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Returning 35 results for 'some of retain despite variant'.
Darkling
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Volo's Guide to Monsters
absorbs over the course of its lifetime explodes outward when the darkling dies, incinerating the creature and much of its possessions.
Love of Art. Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness
Darkling Elder
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Monsters
Volo's Guide to Monsters
much of its possessions.
Love of Art. Despite their curse, darklings retain a fondness for the beauty of art. A darkling might risk taking a peek at a sunset or lighting a tiny candle to glimpse
Necrichor
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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monsters
Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
sludge in the crypts of failed liches. Despite the loss of a solid physical form, these foul creatures retain their terrible intellects and aspire to megalomaniacal goals—the first of which
Entertainer
Legacy
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
liking to you.
Variant Entertainer: Gladiator
A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can
likely repeat.
5
I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.
6
Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
occupation or social class that frequents the establishment. This contact is delighted to talk with you, and to listen.
Variant Entertainer: Gladiator
A gladiator is as much an
follow me around.
4
I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat.
5
I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.
6
Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.
Yuan-ti Pureblood
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Species
Volo's Guide to Monsters
— yuan-ti make perfect courtiers. And, worse for the rest of us, rulers.
— Elminster
The physical and magical prowess of the yuan-ti empire allowed the former humans to retain their
can more easily pronounce the name in this altered form. An adopted name of this sort is recognized as a variant of the birth name, rather than a unique name unto itself. A yuan-ti might refer to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
become hermits and hunters, either wandering alone or leading packs of giant spiders. On rare occasion, a drider returns to the fringes of drow society despite its curse, most often to fulfill some
hands.
Longbow. Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 150/600 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage.
VARIANT: DRIDER SPELLCASTING
Driders that were once
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
Large 10 by 10 ft. Hippogriff, ogre Huge 15 by 15 ft. Fire giant, treant Gargantuan 20 by 20 ft. or larger Kraken, purple worm MODIFYING CREATURES
Despite the versatile collection of monsters in
, perhaps by borrowing a trait or two from a different monster or by using a variant or template. Keep in mind that modifying a monster, including when you apply a template to it, might change its challenge rating.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
dominated Khorvaire for thousands of years. They founded the Five Nations and make up the majority of the population in these countries. Despite their relatively short lifespan—or perhaps because of it
Lhazaar pirate with a knack for the mystic arts. The variant human presented in the Player’s Handbook provides an additional opportunity to capture some of the flavor of Eberron. Does your choice of skill proficiency and feat reflect the culture you were raised in?
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
A Culture of Fugitives Despite all their unique and overwhelming abilities, the mind flayers are a race on the edge of extinction. Thousands of years ago, the illithids were the dominant power of the
, yet no one can be sure exactly what the illithids are and are not capable of. VARIANT: MIND FLAYER PSION
Mind flayers sometimes devote themselves to deeper study of psionic power, and many excel at
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse->Turn of Fortune’s Wheel
adventure surrounds the characters’ identities and the nature of their deaths. While the characters retain vague, surface-level details about themselves, they’re likely to seek more information in
knows how the characters died. Despite their predicament, the characters can learn minor details about themselves through experiences in Sigil. They might discover they have a fear of needles after
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
are certainly those among them who might try if they could see a way to retain their own powers.
The Silence. When the squabbling of the gods threatened the world once more despite Kruphix’s warning
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft
Necrichor A necrichor is a being of living blood, formed from the ichor of evil gods or the sludge in the crypts of failed liches. Despite the loss of a solid physical form, these foul creatures
retain their terrible intellects and aspire to megalomaniacal goals—the first of which involves regaining a body. To do this, they seek servants to exact their will, coercing even the most stubborn
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Adventure Atlas: The Mortuary
Necrichor A necrichor is a being of living blood, formed from the ichor of evil gods or the sludge in the crypts of failed liches. Despite the loss of a solid physical form, these foul creatures
retain their terrible intellects and aspire to megalomaniacal goals—the first of which involves regaining a body. To do this, they seek servants to exact their will, coercing even the most stubborn
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
stone rivals that of the greatest dwarf artisans, yet their structures retain a decidedly elven aesthetic. Though appearing delicate, drow settlements are structurally sound and remarkably resilient
mages sometimes imbue items with magic to enhance their effectiveness. However, such magic fades when exposed to sunlight, so that magical drow weapons and armor rarely retain their enhancement bonuses
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
. Undead Nature. A revenant doesn’t require air, food, drink, or sleep. VARIANT: REVENANTS WITH SPELLS AND WEAPONS
Revenants that were spellcasters before they died might retain some or all of their
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
example, in a campaign inspired by film noir, characters could have an additional flaw: “I can’t resist helping a person I find alluring despite warnings that he or she is nothing but trouble.” If the
your campaign is one where you let the dice fall where they may. It’s a good option for gritty campaigns or ones where the DM focuses on playing an impartial role as a rules arbiter. Variant: Only
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
traditions? Can a dwarf stumble into a warlock pact despite having no connection to a culture that normally produces warlocks? As always, it’s better to say yes and use the player’s desire as an
an existing feature that can be used as a model? How does the new class feature compare to other features of the same level? Variant: Spell Points One way to modify how a class feels is to change how
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
dead in unsuitable accommodations. 6 Despite my noble birth, I do not place myself above other folk. We all have the same blood. 7 My favor, once lost, is lost forever. 8 If you do me an injury, I
to my family. Variant Noble: Knight A knighthood is among the lowest noble titles in most societies, but it can be a path to higher status. If you wish to be a knight, choose the Retainers feature
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
of the Talhund. Dwarven Made The crypt is solid dwarven construction. Its stone remains strong despite millennia of neglect. Carvings of dwarf priests are prevalent, as are carvings of mountain peaks
memorialized. Crypt Hauntings The crypts retain the echoes of the mind flayers’ invasion, and these echoes make the spirits within the crypt uneasy. Where the text references a crypt haunting, roll a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
risk. The light a darkling absorbs over the course of its lifetime explodes outward when the darkling dies, incinerating the creature and much of its possessions. Love of Art. Despite their curse
, darklings retain a fondness for the beauty of art. A darkling might risk taking a peek at a sunset or lighting a tiny candle to glimpse the colors in a painting or a jewel. Elder Transformation. A wise
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide
years. Despite their different backgrounds and training, they’re already good friends. Tavern Gathering. The characters meet in a tavern over mugs of ale and decide to embark on a life of adventure
the variant rules presented in this or any other book, let your players know about them. Remember, you’ll always know more about your campaign world than the players do. Having spent all their lives in
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble. 6 Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends. Variant Entertainer: Gladiator A gladiator is as much
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
, was one of the first explorers from Khorvaire to penetrate the interior of Xen’drik and discover ruins from an ancient giant civilization there. Despite the great distance involved, multiple
empire’s fall, they retain a spiritual and physical connection to the darkness below. Umbragen shadow walkers weave shadow magic to confound foes. Jordan Kerbow Vulkoori and Umbragen drow battle in a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
CREATURES
Despite the versatile collection of monsters in this book, you might be at a loss when it comes to finding the perfect creature for part of an adventure. Feel free to tweak an existing creature
to make it into something more useful for you, perhaps by borrowing a trait or two from a different monster or by using a variant or template, such as the ones in this book. Keep in mind that modifying
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
go through half-hearted parodies of life, impeded by distraction and ennui. Despite this, even the most languorous Returned defend themselves if threatened and might be pressed into the service of
attacks.
Shortsword. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 10 (3d6) poison damage.
VARIANT: RETURNED KAKOMANTIS
Although the dead typically
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation
assent. Despite this laconic nature, he enjoys being among people and might even be considered gregarious, for a tabaxi. He is tall and lanky (5 feet 8 inches and 140 pounds). River and Flask can
guide characters to Firefinger and Dungrunglung. They’ve also heard stories about an old woman in Mbala who can animate the dead in such a way that the zombies retain the abilities and memories they had
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Hoard of the Dragon Queen
lost many people in recent years, and the dwarves that remain are struggling to retain ancient lands only recently reclaimed. He knows the adventurers only by reputation, and desires tangible proof
their own pursuits, Melandrach is more circumspect. He has led the elves of the Misty Forest since before most of their kind abandoned their lands in the Retreat. Despite the years of discussion and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tyranny of Dragons
lost many people in recent years, and the dwarves that remain are struggling to retain ancient lands only recently reclaimed. He knows the adventurers only by reputation, and desires tangible proof
their own pursuits, Melandrach is more circumspect. He has led the elves of the Misty Forest since before most of their kind abandoned their lands in the Retreat. Despite the years of discussion and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Rise of Tiamat
lost many people in recent years, and the dwarves that remain are struggling to retain ancient lands only recently reclaimed. He knows the adventurers only by reputation, and desires tangible proof
their own pursuits, Melandrach is more circumspect. He has led the elves of the Misty Forest since before most of their kind abandoned their lands in the Retreat. Despite the years of discussion and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
Kiaransalee was driven mad by returning from death as a god so many times, but her followers aren’t discouraged by this assessment. Despite her madness, her actions are guided by a deep and devious
, masked bodyguards for the matrons of their house. HOLES IN LOLTH'S WEB
Lolth is far from omniscient, despite what her priestesses say. There are drow who live without bending to the tyranny of her
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
in the death, defeat, or loss, or was the opportunity serendipitous? Despite the leader’s virtues, one flaw in particular outrages a certain segment of the populace. What is that flaw? What person or
for this quality, and what actions this leader has taken to retain the followers’ support. A rival group opposes the foundation of this new organization. Choose an existing power group from your
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
glabrezu, yochlol 4 nalfeshnee 5 marilith 6 balor, goristro VARIANT: DEMON SUMMONING
Some demons can have an action option that allows them to summon other demons.
Summon Demon (1/Day). The demon
deliver an irritating poison. It prefers to be invisible when it attacks. VARIANT: QUASIT FAMILIAR
Mortal spellcasters interested in extraplanar familiars find quasits easy to summon and eager to serve
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Acquisitions Incorporated
, for the storage of any additional gifts during the celebration. After that time, Thoman Dhargun will retain one key and Horn Enclave shall retain the other.”
Rizwin then grows suddenly stern. “Please
. Despite how strong the doors and magic of the vaults are, the walls between adjacent vaults are relatively thin. Dealing 40 bludgeoning or force damage to an inner wall creates a hole wide enough for a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm King's Thunder
founded, Red Larch is situated on a fertile patch of land on the western outskirts of the Sumber Hills, at a place where the Kheldell Path and the Cairn Road meet the Long Road. Despite its small size
dwell in the High Moor and demand tribute several times a year. Secomber has no defense against the Urshani. Its residents give the hobgoblins food, homemade ale, and ore to retain their freedom. The