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Returning 35 results for 'player tactics'.
Strahd von Zarovich
Legacy
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monsters
Curse of Strahd
card reading in chapter 1, unless he has been forced into his tomb in the catacombs of Castle Ravenloft.
Strahd's Tactics
Because the entire adventure revolves around Strahd, you must play him
intelligently and do everything you can to make him a terrifying and cunning adversary for the player characters.
When you run an encounter with Strahd, keep the following facts in mind:
Strahd
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
2 damage, compared to the average of 5 it deals with a longsword), but the face-biting is much more shocking to the victim and onlookers. Monsters become more fearsome if they use tactics like
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Intro to Stormwreck Isle
want to do, help the player use that spell or ability. Otherwise, ask the player to make a ability check that's appropriate to their character's tactics, such as a Strength (Athletics) check for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
horror to haunt your characters’ dreams: Monstrous Origins. Monsters in Ravenloft can be every bit as unique as player characters. Notorious Monsters. A monster is more frightening when its reputation
precedes it. Describing Monsters. Give yourself permission to dwell on a monster’s description. Monstrous Tactics. Monsters that fight dirty—or in a particularly fearsome way—have more impact
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide
the Battlerager might be part of a gnomish attempt at inventing a new sort of armor, an effort that yielded a dangerous but effective fighting style. It’s up to the player whether the barbarian’s rage
stems from a set of tactics developed for use with the gnome-created spiked armor or from sheer frustration at having to turn to the mad tinker gnomes for help.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
Reinforcements Adventurers can use hit-and-run tactics to weaken Grudd Haug’s defenses. Depending on how much time passes between the adventurers’ forays, the hill giant den might gain reinforcements
commoners) in tow. If Guh commands the reinforcements to stay, they take up defensive positions in and around the stockyard after confining their prisoners in area 13. Otherwise, they leave by the route they came after 20 minutes or so. Map 5.1: Grudd Haug View Player Version
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Flee, Mortals! Rule Primer
lots of damage. They might not be the most disciplined warriors, but they make up for it with sheer toughness and aggression. Companion Companion creatures are meant to accompany player characters on
Minions are weak creatures who find strength in numbers. For more information, see the “Minions” section. Retainer Retainers are sapient beings meant to accompany player characters on adventures. For
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
Quirks Whether due to some flaw in their creation or simple ignorance of how other creatures operate, warforged often acquire an odd personality trait or two. A warforged player can choose to roll or
try to apply wartime tactics and discipline to every situation.
6 You don’t know how to filter your feelings and are prone to dramatic emotional outbursts.
7 You don’t understand clothing
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
’ tactics and stat blocks. Note any special rules that apply to the setting of the encounter. For social interaction encounters, make notes about the nonplayer characters (NPCs) in the encounter—their
personalities, goals, and tactics. For exploration encounters, record any clues or other information the characters should learn, and review any special rules that might come into play in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
’ tactics and stat blocks. Note any special rules that apply to the setting of the encounter. For social interaction encounters, make notes about the nonplayer characters (NPCs) in the encounter—their
personalities, goals, and tactics. For exploration encounters, record any clues or other information the characters should learn, and review any special rules that might come into play in the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
Character Alignment Some common misconceptions about alignment can cause conflicts between players and DMs. The following sections can help you navigate how player characters interact with alignment
can share common goals, though they’ll likely use different tactics to pursue those goals. Imagine two characters—one Lawful Good, the other Lawful Evil—who are both dedicated to stopping monsters
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
, or they can use some other method of conveyance — it’s up to them. Storm giants aren’t stealthy and would prefer to stage a direct assault on Iymrith’s lair, but they will adjust their tactics based
among the players in your group. If your group includes more than four players, not every player will receive a storm giant NPC to play, and that’s okay. Accompanying the giants’ stat blocks are
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
a guarantee that it comes into play only when a player is faced directly by failure. Such an assurance makes risky tactics less daunting. A Reward for Victory. Some DMs prefer to play an impartial
inspiration. Roleplaying. Using inspiration to reward roleplaying is a good place to start for most groups. Reward a player with inspiration when that player causes his or her character to do something that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
might defeat that villain. Something for All Player Types As outlined in the book’s introduction, players come to the gaming table with different expectations. An adventure needs to account for the
doesn’t have to appeal to every abstract player type — only to the players sitting down at your own table. If you don’t have any players who like fighting above all else, then don’t feel you have to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
(s) player characters occupy, summarizing results from the other zones based on how you’d like the narrative to work. This method increases speed of play and lowers complexity. You can concentrate
repeat this pattern several times, perhaps breaching a spot here or there before the defenders push them back. Then they start trying different tactics. Smoke Screen Late in the day, the orcs start a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath
The Attack
Map 4: Backlot in Town View Player Version
When the characters are packing up to take the supplies back to Leilon at the end of their visit, the spies from both the Cult of Talos
tactics, and the drama. A battle involving three different sides at the same time can provide all of those highlights writ large. Running such a combat, however, takes care and practice.
With a three
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
the player characters. Here are some ways to keep the party feeling like heroes, even when the cast of characters grows. Sometimes our paths cross with others’ in the most fortuitous ways, bringing us
. These tactics keep the spotlight on the characters, with the ally providing valuable support. Limit an Ally’s Presence In larger parties, adding an ally can slow down combat. Consider having the ally
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
weakness as an opening to gain an advantage. If bullying and intimidation don’t work, the goblins use more underhanded and passive-aggressive tactics. If they think that they are at a disadvantage or
, Yarb-Gnock fights only in self-defense, counting on the characters to deal with any goblins that get in the way. Map 2.9: karkolohk View Player Version
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Pack Tactics, Sunlight Sensitivity; Small size; darkvision 60 ft.; speaks Common and Draconic Kuo-toa None Amphibious, Otherworldly Perception, Slippery, Sunlight Sensitivity; speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft
can build the NPC as you would a player character, as discussed in the Player’s Handbook. If you decide to build an NPC the same way you build a player character, you can skip choosing a background and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
following techniques to make combat feel more menacing: Feature monsters that are immune to tactics characters often use but that are vulnerable to other strategies the characters could employ. Have foes
chapter 1 during play. If there’s an opportunity for a character to gain one of these options, ask that character’s player if they’d be comfortable with such an adjustment before imposing it. If the player
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss
The Day’s Catch When the adventurers come within an hour’s travel of Sloobludop, they encounter a party of eight kuo-toa led by a kuo-toa monitor. The fish-folk immediately attack, but their tactics
. As with many of the strange beliefs of the kuo-toa, this one might only need time to become a reality.
Map 3.1: Sloobludop View Player Version
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
marching order, and read the following text to that character’s player: You feel a gentle tap on your shoulder but see nothing behind you. If the character who is touched by Ezmerelda reacts in an
. The vampire prefers to attack a surprised character, choosing the one closest to him. Otherwise, see appendix D for the vampire’s tactics. Swarms of Bats You hear a peal of thunder, followed by the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
he has been forced into his tomb in the catacombs of Castle Ravenloft. Strahd’s Tactics Because the entire adventure revolves around Strahd, you must play him intelligently and do everything you can to
make him a terrifying and cunning adversary for the player characters. When you run an encounter with Strahd, keep the following facts in mind: Strahd attacks at the most advantageous moment and from
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
there’s a slim chance that one or more characters might die. Deadly. A deadly encounter could be lethal for one or more player characters. Survival often requires good tactics and quick thinking, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
a first encounter with the adventurers in order to come back and plague them again. What follows are some tactics to make sure that even the most resourceful characters can’t dispose of your villain
slaughter innocent captives the moment they draw their swords. Returning from Death. Of course, death is not a final fate for player characters, and it doesn’t need to be for villains either. After the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
to see. The walls and entryways are all 10 feet high, allowing duergar that have grown to Large size to move around easily. Map 1.6: duergar outpost View Player Version The following locations are
radius. They can’t be blinded, charmed, frightened, or paralyzed. They have an Intelligence of 2 (–4), a Wisdom of 6 (–2), and a Charisma of 1 (–5). They lose the Pack Tactics trait and all languages they
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
hundred chanting, swaying, convulsing zealots can add a large dose of eerie atmosphere to the characters’ investigations. Map 8.3: Temple of Tharizdun View Player Version T1. Milden Span A tangled wall of
through the floor of the tunnel or the floor of the temple to climb up and fight in those areas. They can use both tactics, splitting the party so as to turn the encounter into simultaneous battles in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
extensive use of the dungeon before departing. Map 2.2 shows the layout of the dungeons beneath the manor.
Map 2.2 Tresendar Manor Dungeons View Player Version General Features Except where otherwise
bring any light into the room. If the shadows attack, they surprise any character who does not notice their approach with a successful DC 14 Wisdom (Perception) check. Tactics. The shadows remember being
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
Mr. Dory’s Warehouse Map 8.2: Mr. Dory’s Warehouse View Player Version Map 8.2 depicts the warehouse where Mr. Dory’s business takes place and the bizarre location where he resides. When the
, lawless place he has managed to turn his new talents to his advantage. Dory’s Tactics. Any intrusion into this area draws an immediate attack from Mr. Dory (see appendix C), who has likely been
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2
invade the troglodytes’ domain.
Map 2.3: The Glitterhame View Player Version The following locations are identified on map 2.3. VISION IN THE GLITTERHAME
Range of vision is important in the
southeast cave. Unless they are alerted to the characters’ presence, they are concentrating on devouring what’s left of a small deer. Tactics. If the characters attack the troglodytes in the northwest or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
. Ability Scores and Modifiers Monsters, like player characters, have the six ability scores. A monster can’t have a score lower than 1 or higher than 30 in any ability. A monster’s score in any
AC and effective attack bonus by 4 (assuming the monster hides every round). Otherworldly Perception Kuo-toa — Pack Tactics Kobold Increase the monster’s effective attack bonus by 1. Parry Hobgoblin
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
House of Cards Locations The following locations are keyed to map 18.1. Mike Schley Map 18.1: The House of CardsView Player Version 1: Entrance Every surface of this irregularly shaped room is made
characters and fight to the death. They use hit-and-run tactics to launch attacks, ducking behind and hiding within illusory columns when possible to create the impression that they vanish. Secret
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a2
View Player Version The following locations are identified on map 2.5. FAST-FLOWING WATER
The underground river that cuts through this level of the dungeon presents a serious hazard. Those who fall
they prohibit entry into area 39. If the characters don’t negotiate, or if talks go badly, combat ensues. Tactics. If combat occurs, the duerger guards first attack with their javelins. They use their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
Talhundereth Locations The following locations are keyed to map 6.3. Mike Schley Map 6.3: Talhundereth View Player Version T1: Temple Entrance The wide cavern ends at an enormous stone double door
fight intruders. One is a helmed horror; the other two are animated armors. When a character spends more than a few moments in this room, the helmed horror utters, “squad tactics routine” in Dwarvish
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Legends of Greyhawk: Secrets of the Free City
success, Geld provides the map at no cost. Francesca Baerald Geld’s Map View Player Version 2: Onella’s Palms Clue: Broken Fish, Temple of Pholtus A small, humble shop, barely more than a stall
. She has always aimed high and works hard to get what she wants, but she is no stranger to underhanded tactics to seal the deal.
What They Want. She wants to be successful and provide a good life for