Search Results
All Results
Characters
Compendium
Spells
Items
Monsters
Vehicles
Forums
Returning 35 results for 'disaster imagine are battle'.
Goliath
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Species
Elemental Evil Player's Companion
seek out a larger, more powerful wyrm to battle. Few goliath adventurers reach old age, as most die attempting to surpass their past accomplishments.
Fair Play
For goliaths, competition exists only
much on them can grow complacent, a recipe for disaster in the mountains.
This trait manifests most strongly when goliaths interact with other folk. The relationship between peasants and nobles puzzles
Deck of Many Things
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Magic Items
Basic Rules (2014)
you, warning all others that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights until you die or it drops to 0 hit points, whereupon it disappears. If anyone tries to help you, the helper summons its
apply it.
The Void. This black card spells disaster. Your soul is drawn from your body and contained in an object in a place of the GM's choice. One or more powerful beings guard the place. While your
Species
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse
carve their horns to sharpen their edges, etch symbols of power into them, or sheathe them in bronze to prevent them from shattering during battle.
Thick hair extends down minotaurs’ necks and
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.
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
constructs of civilization. (Neutral)
6
Glory. I must earn glory in battle, for myself and my clan. (Any)
d6
Bond
1
My family, clan, or tribe is the most important thing
homeland.
4
I am the last of my tribe, and it is up to me to ensure their names enter legend.
5
I suffer awful visions of a coming disaster and will do anything to prevent it.
6
It is my
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Divine Contention
wounds to heal the injured. In the chaos of battle, spells such as message, sending, or thaumaturgy can make the difference between triumph and disaster. In a narrative battle, the simplest way to
adjudicate such spells outside of combat is to grant an ad-hoc benefit to the party (see “Narrative Combat”). If a spell creates a powerful effect that sways the course of the battle, consider granting the caster’s side an additional victory.
Magic Items
Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
tattered black robe. It appears in a space of the DM’s choice within 10 feet of you and attacks you, warning all others that you must win the battle alone. The avatar fights until you die or it
black card spells disaster. Your soul is drawn from your body and held within machinery in either the control room of the Monastery of the Distressed Body (area M8) or Kwalish’s lab in Daoine
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
notes for that disaster, but magnify the result to the grandest scale you can imagine. The rise or fall of a leader or era is the death or birth of a god, or the end of an age or the world. A cataclysmic
or roll on the World-Shaking Events table. World-Shaking Events d10 Event 1 Rise of a leader or an era 2 Fall of a leader or an era 3 Cataclysmic disaster 4 Assault or invasion 5 Rebellion
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
Menzoberranzan If the City of Spiders is the site of the demon lords’ battle, it is damaged even more than it was by Demogorgon’s arrival. Word of the city’s misfortune spreads throughout the
Underdark, with other races and factions trying to claim some of the power long held by the drow. Despite Vizeran’s best efforts, not all drow believe that Lolth is responsible for the disaster, instead
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
The death of a storm giant sets off a wide-ranging struggle among various giant leaders to fill the resulting power vacuum. 3 A cataclysmic disaster (such as a volcanic eruption, unending winter, or
relentless storm) displaces both giants and smaller folk from their homes; only later do adventurers discover giants caused the disaster. 4 A mighty army led by giants launches an invasion of its
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Monstrous Tactics Monsters, just like player characters, can try anything you can imagine in combat, including the full range of combat options described in the Player’s Handbook. Monsters can use
the Help action to aid each other, they can grapple or shove their enemies, and so on. Some monsters use these options to maximize their advantages in battle; others use them to sow fear among their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
The Three Pillars of Adventure Adventurers can try to do anything their players can imagine, but it can be helpful to talk about their activities in three broad categories: exploration, social
forcing a rout. Combat is the most structured element of a D&D session, with creatures taking turns to make sure that everyone gets a chance to act. Even in the context of a pitched battle, there’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
development. The time of the first generation precedes the presence of what are commonly understood to be “gods.” Before mortals dreamed the gods into being, before they could even imagine beings as
death—and its insatiable gluttony for new creatures to consume. Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath, might be seen as a direct predecessor of Keranos and Thassa, but it was the incarnation of natural disaster
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
great forge called the Forge of Spells, where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby town of Phandalin prospered as well. But disaster struck when bandits swept through the
their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and knowledge of the location of Wave Echo
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
.
3 Keep people safe from a natural disaster caused by the anger of another god (such as a volcano spawned by Purphoros or a tidal wave caused by Thassa).
4 Hunt down a notorious lawbreaker
campaign, the characters might stand alongside other defenders of a polis against attacking monsters and receive Heliod’s blessing at a crucial moment to turn the tide of battle. Hailed as heroes by
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
the characters’ backgrounds to life. Maybe the characters are all part of the same unit in the war, or they might be enemies forced to cooperate when disaster strikes. Are the characters participants
in a memorable battle? Do they take actions they’ll later regret? Do they make a bitter enemy who comes back to haunt them years later, when the campaign continues in the present day? A magical
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
(called the Forge of Spells), where magic items could be crafted. Times were good, and the nearby human town of Phandalin (pronounced fan-duh-lin) prospered as well. But then disaster struck when orcs
wizards fought alongside their dwarf and gnome allies to defend the Forge of Spells, and the ensuing spell battle destroyed much of the cavern. Few survived the cave-ins and tremors, and the location of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
survive. You want to create tension and make it seem like the outcome teeters on the brink of disaster. Near the end of the battle, the elves show up as described in the “Relief Arrives” section
Running the Siege You have a few options on how to run the battle. Consider the following: You can treat each defender and orc as an individual, and run the combat as a long, complex encounter. If
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Adjudicating Areas of Effect When the characters are fighting a large number of monsters, it’s not always practical to use miniatures on a battle grid or some other visual aid. So how do you
the area, then read down until you find its size. Then check the rightmost column to see about how many creatures are caught in the area. If you imagine that the targets are spread out, decrease the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual
shape their makers imagine. No matter their design or the rock from which they’re crafted, these golems are strengthened by the magic that animates them, allowing them to follow their creators’ orders
battle with the type of monster that slew the hero it resembles.
Exercise discernment when deciding the golem’s appearance, as your creation is likely to long outlive its model.
—Manual of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Seeds of Fear Aside from supernatural sources of dread and monsters who strike terror in their victims, fear is subjective and often quite personal. A battle-hardened warrior and a reclusive scholar
, they shouldn’t be able to do so again until they finish a long rest. For example, imagine that a character has the Seed of Fear “I hate being stuck in tight spaces” and must squeeze through a narrow
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
, arrows appear out of nowhere to stick out of the ground between the feet of the people they’re talking to. Roll that next check to negotiate with advantage! Battle Master As a battle master involved
, providing a boon to your franchise’s standing in the community. Any franchise could do worse than having you as its public face — especially when your sense of quiet resolve is needed to quietly resolve some unexpected business disaster.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Cause of Death 1 Unknown 2 Murdered 3 Killed in battle 4 Accident related to class or occupation 5 Accident unrelated to class or occupation 6–7 Natural causes, such as disease or old age 8 Apparent
suicide 9 Torn apart by an animal or a natural disaster 10 Consumed by a monster 11 Executed for a crime or tortured to death 12 Bizarre event, such as being hit by a meteorite, struck down by an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
. Empyreans don’t age but can be slain. Because few empyreans can imagine their own demise, they fight fearlessly when drawn into battle, refusing to believe that the end is upon them even when
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
The Forgotten Realms Just like a fantasy novel or movie, an adventure is set in a larger world. In fact, the world can be anything that the DM and players can imagine. It could be a swords-and
-sorcery setting at the dawn of civilization, where barbarians battle evil sorcerers, or a post-apocalyptic fantasy where elves and dwarves wield magic amid the wreckage of a technological civilization. Most
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Mogis turned a herd of cattle into catoblepases). The gods can assume any form they choose. They most commonly appear as humanoids—the form in which the people of Theros most easily imagine them—but
into a physical form that doesn’t fill the sky (perhaps something similar to an empyrean or the tarrasque), which could enable adventurers to battle the god, especially if they have access to a divine
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything
possessions in a disaster, and you had to rebuild your life. 5 You were imprisoned for a crime you didn’t commit and spent 1d6 years at hard labor, in jail, or shackled to an oar in a slave galley. 6
d12 War Outcome 1 You were knocked out and left for dead. You woke up hours later with no recollection of the battle. 2–3 You were badly injured in the fight, and you still bear the awful scars of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
meant to rule. (Evil) 5 Nature. The natural world is more important than all the constructs of civilization. (Neutral) 6 Glory. I must earn glory in battle, for myself and my clan. (Any) d6 Bond 1
down on the evildoers who destroyed my homeland. 4 I am the last of my tribe, and it is up to me to ensure their names enter legend. 5 I suffer awful visions of a coming disaster and will do anything
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Miniatures Often, players can rely on your descriptions to imagine where their characters are in relation to their surroundings and their enemies. Certain combat encounters, however, can benefit from
having visual aids or physical props, the most common of which are miniatures and a battle grid. Miniatures are typically used in conjunction with model terrain, modular dungeon tiles, or maps drawn
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Goal 1 Locate a dungeon or other site of interest (roll on the Dungeon Goals table to find out why). 2 Assess the scope of a natural or unnatural disaster. 3 Escort an NPC to a destination. 4 Arrive at
of strange occurrences in a haunted house or other location. 11 Interfere with the operation of a business. 12 Rescue a character, monster, or object from a natural or unnatural disaster. 2. Identify
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
touchstones to past events. The characters might learn that a ruin they’re exploring was destroyed in a catastrophic battle or natural disaster.
Historical Records. Written historical details might
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
gamble with the utmost skill and daring. Yet she is thought to watch over all who take risks to better their fortunes. The battle cry of the followers of Tymora is “Fortune favors the bold.” Someone
the Dawn Cataclysm, there was but one goddess of luck, Tyche. Ever flirting with fortune and disaster, Lady Luck bestowed and withdrew her favor at a whim. When her current paramour, Lathander, started
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
or phrases, tics and habitual gestures, vices and pet peeves, and whatever else you can imagine. Each background presented in this chapter includes suggested characteristics that you can use to spark
Entreri’s bond is a strange, almost paradoxical relationship with Drizzt Do’Urden, his equal in swordplay and grim determination. In his first battle with Drizzt, Artemis recognized something of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
laugh or feel emotionally engaged and to incorporate those things into your roleplaying. Being the NPC Imagine how a character or monster you bring to life would react to the adventurers. Consider what it
effect, be ready to shout out a battle cry or speak in a conspiratorial whisper. Also, characters and monsters with distinctive voices are memorable. If you’re not a natural mimic or actor, borrowing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
proclaimed that githyanki who proved themselves skilled in battle would ascend to an even greater paradise. A long lifetime of service would earn any githyanki a journey to the boundless delights of her
innermost court — the wondrous realm that Gith discovered in her journeys, and where she awaits those who have proven themselves worthy. Imagine you lack any concept of family. You’re constantly told that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Belial, but his contingency plans rescue him from possible disaster. Other devils might gain a brief advantage over the two lords because of their infighting, but whenever any true threat to their rule
Forms Phlegethos is the center of the Nine Hells’ judicial system, which is overseen by Belial. Any disputes regarding contracts, accusations of cowardice in battle or dereliction of duty, and other