treasure hoard.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
and effects. Described below are a few of the general purposes a trap might have. Use them to inspire the creation of your own traps. Alarm. An alarm trap is designed to alert an area’s occupants of
intruders. It might cause a bell or a gong to sound. This type of trap rarely involves a saving throw, because the alarm can’t be avoided when the trap goes off. Delay. Some traps are designed to slow
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Boo’s Astral Menagerie
properly, but a design flaw can cause an autognome to go rogue, forget its orders, and wander Wildspace doing anything except what it was designed for. No two autognomes are necessarily made of the same
battling a lunar dragon wyrmling, for instance, it would come to the wyrmling’s defense. Autognome
Small Construct, Any Alignment
Armor Class 16 (natural armor)
Hit Points 39 (6d6 + 18)
Speed 20
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
life. Experiment with different speech patterns. For instance, a barmaid and a city magistrate probably use their words differently. Similarly, peasants could speak in earthy dialects, while rich folk
?” Or just ask the player what his or her character is doing while the conversation is going on. The first approach is better for players who are already comfortable speaking in their characters’ voices
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
where, everything is. Every hag is infallible when it comes to keeping track of her treasures and other possessions. Her organization and labeling, if such a system exists, is designed to foil thieves
simply being scooped up and carted away. Treasure-seekers are likely to fare better if they consider a hag’s booty to be trapped, exercising caution rather than giving in to greed or curiosity
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
to dilute the poison among several flagons. (The dilution also makes the poison unlikely to be lethal; Justran is better at making ale than he is at making poison.) A brief investigation reveals that
party; the Temple of the Crushing Wave is appropriate for a 7th-level party; the Temple of Black Earth is designed for an 8th-level group; and the Temple of Eternal Flame works best for a party of 9th
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
Statistics Retainers are designed to be easy to run so their player (who is already managing a complex character) doesn’t get overwhelmed with even more details. Each retainer has a simple stat block
heavy) increases their AC by 1. One happy side effect of having retainers is that as a player character levels up and acquires better equipment, they can pass their obsolete items on to the retainer.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
another sort of forest — and better yet, one whose uppermost “branches” can easily support the creatures. In such a setting, the girallons take full advantage of their skill in climbing. The creatures
with the monsters. For instance, yuan-ti enslave girallons, turning them into border sentinels for their serpent kingdoms. Because girallons are known to be peaceful among their own kind, some
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
inspiration, or you can develop a unique location. Work with the players to develop the connections that each character has to the site. If the location is a tavern, for instance, a bard character
modest food and lodging to adventurers who are trying to make the city a better place. 5 The Red Hammer (Blackbones, the Cogs) caters to warforged. It is run by two warforged, the envoy Blue and a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
has been taken from them. Now ruling Citadel Felbarr are King Emerus’s distant kin, King Morinn and Queen Tithmel, who were recently married in a union designed to join separate claims to the throne
races other than dwarves moved even the slightest to aid Citadel Felbarr, when more assistance and better coordination might have prevented not only that citadel’s fall, but Sundabar’s as well
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
) score of 12 or better can hear the roar of a waterfall ahead. A successful DC 14 group Strength (Athletics) check is necessary to steer or swim away from the falls. Otherwise, the characters go over
successful save indicates that the creature avoids a hard landing in the water below. There is a 50 percent chance that any waterfall area contains a duergar-built lock designed to traverse it, in which case
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
devils that are in line for promotion or demotion. At the culmination of the process, the candidates are made vulnerable to the fires of Phlegethos through a special ritual designed for this purpose
mortal’s emotions to her will, as a way to better understand the workings of mortal hearts and minds. What she or Belial intends to do with their accumulated knowledge none can definitively say, but