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Magic Items
The Book of Many Things
This bow has multiple strings and resembles a lyre or small harp. By strumming the strings while setting an arrow to the bow, you imbue the arrow with magic.
You can play one of the following
melodies when you use the bow to make a ranged weapon attack. You must choose to do so before you make the attack roll, and you can play only one melody per attack.
Melody of Precision. If you’re
Monsters
The Book of Many Things
inhabitants of the world.
Living portents seek out beings who will play a part in the prophecies they serve, and as the living portents search, they relate fragments of the prophecies to those they
’ will. These living portents are Aberrations instead of Celestials and are typically chaotic evil. They replace any radiant damage in their stat block with necrotic or psychic damage (DM&rsquo
Monsters
Spelljammer: Adventures in Space
Evasion. When the chwinga is subjected to an effect that allows it to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, it instead takes no damage if it succeeds on the saving throw, and only
attract a chwinga to a particular creature vary. A chwinga might like the way a certain creature walks or the way it combs its hair, or be smitten by its ability to play music or to eat copious amounts of food.
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
antagonist for tier 2 play (levels 5 to 10), the enchanting infiltrator is a Fey that beguiles and misdirects.The Rogue’s Lair
This villain resides in a place of power and safety, whether that
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The scion has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Siege Monster. The scion deals double damage to objects and
1 mile of the scion. The words are indistinct, but a creature with an Intelligence score of 5 or higher interprets them as instructions for a prank they can play on others.
If the scion dies, these
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
spaces at least 1 inch wide without squeezing.A challenge for tier 3 play (levels 11 to 16), the otherworldly corrupter is a horrific Aberration that infects or impersonates a host.The Rogue’s
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
weather, detect thoughts, ice storm
Legendary Resistance (2/Day in This Form). If Auril fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws
incapable of showing mercy or compassion. Play her as a supremely cold and unfeeling entity.
Have Auril speak only when necessary. The less she talks, the less risk you have of unintentionally
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Unusual Nature. Auril doesn’t require air, food, drink, or
time). Thus, she has no reason to capitulate to mortals’ demands. As the embodiment of winter’s cruelty, she is incapable of showing mercy or compassion. Play her as a supremely cold and
Monsters
Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
Resistance (5/Day). If the cradle fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. The cradle has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
Siege
. Whispers can be heard on the wind within 1 mile of the scion. The words are indistinct, but a creature with an Intelligence score of 5 or higher interprets them as instructions for a prank they can play on
Monsters
Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
.
Legendary Resistance (2/Day in This Form). If Auril fails a saving throw, she can choose to succeed instead.
Magic Resistance. Auril has advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical
her to explode and die. A mephit that dies in this way does not use its Death Burst. Instead, each creature within 10 feet of the exploding mephit must succeed on a DC 21 Dexterity saving throw, taking
Monsters
Curse of Strahd
, except the damage he takes from sunlight.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Strahd fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.
Misty Escape. When Strahd drops to 0 hit points outside his
coffin, he transforms into a cloud of mist (as in the Shapechanger trait) instead of falling unconscious, provided that he isn’t in running water or sunlight. If he can’t transform, he is
Tabaxi
Legacy
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
not intrinsically interesting. In the tabaxi’s eyes, gathering wealth is like packing rations for a long trip. It’s important to survive in the world, but not worth fussing over.
Instead
learning their way in the world. They travel in small, colorful wagons, moving from settlement to settlement. When they arrive, they set up a small stage in a public square where they sing, play
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
almost all the nobility of Baldur’s Gate. As a result, for those who wish to play patriars, the Patriar feature below replaces the Position and Privilege feature of the noble background. Those who
knighthood is among the lowest noble titles in most societies, but it can be a path to higher status. If you wish to be a knight, choose the Retainers feature (see the sidebar) instead of the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
. Instead, Halaster agreed to let Netherskull remain the undisputed lord of this level on the condition that it permit Halaster to tinker with and maintain the level’s traps, as well as add a magical, mean
-spirited announcer that taunts visitors as they blunder from one room to another (see “Halaster’s Play-by-Play”).
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Guildmasters' Guide to Ravnica
questionnaire, “What’s Important to Me?”, in this chapter. Let its questions and your choice of answers direct you to a guild that appeals to you or that sounds like a fun character to play. Read the guild
favorite guild, create a character from that guild. To reflect your character’s membership in a guild, you can choose the background included in the guild’s description instead of a background from the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Infernal Machine Rebuild
to play one against the other. They might distrust both agents and ally with neither, instead undertaking the adventure on their own to capture the missing components and prevent them falling into the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
grant interviews. Kavil has instead filled one journal after another with his own narrative concoctions and self-pitying asides. The biography is a mostly fictionalized, somewhat sensationalized version
property. 30b. Play-by-Play Generator This dusty room has a 10-foot-high ceiling. A 3-foot cube composed of equal parts adamantine and flesh sits atop a 3-foot-tall hexagonal plinth of carved stone
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
Running the Adventure Tyranny of Dragons is a big, sprawling adventure that covers many levels of play and a huge swath of the Forgotten Realms. This book outlines the overall structure of the
stage directions that must be followed. Tyranny of Dragons does not hold your hand and guide you step-by-step from the story’s beginning to its inevitable conclusion. Instead, it presents people
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
Running the Adventure Tyranny of Dragons covers many levels of play and a huge swath of the Forgotten Realms. This book outlines the overall structure of the adventure and presents many chapters and
followed. Tyranny of Dragons does not hold your hand and guide you step-by-step from the story’s beginning to its inevitable conclusion. Instead, it presents people, creatures, locations, and situations
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
Running the Adventure Tyranny of Dragons is a big, sprawling adventure that covers many levels of play and a huge swath of the Forgotten Realms. This book outlines the overall structure of the
stage directions that must be followed. Tyranny of Dragons does not hold your hand and guide you step-by-step from the story’s beginning to its inevitable conclusion. Instead, it presents people
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
stronghold and provides guidance on how to play out those events. If you and the group want to move on to other challenges instead, a full-scale assault on the fortress takes place about fourteen days after
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Talent. If you’re not going to play a magic-using class, consider creating a high elf or a human with the Magic Initiate feat. Whether you favor damage-dealing cantrips or more utilitarian ones, every
. Don’t settle for common clothes and a squalid meal when you could wear glamerweave (see chapter 5) and drink the finest wine. If you’re a fighter, focus on finesse instead of crude strength. And never miss an opportunity for a clever quip.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
their lives, humiliate their rivals, and figure out what to wear to the Crystalfall dance. You can play up the humor in this scenario, but it can be just as dark as Callestan if you choose. A Morgrave
campaign isn’t driven by material wealth. Even when you go on expeditions, the University will lay claim to most of the treasures you find. Instead, the rewards of Morgrave adventures are measured in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
otherwise impregnable. There is no keyhole on the inside of the doors. Instead, each door has an adamantine wheel in the middle of it that must be turned counterclockwise to slide back the bolts. This wheel
the level’s play-by-play announcer (see “Halaster’s Play-by-Play”), it becomes increasingly excited as the battle with the death tyrant unfolds. If they defeat Netherskull, the announcer screams, “How
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
small, colorful wagons, moving from settlement to settlement. When they arrive, they set up a small stage in a public square where they sing, play instruments, tell stories, and offer exotic goods in
bargain instead of pursuing more dangerous methods of sating their curiosity. However, they aren’t above a little discreet theft to get their claws on a particularly interesting item when an owner
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
gloss over a rules issue in play, make a note of it and return to the issue later. Some players like to use the rules to argue against your decisions. While such players can be helpful when you’re stuck
or make a rules mistake that’s easily corrected, players who argue the rules too often can disrupt the flow of the game. If a player wants to pause play to find a specific rule or reference, you can
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
going to play a magical class, consider being a high elf or a variant human with the Magic Initiate feat. Whether you learn offensive cantrips and fight as a wandslinger or pick up a few practical tools
you could wear fine glamerweave and drink the best wine. If you’re a fighter, focus on finesse and Dexterity instead of crude strength. And never miss an opportunity for a clever quip.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
Starting at Higher Levels Although the adventure assumes that the characters begin at 1st level, you can start them off at 5th level or 9th level instead. Starting at 5th Level Characters of 5th
characters toward Omu as quickly as possible. Once they arrive, run the adventure as you normally would. Characters at this level will still be challenged by chapters 3 and 4, particularly if you play
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Laboratory of Kwalish
must first be formally drawn so that its primary effect can play out. Additionally (and especially if the characters don’t choose to take Mary as a hireling), the deck of several things might not be in
her possession. Instead, characters can find the cards scattered in various locations throughout the adventure, allowing them to be collected, then used.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
players to keep playing instead of letting one player stop the game. Character Knowledge Encourage players to play their characters within the limits of what the characters know and understand. It can be
prefer to let the DM make a call and continue playing. If you gloss over a rules issue in play, make a note of it and return to the issue later. Some players like to use the rules to argue against
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
to reach the orc, you say, “It’s too far away to move up and still attack. What would you like to do instead?” The player takes the information and comes up with a different plan. To referee the rules
to find the proper reference. The Player’s Handbook contains the main rules you need to play the game. Part 3 of these rules offers a wealth of information to help you adjudicate the rules in a wide
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
Monster Manual, they use traps, ambushes, terrain, allied monsters, and any other advantage they can squeeze out of their environment. Essentially, the only way kobolds can win is not to play fair
like goblins, which tend to squabble among themselves and cooperate only when threatened by a strong leader. Kobolds avoid combat on a large scale, instead sticking to hit-and-run raids using smaller
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants
use with characters in the third tier of play (levels 11–16). If you’re creating giant-themed encounters for lower-level characters, you might use more dangerous creatures in the background to
one-sided battle. Instead, the characters could witness the giants in an altercation from a distance, foreshadowing a conflict that will threaten all the smaller folk in the region. Or you could decide
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
the following variants. Choose whichever one best suits your campaign. Ability Check Proficiency With this variant rule, characters don’t have skill proficiencies. Instead, each character has
Charisma Warlock Intelligence or Charisma Wizard Intelligence or Wisdom The Expertise feature works differently than normal under this rule. At 1st level, instead of choosing two skill proficiencies, a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
Chapter 1: Fool Harry Conway Welcome to The Book of Many Things, whose twenty-two chapters give you character options, magic items, spells, monsters, ready-to-play adventures, DM advice, and setting
to your campaign, shaping it to fit your needs and the tastes of your players. You can stack the deck with low-level effects that prompt roleplaying instead of mechanical changes or create a deck that