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Returning 35 results for 'player tactics'.
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->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->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->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->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->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->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->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->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
’ 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->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->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->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->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->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)
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->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->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->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->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->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->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->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->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->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->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