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Orb of Dragonkind

Magic Items Dungeon Master’s Guide

Long ago, in the Dragonlance setting, elves and humans waged a terrible war against chromatic dragons. When the world seemed doomed, the wizards of the Towers of High Sorcery came together and forged

, freedom from the orb, to spread suffering in the world, to advance the worship of Tiamat, or something else the DM decides. Random Properties. An Orb of Dragonkind has the following random properties

Dragonborn Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

give up on something. A dragonborn holds mastery of a particular skill as a lifetime goal. Members of other races who share the same commitment find it easy to earn the respect of a dragonborn. Though

DRACONIANS In the Dragonlance setting, the followers of the evil goddess Takhisis learned a vile ritual that let them corrupt the eggs of metallic dragons, producing evil dragonborn called draconians

Genasi Legacy

Species Elemental Evil Player's Companion

Genasi inherit something from both sides of their dual nature. They resemble humans but have unusual skin color (red, green, blue, or gray), and there is something odd about them. The elemental blood

accustomed to a variety of different people. GENASI ON ATHAS Although any world that includes one or more elemental planes can feature genasi, on Athas, the world of the Dark Sun campaign setting

Powered Armor

Magic Items Lost Laboratory of Kwalish

’s legendary powered armor. Automatic Defenses. Unless Kwalish deactivates the suit’s automatic defenses, no one can approach the armor without setting those defenses off. Treat the

magic that generates a conduit something like an astral silver cord. While so connected, a willing ally can give up hit points as a reaction to fuel the armor’s abilities.

Bugbear Legacy

Species Volo's Guide to Monsters

wandering children unless they clearly have something to gain by doing so. From the viewpoint of the rest of the world, their aggression and savagery are thankfully offset by their rarity and lethargy

instead of killing them, he showed mercy and even honored them in a way by setting them free — under his control — so that bugbears could continue to employ their talents against his enemies

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tomb of Annihilation

Introduction Something evil is trapping the souls of the dead and draining life from all who have been raised from death by magic. This worldwide “death curse” not only prevents the raising of the

, impassable mountains, and belching volcanoes. You can substitute a different jungle setting, changing location names as needed. Alternative D&D settings include the Amedio Jungle of Oerth, the Savage

Campaign Setting

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

Campaign Setting Just like an adventure’s setting (as described in chapter 4), a campaign setting is an essential part of a campaign’s premise, shaping the kinds of stories that unfold there. As the

DM, you have two options when choosing a campaign setting: Use a published campaign setting. Create your own campaign setting. Whether you create your own campaign setting or use a published one, the

Why Use Puzzles?

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

following reasons: To encourage a party to discover information through teamwork To provide an opportunity for characters to use their skills in uncommon ways To make a setting feel more whimsical

, mysterious, or otherworldly To explain why no one has ever discovered something hidden close at hand To reveal a secret no one knows and magic can’t reveal Some puzzles can take considerable time to

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->One Grung Above

Introduction Ever since I joined the D&D team in 2010, I’ve thought about a future where the grung were “a thing” again. These long-forgotten amphibians from the 2nd Edition Greyhawk setting had

then, I was given the opportunity to reimagine them, rewrite them, and include them among creatures that can potentially exist in any D&D campaign setting… and then it happened. Someone asked me to DM

Getting Players Invested

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

Getting Players Invested To get your players excited about and invested in your campaign, create a setting that features people and places they recognize and where their characters’ choices matter

lasting antagonism—with the people and places of your setting, those people and places stick in the players’ minds. Introduce opportunities to forge these lasting relationships early and often

Part 1: Master of Worlds

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

Part 1: Master of Worlds Every DM is the creator of his or her own campaign world. Whether you invent a world, adapt a world from a favorite movie or novel, or use a published setting for the D&D

adventures happen. Even if you’re using an established world such as the Forgotten Realms, your campaign takes place in a sort of mirror universe of the official setting where Forgotten Realms novels

Setting the Tone

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

Setting the Tone Clifftop runs with the idea that the player characters are known as adventurers. They’ve accomplished remarkable feats and beaten impossible odds. One way to reflect this is to start

your family or your time in the Last War? Or just something you bought with your earnings?One point about a Clifftop campaign is that you won’t stay in Clifftop. This district is your base of operations

If It Exists In D&D, There's A Place for It in Eberron

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

that’s ever been suggested. Chapter 3 provides advice on adding new races to Eberron. Here’s a few other ways that you can add something into Eberron with minimal impact on the setting. It comes from

If It Exists In D&D, There’s A Place for It in Eberron … But It May Not Be the Place You’re Used To. Eberron draws on the core elements of D&D. It’s a world of wizards and rogues, a setting with

Self-Sufficient Clans

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

to fail, and they push themselves to extreme efforts before they give up on something. A dragonborn holds mastery of a particular skill as a lifetime goal. Members of other races who share the same

for such help is the clan, and when a clan needs help, it turns to another dragonborn clan before seeking aid from other races — or even from the gods. DRACONIANS In the Dragonlance setting, the

Chapter 6: Sharn, City of Towers

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

meat. A gargoyle watches from a high perch. I gather my senses and keep moving. It’s not until I reach the lift that I realize… that warforged stole my purse. All of the themes of the setting are

artificer is experimenting with a planar gateway—and something is about to go terribly wrong. All of these adventures and a hundred more are waiting in the City of Towers. This chapter provides an overview

Playing During the Last War

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

Playing During the Last War In your campaign, you might want to take a look back at the war as it unfolds. Setting an adventure during the Last War puts the characters in a tumultuous time of

phenomenon might send the characters back in time, putting them in the middle of the conflict. Are they transported there to learn something? To alter the course of history? Or are they just stranded in a twisted time stream? How will they escape the horrors of the war and get back to their own time?

Something in Between

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

Something in Between The style of play in most campaigns falls between these two extremes. There’s plenty of action, but the campaign offers an ongoing storyline and interaction between characters as

. Even in a dungeon setting, you can present NPCs that aren’t meant to be fought but rather helped out, negotiated with, or just talked to. Think about your preferred style of play by considering these

The Forgotten Realms

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Lost Mine of Phandelver

-sorcery setting at the dawn of civilization, where barbarians battle evil sorcerers, or a post-apocalyptic fantasy where elves and dwarves wield magic amid the wreckage of a technological civilization. Most

Forgotten Realms is one such setting, and that’s where the story in this adventure takes place. In the Realms, knights dare the crypts of the fallen dwarf kings of Delzoun, seeking glory and treasure

Why a Monstrous Character?

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

three questions. Rare or Mundane? Consider how common orc, goblin, and similar adventurers are in your setting. Are they regarded as no stranger than elves or dwarves? Are they met with suspicion? The

role these races play in your setting should determine the kinds of reactions that such characters meet. Don’t be afraid to push things to an extreme. An orc character might have to venture into town

Cultural Specifics

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

Cultural Specifics As you develop your domain, consider the culture and how it emerges from this tragic setting. What might be most unsettling for the Darklord: if the culture is one with familiar

strictures, one they opposed or were an outsider in, or something completely unknown or alien to them? While a domain’s culture might take inspirations from fantastical or historical examples, remember

Adventures

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)

desires. In either case, an adventure features a fantastic setting, whether it’s an underground dungeon, a crumbling castle, a stretch of wilderness, or a bustling city. It features a rich cast of

to another creature (or even a magical object) with a goal in mind. And often, the adventurers spend time trying to solve a puzzle, bypass an obstacle, find something hidden, or unravel the current

Using This Book

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragon Delves

campaign, and you want to give them a change of pace before they get immersed in the next act of the unfolding drama. Or they’re traveling halfway around the world, and you’re looking for something to

adventure’s locale. Each adventure’s beginning includes a simple setting description, such as “a village with a nearby forest.” Beyond these basic details, feel free to alter the adventure’s location

Blessings

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

Blessings A character might receive a Blessing from a deity for doing something truly momentous—an accomplishment that catches the attention of both gods and mortals. A Blessing is an appropriate

also receive a Blessing in advance of a perilous quest. For example, a Paladin could receive one before setting out on a quest to slay a terrifying lich that is responsible for a magical plague

Helpful Sisters

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

stop relying on the kindness of strangers.” The woman then opens a door into what looks like a kitchen and calls out, “Heat up something for Trovus. He’s been out ‘patrolling’ again.” The woman

bowl down in front of Trovus and says, “No dwarf did this. Someone would have spotted ’em. Caught ’em. No, there’s something more going on. Besides, what use do hungry dwarves have for a lantern?” If

DM Tips

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

something, correct yourself and move on. No one expects you to memorize every rule or detail. Even if you don’t realize your mistake until after a game session is over, it’s OK to acknowledge the mistake

changed, as you’ll see in chapter 4. Ready-Made Elements. Sample adventures in chapter 4, a campaign setting in chapter 5, and new maps in appendix B make it easier to run a game right away

Starting Points

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron

give an initial focus to the campaign—setting a tone and giving players an initial investment in the story. The player characters may be meeting in a tavern—but it’s their favorite tavern. The bard

of their problems. If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas, the DM can propose something and have you flesh out the details: “You’ve made an enemy of a Daask ogre named Brokentooth. How’d that

Prepare to Be Scared

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft

atmosphere of the adventure. Don’t consider fear a tactical disadvantage or something to be avoided. As part of playing a frightening game, you’re a participant in building and reinforcing a sense of dread

rules every time something frightening occurs, but your group might use them as a way to highlight individual fears and build an adventure’s overarching sense of dread. FROM THE MISTS OR BEYOND

Big Top

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

vibrant circus performances. The sound of music and laughter drifts out through the canvas door. Customers can enter the Big Top for free. The Big Top is the setting for two main events: the Big Top

chests of drawers and wardrobes spilling over with garments. If a character searches the dressing room for something fun, roll on the Costumes and Accessories table to determine what they find

Orb of Dragonkind

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

Orb of Dragonkind Wondrous Item, Artifact (Requires Attunement) Long ago, in the Dragonlance setting, elves and humans waged a terrible war against chromatic dragons. When the world seemed doomed

things: the annihilation of a particular society or organization, freedom from the orb, to spread suffering in the world, to advance the worship of Tiamat, or something else the DM decides. Random

Blessings

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

Blessings A character might receive a blessing from a deity for doing something truly momentous — an accomplishment that catches the attention of both gods and mortals. Killing rampaging gnolls

a perilous quest. For example, a paladin could receive one before setting out on a quest to slay a terrifying lich that is responsible for a magical plague sweeping the land. A character should

Introduction

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Fiendish Folio Volume 1

Introduction It’s fitting that a gaming fundraiser is named Extra Life. In our games, there’s always a raise dead spell, a secret power-up that delivers a 1UP mushroom, or something else to keep the

many forces that insist on upsetting it. Some among the Circle of Eight counsel that sharing the lore collected in this volume is the first step to setting the Balance forever off its center. Others

Invasion Encounters

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

wish. After the second encounter, the characters hear loud clanking sounds from the north—something large and metal is moving toward them. This is the boilerdrak they’ll encounter in the “Escape from

feet gouging the dirt. They wave torches and fierce blades above their reptilian heads. Five baaz draconians (see appendix B) charge toward the wharf, intent on setting buildings ablaze and murdering

Fighting the Lizards

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Storm Lord’s Wrath

addresses the fifty or so of his fellows, and they scatter, performing the tasks of setting up camp. A larger, bestial-looking lizardfolk moves closer to the leader, as if waiting for directions

lizardfolk next to him to go off into the swamp, scout for enemies, and bring back something to cook. The eight humans inside the two cages include the four soldiers from Leilon, one of whom is Private

Cult of the Eternal Flame

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse

flows of molten rock. Widespread arson and deliberately set forest fires are acceptable alternatives. Most fire cultists believe that something important and beautiful should be set on fire every day

. But even as she enjoyed the gifts he lavished on her, Vanifer hated the pasha for seeing her as a mere trophy. She left before long, robbing the pasha of a small fortune in jewelry and setting fire to

Orb of Dragonkind

Compendium - Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules

Orb of Dragonkind Wondrous Item, Artifact (Requires Attunement) Long ago, in the Dragonlance setting, elves and humans waged a terrible war against chromatic dragons. When the world seemed doomed

particular society or organization, freedom from the orb, to spread suffering in the world, to advance the worship of Tiamat, or something else the DM decides. Random Properties. An Orb of Dragonkind

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