scores of rather dismal variants - Search

Variant Tiefling

Species Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Since not all tieflings are of the blood of Asmodeus, some have traits that differ from those in the Player’s Handbook. The Dungeon Master may permit the following variants for your tiefling

character, although Devil’s Tongue, Hellfire, and Winged are mutually exclusive. Appearance. Your tiefling might not look like other tieflings. Rather than having the physical

Variant Feral Tiefling

Species Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide

Since not all tieflings are of the blood of Asmodeus, some have traits that differ from those in the Player’s Handbook. The Dungeon Master may permit the following variants for your

replaces the Ability Score Increase trait. Appearance. Your tiefling might not look like other tieflings. Rather than having the physical characteristics described in the Player’s Handbook

Kas the Betrayer

Monsters Vecna: Eve of Ruin

blood to sow terror rather than for sustenance. If destroyed, Kas revives in 1d100;{"diceNotation":"1d100", "rollType":"roll", "rollAction":"Strength of the Night"} nights in an unoccupied space in

":"slashing"} slashing damage. The sword scores a critical hit on a roll of 19 or 20. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +15;{"diceNotation":"1d20+15", "rollType":"to hit", "rollAction":"Bite"} to hit, reach 5 ft

Reborn Legacy

Species Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

sensations or visions of the past to come rushing back. Rather than sleeping, reborn regularly sit and dwell on the past, hoping for some revelation of what came before. Most of the time, these are dark

. Ability Score Increases When determining your ability scores, you increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or you increase three different scores by 1. You follow this

Lizardfolk Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

basic principles than those of warm-blooded creatures. Their dismal swamp homes might lie hundreds of miles from the nearest human settlement, but the gap between their way of thinking and that of the

pleasurable creatures and things are ones that allow lizardfolk to assess more situations as benign rather than fearsome. Cold and Calculating Most humanoids describe cold-blooded people as lacking in

Rest Variants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Rest Variants The rules for short and long rests presented in chapter 8 of the Player’s Handbook work well for a heroic-style campaign. Characters can go toe-to-toe with deadly foes, take damage to

within an inch of their lives, yet still be ready to fight again the next day. If this approach doesn’t fit your campaign, consider the following variants. Epic Heroism This variant uses a short rest

Monsters and Critical Hits

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Monsters and Critical Hits A monster follows the same rule for critical hits as a player character. That said, if you use a monster’s average damage, rather than rolling, you might wonder how to

handle a critical hit. When the monster scores a critical hit, roll all the damage dice associated with the hit and add them to the average damage. For example, if a goblin normally deals 5 (1d6 + 2) slashing damage on a hit and scores a critical hit, it deals 5 + 1d6 slashing damage.

Loyalty

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

can track the loyalty scores of groups of NPCs, such as those belonging to each faction, rather than having to track NPCs individually. The characters must balance the goals and bonds of their followers in order to maintain and improve their loyalty.

Undead

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Morte’s Planar Parade

Undead Undead often lurk in the dismal reaches of the Outlands, but some wander the land, either seeking places to spend eternity or preying on the living. Outlands Undead d4 Encounter 1 The

characters find a trapped crawling claw. Rather than attacking, the severed hand can lead the characters to the thankful immortal who lost it. 2 A banshee influenced by Acheron appears as a fallen knight

Customizing the Puzzle

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything

can undertake the puzzle and cross the room safely. You can also increase the difficulty by introducing trap variants, as described below. Trap Variants Rather than have the same poison gas trap on

Lone Faithful

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

lady of fortune” (Tymora) — an indication, tieflings say, that one’s outward appearance and bloodline are less important to the gods than the heart and soul within. TIEFLING VARIANTS Since not all

tieflings are of the blood of Asmodeus, some have traits that differ from those in the Player’s Handbook. The Dungeon Master may permit the following variants for your tiefling character, although

Bard

classes Basic Rules (2014)

necessary, using their magic to bolster their swords and armor. Their spells lean toward charms and illusions rather than blatantly destructive spells. They have a wide-ranging knowledge of many

. Perhaps you had a secure and mundane childhood. There’s no good story to be told about that, so you might paint yourself as an orphan raised by a hag in a dismal swamp. Or your childhood might be

Skill Variants

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)

Skill Variants A skill dictates the circumstances under which a character can add his or her proficiency bonus to an ability check. Skills define those circumstances by referring to different aspects

of the six ability scores. For example, Acrobatics and Stealth are two different aspects of Dexterity, and a character can specialize in either or both. You can dispense with skills and use one of

Mire of Doubt

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk

. The spirit naga Valsyx lurks here, composing abstruse riddles unless the characters encountered him elsewhere. He knows confusion rather than blight. Valsyx is at home in the mire and isn’t slowed

cone of cold is folded between its pages. M3: Charnyz’s Dell Branches nearly meet above this moist and mossy dell, creating a dismal space. Several carefully sculpted shrubs ring the dell. The spirit

Types of Hags

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

hag appear in chapter 3 of this book. Green hags inhabit dismal forests, swamps, and moors. A green hag’s body, whether broad, narrow, fat, or thin, is topped with a tangled mane of hair. A green hag

, and most are stout or have a medium build rather than being thin or emaciated. Night hags enjoy corrupting the dreams of good people, compromising the ideals of their victims to get them to

Vallaki Lore

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd

whatsoever. Most consider them dismal affairs. Those who speak ill of the festivals are declared by the burgomaster to be in league with the devil Strahd and arrested. Some are thrown in the stocks (area

rather serve the devil than a madman.” She owns an old house in town (area N4) but rarely leaves her estate. Her two adult sons, Nikolai and Karl, are local troublemakers. Lady Wachter also has a mad

Dock Ward

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated

magic spell shows that they are indeed magical, though that magic is of the transmutation school rather than conjuration. Each day, a kindly druid who thinks Jerr is an honest soul gives the gnome a

goodberry for his health. Rather than eat the berry, Jerr crushes it up and adds a drop of juice to each pot. Jerr sells maps for 1 gp and the potions for 10 gp. He also tries to sell other useless or

Roleplaying

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

that best describe the creature. Knowing the creature’s alignment can also help with your portrayal. The classic advice for writers holds true: show, don’t tell. For example, rather than describe an

is less comfortable with roleplaying, you can get them involved by asking them to describe their character’s actions during the conversation. Use Other Ability Scores. Consider the following

Emotionless Evil

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

others; they don’t espouse the sort of evil that calls for them to butcher or eradicate all who oppose them. In keeping with their goal of domination, the yuan-ti would rather capture potentially useful

food taster for a royal family could poison a meal and declare it “safe” after taking a bite. YUAN-TI MALISON VARIANTS: TYPES 4 AND 5 A malison is a yuan-ti that has a blend of human and serpentine

Simple Traps

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Xanathar's Guide to Everything

for using a simple trap in play, start by making note of the characters’ passive Wisdom (Perception) scores. Most traps allow Wisdom (Perception) checks to detect their triggers or other elements

characters discover a trap, be open to adjudicating their ideas for defeating it. The trap’s description is a starting point for countermeasures, rather than a complete definition. To make it easier

Shambling Mound

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)

Shambling Mound A shambling mound, sometimes called a shambler, trudges ponderously through bleak swamps, dismal marshes, and rain forests, consuming any organic matter in its path. This rotting heap

, and other natural swamp and forest compost, shamblers can blend into their environs. Because they move slowly, they rarely attempt to pursue and catch creatures. Rather, they remain in place

Encounters in the Crypt

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus

and transformed into fiends. One of Zariel’s generals, Olanthius, killed himself rather than embrace tyranny. Zariel raised him as a death knight to ensure his loyalty. The knights’ souls are cursed

(Perception) scores of 15 or higher spot a secret door within 5 feet of them. Otherwise, a secret door can be found by a character who examines the surrounding wall and succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom

Mind Flayer Thralls

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

creature retains its Hit Dice, hit points, racial traits (but not proficiencies granted by race), and all of its ability scores except for Intelligence. After the first stage of the process, the creature’s

them, rather than attempting to keep them penned up or docile. Quaggoths Mind flayers find that the quaggoths’ innate, though rarely manifested, talent for psionics makes them excellent thralls. When

Build Your Group

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War

Sleight of Hand and Stealth skills. Confiscators are often rogues, and many have a history of stealing for profit rather than national interest. Hunter. The Hunter stalks humanoid prey, for purposes

Operator leads or organizes a team of agents in the field. Like a military officer, the Operator issues orders and bears responsibility for the agents on the team. High Charisma and Intelligence scores

Perception

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide

Passive Perception. Sometimes, asking players to make Wisdom (Perception) checks for their characters tips them off that there’s something they should be searching for, giving them a clue you’d rather

they didn’t have. In those circumstances, use characters’ Passive Perception scores instead. Using the Investigation Skill. The Investigation skill applies to situations where a character is using

Leucrotta

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters

rampages on the Material Plane. Some of the hyenas that ate Yeenoghu’s kills went through different transformations rather than turning into gnolls. Among these bizarre results, leucrottas were the most

with its hooves. Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) piercing damage. If the leucrotta scores a critical hit, it rolls the damage dice three times

5. Garden of Welcome

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Out of the Abyss

mouth. It can use this orifice to actually speak, rather than depending on rapport spores. It no longer attends melds with the other leaders, instead sending its representative. Garden of Horror As

a spider medallion half-embedded in the bloated growth that was once her hand. Half her face is rotten and pustulate, a bed for the sprouting of scores of tiny mushrooms. “The Great Seeder … trap

Personality

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin

, and he drinks blood to sow terror rather than for sustenance. If destroyed, Kas revives in 1d100 nights in an unoccupied space in Tovag, his Domain of Dread. He can be permanently destroyed only by

replace one of these attacks with a Bite attack. Vengeful Sword. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 20 (2d8 + 11) slashing damage. The sword scores a critical hit on a

Alignment

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)

plane of lawful evil. A devil does not choose to be lawful evil or tend toward lawful evil, but rather it is lawful evil in its essence. If it somehow ceases to be lawful evil, it changes into something

dislikes or fears, your character’s self-attitude or mannerisms, or the influence of his or her ability scores. A useful place to start thinking about personality traits is to look at your highest and

Platinum Mine

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries

chamber that holds worn picks, rusty shovels, and two hand carts filled with debris and rags. The tools were left behind by the workers in the wake of the disaster. Characters who look up see scores of

spontaneously manifested rather than being dug out, there are no scratch marks or signs of excavation on the walls, floor, or ceiling here. The moss muffles all sound, causing a lack of echoes and creating a

Tips for New Dungeon Masters

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight

suspense. Either approach is fine. Even DMs who conceal their dice rolls might divulge certain results. For example, when a creature scores a critical hit against a character, it’s customary to let the

to use one of this adventure’s random encounters, you can have a player roll to determine what the characters encounter, rather than making the roll yourself. Story Information Important information

Landgrave's Folly

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Ghosts of Saltmarsh

have the opportunity to take control of such a weapon in their fight against the gods. The creature must be enslaved and forced to serve them. If the players would rather not roleplay a telepathic

purpose. The pit’s magic acts as a beacon for negative emotional energy generated within five miles of it, drawing wisps of all such energy from the dismal environment of the Styes. Channeled through the

Fey Contracts

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Domains of Delight: A Feywild Accessory

something. This nagging sense doesn’t go away until the Fey figures out what they lost and who has the stolen item. Moreover, the Fey might not want the stolen thing back, but rather something of equal or

verbal components. Whenever you try to speak, you bray like a donkey instead. 2–3 You magically transform into an owl. You retain your languages, your ability to speak, and your mental ability scores

E: Wakenreth

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen

relatively intact lower levels, but as it climbs toward its eighty-foot height, the upper levels deteriorate. Rather than falling, the crumbling stone hangs in the air, the tower’s disintegration frozen

the south, rubble blocks a staircase leading down, while to the north, another staircase climbs to the level above. Dismal gray-green light shines from flickering wall sconces, eerily illuminating

Climbing Kelvin's Cairn

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

. Known to Ten-Towners as “Hunters of Men,” the crag cats caught Garret’s scent but failed to reach him before the characters showed up. Characters with passive Wisdom (Perception) scores of 17 or higher

escaped immediate death at the hands of the yeti but, in her panic, fled up the mountain rather than down it. Unwilling to approach the yeti cave again too soon, Astrix took refuge here. The sight of the

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