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Returning 35 results for 'rules backgrounds 5e'.
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Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Unearthed Arcana
document presents rules on character creation, including options for Races, Backgrounds, and Feats. You will also find a glossary of new or revised meanings for game terms.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
that class and race define. This section expounds on the details that distinguish characters from one another, including the basics of name and physical description, the rules of backgrounds and languages, and the finer points of personality and alignment.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
their own in time. In any case, the inquisitive agency functions as a patron to the adventuring party, becoming a source of both missions and rewards. You can use the group patron rules in Eberron
: Rising from the Last War or Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything to give characters the benefits of this patronage. The Inquisitive background in chapter 2 is a good option for characters in this campaign, along with backgrounds from the Player’s Handbook such as Charlatan, Criminal, Guard, and Wayfarer.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
— Wizard Soldier While your players follow the steps of character creation as outlined in the Basic Rules, pay attention to the choices they make. The backgrounds they choose define who their
in the group, encourage them to choose different classes so that the party has a range of abilities. It’s less important that the party include multiple races or backgrounds, as sometimes it’s fun to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
house or an organization, like the Twelve, that unites them in a mutual purpose, use the group patron rules in Eberron: Rising from the Last War to provide benefits from their shared mission. The House
Agent and various house heir backgrounds in chapter 2 suit characters in this campaign, giving them benefits and capabilities related to their house affiliation. Certain other backgrounds can reflect
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
that class and race define. This chapter expounds on the details that distinguish characters from one another, including the basics of name and physical description, the rules of backgrounds and languages, and the finer points of personality and alignment.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
, this chapter provides advice on topics that can surface as you prepare or run a D&D game session, as well as rules for adventure elements ranging from chases and doors to traps. It also includes guidance on creating new backgrounds, creatures, magic items, and spells to amuse your players.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lorwyn: First Light
Lorwyn-Shadowmoor Origins MATT STEWART A Lorwyn boggart plays near an eclipsed realm This chapter provides rules for backgrounds and species of player characters from the realm of Lorwyn-Shadowmoor
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
Dragonmarked Houses Eberron: Rising from the Last War contains basic information about the dragonmarked houses, and chapter 2 of this book includes character backgrounds representing heirs of these
houses, using the renown rules from “Dragonmarked House Renown” earlier in this chapter. LEROY STEINMANN Agents of (Left to Right) House Deneith, House Ghallanda, House Lyrandar, Agents of (Left to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
the game. It includes information on the various races, classes, backgrounds, equipment, and other customization options that you can choose from. Many of the rules in part 1 rely on material in parts
Using This Book The Player’s Handbook is divided into three parts. Part 1 (chapters 1–6) is about creating a character, providing the rules and guidance you need to make the character you’ll play in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
-loving peoples of Krynn and an age of oppression. This chapter presents player-facing details of peoples and groups in Krynn, as well as character options supplementing the rules in the Player’s
known for bravery and curiosity. Organizations. Discover two of Krynn’s most influential groups, the honorable Knights of Solamnia and the mystical Mages of High Sorcery. Backgrounds. Learn how war shapes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Enforcement. The city watch must obey the rules to bring criminals to justice. When the rules need to be bent or broken, they turn to you for help. 5 Uncover Secrets. You put your inquisitive skills to use
inquiring into others’ mysterious backgrounds. 6 Private Security. You provide services for a specific organization. Perhaps you travel on airships to provide security or work in a casino to catch cheaters.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
includes information on the various races, classes, backgrounds, equipment, and other customization options that you can choose from. Many of the rules in part 1 rely on material in parts 2 and 3
Using These Rules The D&D Basic Rules document has four main parts.
Part 1 is about creating a character, providing the rules and guidance you need to make the character you’ll play in the game. It
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
, and they gain other benefits from having a group patron. (If you use the group patron rules in Eberron: Rising from the Last War or Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, you can use the benefits listed here
described in chapter 2 is a good option for characters in this campaign, alongside Player’s Handbook backgrounds such as Guide, Sage, and Scribe.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Astral Adventurer’s Guide
void that surrounds each of the worlds of the Material Plane: Chapter 1 contains new material for players, including two backgrounds and six race options. Chapter 2 gives players and DMs rules for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
guidelines for using miniatures, a system for handling chase scenes, and rules for madness. If you like to create your own stuff, such as new monsters, races, and character backgrounds, chapter 9 shows you
Part 3: Master of Rules Dungeons & Dragons isn’t a head-to-head competition, but it needs someone who is impartial yet involved in the game to guarantee that everyone at the table plays by the rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
, and discuss house rules, with the goal of ensuring the game is a fun experience for everyone involved. The “Ensuring Fun for All” section in chapter 1 covers some of the most important groundwork you
choose different classes so that the adventuring party has a range of abilities. It’s less important that the party include multiple backgrounds or species; sometimes it’s fun to play an all-Dwarf party or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
introduced here, outlining their backgrounds, plots, and fundamental ties, followed by details on allies and villains relevant to both adventures. Regardless of which adventure you’re running, this
between Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter. Adventure Supplements. You can play this adventure with just the Dungeons & Dragons basic rules and the Tyranny of Dragons appendix online, which contains all the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
, drawing on player character rules from the Player’s Handbook and other D&D books. This chapter adds to that wealth of options with the material in the following sections: “Race Option” presents the
owlin, a character race option perfect for playing an owl-like student. “Choosing a College” gives advice on building a character for adventuring in Strixhaven. “Strixhaven Backgrounds” presents a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
introduced here, outlining their backgrounds, plots, and fundamental ties, followed by details on allies and villains relevant to both adventures. Regardless of which adventure you’re running, this
between Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter. Adventure Supplements. You can play this adventure with just the Dungeons & Dragons basic rules and the Tyranny of Dragons appendix online, which contains all the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
introduced here, outlining their backgrounds, plots, and fundamental ties, followed by details on allies and villains relevant to both adventures. Regardless of which adventure you’re running, this
between Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter. Adventure Supplements. You can play this adventure with just the Dungeons & Dragons basic rules and the Tyranny of Dragons appendix online, which contains all the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
student character. It introduces the owlin race and five backgrounds—one for each college—as well as a collection of feats, spells, and magic items. Chapters 3–6 provide a campaign meant to advance
students and begin chapter 6 at the start of their fourth year of studies (at around 8th level). Chapter 3 includes an overview of the adventures and the overall campaign arc as well as special rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Robert E. Howard and Fritz Leiber? Your choice can have a impact on the flavor of your campaign.
Heroic Fantasy Heroic fantasy is the baseline assumed by the D&D rules. The Player’s Handbook describes
from ordinary backgrounds, but something impels them into an adventuring life. The adventurers are the “heroes” of the campaign, but they might not be truly heroic, instead pursuing this life for
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Radiant Citadel
in crisis. Strict rules of engagement prevent them from impacting local conditions or taking sides in a conflict; their mandate allows them only to extract those in danger and defend themselves if
outlander backgrounds. Arayat Arayat (neutral, human assassin) was born to a family of Dayawlongon freedom fighters who had no more wars to fight. Peace did not bring them prosperity, and the family’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
the factions described below, provided the character meets the faction’s prerequisites. If you’re using the optional renown rules described in chapter 1 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide, allow a player
other backgrounds will have opportunities to join a faction later in the adventure. Any such character must meet a faction’s prerequisites to be eligible to join it, and the character’s starting renown
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
in crisis. Strict rules of engagement prevent them from impacting local conditions or taking sides in a conflict; their mandate allows them only to extract those in danger and defend themselves if
outlander backgrounds. Arayat Arayat (neutral, human assassin) was born to a family of Dayawlongon freedom fighters who had no more wars to fight. Peace did not bring them prosperity, and the family’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Misplaced Monsters: Volume One
Children’s© Autism Center, supporting their mission to care for children and young adults of all backgrounds, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. By purchasing this product and supporting Extra Life
creations in our games.
If you’re unfamiliar with the monster stat block format, read the introduction of the Monster Manual before proceeding further. It explains stat block terminology and gives rules for various monster traits—information that isn’t repeated here.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
lineages and backgrounds that provide ominous pasts for any character as well as Dark Gifts and subclasses to shape their fates. Chapter 2 explores how Dungeon Masters can create their own new
on the characters and adventures found in these haunted lands. Chapter 4 offers tools for Dungeon Masters running frightening adventures, from rules for creating curses and running out-of-body
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Character Traits As the players choose backgrounds for their characters, they can use the following tables to help determine their characters’ personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. Players
idea, I get wildly excited about it until I come up with another, better idea. 7 I live by my own set of weird and wonderful rules. 8 I can’t bring myself to trust most adults. Ideals d8 Ideal 1
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
. Backgrounds and Species from Older Books
Backgrounds in older D&D books don’t include ability score adjustments. If you’re using a background from an older book, adjust your ability scores by
and Modifiers Score Modifier 3 −4 4–5 −3 6–7 −2 8–9 −1 10–11 +0 12–13 +1 14–15 +2 16–17 +3 18–19 +4 20 +5 Describe Appearance and Personality Ability scores are an essential part of the rules, but
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
, while others prefer to increase a low score. Backgrounds and Species from Older Books
Backgrounds in older D&D books don’t include ability score adjustments. If you’re using a background from an older
are an essential part of the rules, but they can be more than that. Once you’ve assigned your ability scores, give some thought to what those scores might say about your character’s appearance and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
Phenax’s Champions Alignment: Usually chaotic, often neutral Suggested Classes: Bard, cleric, monk, rogue, warlock Suggested Cleric Domains: Trickery Suggested Backgrounds: Charlatan, criminal
he hadn’t.
Devotion to Phenax Following Phenax means devoting yourself to a life of trickery and guile. To a champion of Phenax, a life without risk is no life at all. Some rules are meant to be
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh
inhabitants, the nearby coasts, and what dangers threaten the region. A variety of new backgrounds also help make new characters part of the Saltmarsh community, giving them personal stakes in the
-bound adventures. New rules for various ships, how to crew and captain them, and how to pit them against each other provide adventurers with new modes of exploration. Beyond this, details on a variety
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
supernatural means, it realizes that its spirit is trapped within the Mists, likely forever. Using the rules for “Fear and Stress” from chapter 4, the creature gains a new Seed of Fear. If a being with a soul
might create ties with long-dead individuals using the Dark Gifts and backgrounds presented in chapter 1. But overall, spiritual stagnation in the Land of the Mists is meant to provide the opportunity
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
. It also guides you through creating characters destined to be legends and adventures born of this mythic setting. Chapter 1 covers the heroes of Theros: the races, class options, and backgrounds
, a squabbling pantheon of arrogant and powerful beings who view mortals as pawns in their strategic games. It also provides rules and guidelines for characters who serve as champions of the gods






