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Returning 35 results for 'rules says'.
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Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
Does all magical Darkness block Darkvision? Magical Darkness blocks Darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of Darkness says it does. For example, the Darkness spell specifies
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything
Ten Rules to Remember 1. The DM Adjudicates the Rules The rules of D&D cover many of the twists and turns that come up in play, but the possibilities are so vast that the rules can’t cover
everything. When you encounter something that the rules don’t cover or if you’re unsure how to interpret a rule, the DM decides how to proceed, aiming for a course that brings the most enjoyment to your whole
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Condition A condition is a temporary game state. The definition of a condition says how it affects its recipient, and various rules define how to end a condition. This glossary defines these
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
The Frightened condition says “while the source of its fear is within line of sight.” Does that mean you have Disadvantage on attack rolls and ability checks even if the source is imperceptible but
you have a clear line to its space? No. If you can’t see something, it’s not within your line of sight. Speaking of “line of sight,” the game uses the English meaning of the term, which has no special meaning in the rules.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Condition A condition is a temporary game state. The definition of a condition says how it affects its recipient, and various rules define how to end a condition. This glossary defines these
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Grapple Rules for Monsters Many monsters have special attacks that allow them to quickly grapple prey. When a monster hits with such an attack, it doesn't need to make an additional ability check to
determine whether the grapple succeeds, unless the attack says otherwise. A creature grappled by the monster can use its action to try to escape. To do so, it must succeed on a Strength (Athletics) or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
perspectives. RAW. “Rules as written”—that’s what RAW stands for. When I dwell on the RAW interpretation of a rule, I’m studying what the text says in context, without regard to the designers’ intent. The
The Role of Rules Why even have a column like Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos
parchment materializes in front of the characters. It presents a list of clues. “The rules are simple,” the voice says. “Each clue on this list will lead you to a different location in the Biblioplex
Oracles. “Brilliant scholars,” says a rich, soothing voice radiating from the hall’s central snarl of glowing energy. “Your attention, please.
“As you are now Strixhaven University students, this
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Halaster’s magic gates and functions similarly (see “Gates”). Its rules are as follows: If a creature stands atop the dais and says something flattering about Halaster, the mirror vanishes, revealing
the 60-foot shaft in area 22a, whereupon the creature falls and takes 21 (6d6) bludgeoning damage on impact. The first creature to fall for the trap triggers a magic mouth spell in area 22a. Halaster’s mouth appears on a wall and says, in Common, “You fell for it! Get it? Fell for it?! Ha ha ha ha!”
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice & Errata
. RAW “Rules as written”—that’s what RAW stands for. When we dwell on the RAW interpretation of a rule, we’re studying what the text says in context, without regard to the designers’ intent. The text is
The Role of Rules Why even have Sage Advice when a DM can just make a ruling? Rules are a big part of what makes D&D a game, rather than simply improvised storytelling. The game’s rules are meant to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver
says “Stealth +6,” roll a d20 and add 6 when the monster makes an ability check using Stealth. ARMOR, WEAPON, AND TOOL PROFICIENCIES
Assume that a creature is proficient with its armor, weapons, and
tools. If you swap out a creature’s armor and weapons, you must decide whether the creature is proficient with its new equipment. See the Basic Rules for what happens when you use these items without proficiency.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
Reactions If a monster can do something special with its reaction, that information is contained here. If a creature has no special reaction, this section is absent. GRAPPLE RULES FOR MONSTERS
Many
succeeds, unless the attack says otherwise.
A creature grappled by the monster can use its action to try to escape. To do so, it must succeed on a Strength (Athletics) or Dexterity (Acrobatics) check
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
blocks darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of darkness says it does. For example, the darkness spell specifies that it produces a magical darkness that obstructs darkvision. That obstruction is a feature of the spell, not of magical darkness in general.
hours. A meditating elf otherwise follows all the rules for a long rest; only the duration is changed. Do the lightfoot halfling and wood elf hiding racial traits allow them to hide while observed? The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
(Perception) and Dexterity (Stealth) checks. Skills in a creature’s stat block are shown with the total modifier — the creature’s ability modifier plus its proficiency bonus. If a creature’s stat block says
swap out a creature’s armor and weapons, you must decide whether the creature is proficient with its new equipment. See the Basic Rules for what happens when you use these items without proficiency.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
certain situations—particularly combat—the action is more structured, and everyone takes turns. Exceptions Supersede General Rules
General rules govern each part of the game. For example, the combat
rules tell you that melee attacks use Strength and ranged attacks use Dexterity. That’s a general rule, and a general rule is in effect as long as something in the game doesn’t explicitly say otherwise
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
certain situations—particularly combat—the action is more structured, and everyone takes turns. Exceptions Supersede General Rules
General rules govern each part of the game. For example, the combat
rules tell you that melee attacks use Strength and ranged attacks use Dexterity. That’s a general rule, and a general rule is in effect as long as something in the game doesn’t explicitly say otherwise
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
Octopus. Angajuk says it would be happy to provide transportation if the characters catch an octopus for it to eat. Octopi can be caught by fishing off the pier, but any hint of light deters them. Use the
fishing rules ("Fishing for Knucklehead Trout"), only replace the knucklehead trout with an octopus. Befriending Its Comrades. Angajuk lives alongside other sea creatures, including narwhals and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Stranger Things
environment (like traps) — and the dice reveal how things turn out! All creatures written with an underline can be found in the Monsters section of the rulebook. Don’t worry too much about getting the rules
fair and move on. Like the rulebook says, my job as DM is to make sure everyone has a good time and that the story moves along smoothly.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Class Features When you gain a new level in a class, you get its features for that level. You don't, however, receive the class's starting equipment, and a few features have additional rules when
one class, the features don't add together. You can't make more than two attacks with this feature unless it says you do (as the fighter's version of Extra Attack does). Similarly, the warlock's
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Challenge Rating Challenge Rating is defined in the “Rules Glossary”, while guidance on using CR to plan potential combat encounters is in the DM’s Toolbox. Experience Points The number of Experience
. Unless a rule says otherwise, a monster summoned by a spell or another magical ability is worth the XP noted in its stat block. Experience Points by Challenge Rating CR XP
0 0 or 10
1/8
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
components, unless the item's description says otherwise. The spell uses its normal casting time, range, and duration, and the user of the item must concentrate if the spell requires concentration. Many
items, such as potions, bypass the casting of a spell and confer the spell's effects, with their usual duration. Certain items make exceptions to these rules, changing the casting time, duration, or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
the DM, you decide how much to tell the players and when. All the information the players need to make choices comes from you. Within the rules of the game and the limits of the characters’ knowledge
turns in Initiative order. Step 3: Describe What Happens After the players describe their characters’ actions, it’s the DM’s job to resolve those actions, guided by the rules and the adventure you’ve
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
information the players need to make choices comes from you. Within the rules of the game and the limits of the characters’ knowledge and senses, tell players everything they need to know. Published adventures
rules and the adventure you’ve prepared. So how do you decide? Think through these possibilities: No Rules Required. Sometimes, resolving a situation is easy. If an adventurer wants to cross an empty
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
Class Features When you gain a new level in a class, you get its features for that level. A few features have additional rules when you’re multiclassing. Check the information about multiclassing
included in each of your classes’ descriptions. Special rules apply to Extra Attack, Spellcasting, and features (such as Unarmored Defense) that give you alternative ways to calculate your Armor Class
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon of Icespire Peak
slit for protection, a creature gains three-quarters cover (see the Basic Rules) against outside threats. A Medium character can’t squeeze through an arrow slit, but a Small character can with a
., one target. Hit: 16 (3d10) piercing damage.
Ceilings. Ceilings throughout are fifteen feet high and flat, unless the text says otherwise.
Chimneys. Fireplaces throughout Axeholm have chimneys
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Class Features When you gain a new level in a class, you get its features for that level. A few features have additional rules when you’re multiclassing. Check the information about multiclassing
included in each of your classes’ descriptions. Special rules apply to Extra Attack, Spellcasting, and features (such as Unarmored Defense) that give you alternative ways to calculate your Armor Class
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
the rules specifically say so. The next few questions touch on this point again. Can you get a critical hit on an ability check? For example, on a grapple attempt, does a critical win, or the highest
Strength? No, the hex spell’s description says it affects ability checks that use the chosen ability. The description says nothing about affecting attack rolls or saving throws. This means, for example, that
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
type of melee weapon attack. The game often makes exceptions to general rules, and this is an important exception: that unarmed strikes count as melee weapon attacks despite not being weapons. When a
Shadow monk, can their silence be dispelled? A spell is a spell, no matter its source. When you cast a spell through a feature, the spell is subject to the normal spellcasting rules, unless the feature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
if it is a potion. The description of each item category or individual item details how an item is activated. Certain items use one or more of the following rules related to their activation. If an
at the lowest possible spell and caster level, doesn’t expend any of the user’s spell slots, and requires no components unless the item’s description says otherwise. The spell uses its normal casting
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
of fog. THE LANDS OF BAROVIA: COMMON FEATURES
Unless the text says otherwise, the following rules apply to doors, secret doors, locks, and webs in these lands.
Doors. A wooden door can be forced
cobwebs, without fear of being restrained or slowed down. A character can clear away the cobwebs from a 10-foot square as an action. Webs woven by giant spiders are a different matter; see “Dungeon Hazards” in chapter 5 in the Dungeon Master’s Guide for rules on giant spider webs.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
A). Annoyed at the disturbance, Gazaia tells the party and Riffel to state their business or leave her sanctum at once. The Last Peylon Fruit. Gazaia says that there is one ripe peylon fruit left in
guilty that she didn’t defend her charge. Regardless of the characters’ reaction to this revelation, learning it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules in this book’s
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sage Advice Compendium
levels? The highest level is 20th. The “Epic Boons” section in the Dungeon Master’s Guide offers ideas for further advancement. The frightened condition says “while the source of its fear is within
within your line of sight. Speaking of “line of sight,” the game uses the English meaning of the term, which has no special meaning in the rules. Does casting a spell while taking a short rest
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
together at one table. And a handsome young man sits by himself at a corner table, sipping a glass of wine. He looks up as you enter, but the other people ignore you. “Welcome to Barovia,” he says. He
called Mirabella. You said your name was Kolyanovich. Are you related to Kolyan Indirovich, the burgomaster of this town?”
Jared: He looks a little surprised. He says, “Kolyan Indirovich is my esteemed
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
identifies whether the attack is a melee or a ranged attack and then provides the attack roll’s bonus, its reach or range, and what happens on a hit. An attack is against one target unless its entry says
its lowest possible level and can’t be cast at a higher level. A monster’s spell can have special rules or restrictions. For example, a green hag can cast the Invisibility spell, but the spell has a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
the region. Use these to enhance your descriptions or handle situations where rules like lighting or terrain are relevant.
The rules glossary in the D&D Beyond Basic Rules defines any capitalized
rules such as Bright Light.
Getting Started
To begin, read the following boxed text aloud:
You travel along a well-kept trail east of the Keep on the Borderlands. Gnarled tree roots and