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Returning 35 results for 'something story'.
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There is no discernable rhyme or reason for where dragon root is located on Obojima. But like all such mysteries, legends abound. The story
find it peculiar that dragon root, once harvested, will grow in the exact same spot, as if marking something. Dragon root burns hotter than most woods and coals and is therefore valuable to both brewers and smiths.
Backgrounds
Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
You are the heir to something of great value — not mere coin or wealth, but an object that has been entrusted to you and you alone. Your inheritance might have come directly to you from a
determine your inheritance from among the possibilities in the table below. Work with your Dungeon Master to come up with details: Why is your inheritance so important, and what is its full story? You might
Species
Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Welcome, welcome! So good to see you again. Let me get your drink—blackroot tal with honey, yes? And then you have to listen to this story I’ve heard about the strange things going on
Ghallanda don’t sell information; they prefer to build friendship and deal in favors. But should a Ghallanda baron ever truly need something, they likely have a favor they can call in.
Ghallanda has
Gladiator
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
Learn More
Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.
Suggested Characteristics
Successful entertainers have
ideals about the practice of art and the appreciation of beauty.
D8
PERSONALITY TRAIT
1
I know a story relevant to almost every situation.
2
Whenever I come to a new place, I
Backgrounds
Ghosts of Saltmarsh
ten other people each day.
FISHING TALE
You can tell a compelling tale, whether tall or true, to impress and entertain others. Once a day, you can tell your story to willing listeners. At the DM
turn day into night.
7
Dive into the Abyss. You found yourself in an underwater cave leading to the Abyss, and your luck has been sour ever since.
8
Love Story. You fell in love with a
Entertainer
Legacy
This doesn't reflect the latest rules and lore.
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Backgrounds
Player’s Handbook (2014)
establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a
1
I know a story relevant to almost every situation.
2
Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors and spread gossip.
3
I’m a hopeless romantic, always searching
Backgrounds
Guildmasters’ Guide to Ravnica
guildless masses of the city.
Consider why you’re embedded in the secondary guild. Create a story with your DM, inspired by rolling on the following table or choosing a reason that suits you
Traits
d8
Personality Trait
1
I’m good at hiding my true thoughts and feelings.
2
When I’m in doubt about revealing something, I assume it’s a secret, and I
Backgrounds
Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus
performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.
BALDUR’S GATE FEATURE: BACKSTAGE PASS
You
high-minded ideals about the practice of art and the appreciation of beauty.
d8
Personality Trait
1
I know a story relevant to almost every situation.
2
Whenever I come to a new
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
to the next session, so give them a clear sense of where the story is headed, as well as something to look forward to.
involved in the adventure. Maybe the adventurers stumble onto something they’re not meant to see, monsters attack them on the road, an assassin makes an attempt on their lives, or a dragon shows up at the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Basic Rules (2014)
you have inspiration, you can reward another player for good roleplaying, clever thinking, or simply doing something exciting in the game. When another player character does something that really
contributes to the story in a fun and interesting way, you can give up your inspiration to give that character inspiration.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player's Handbook (2014)
you have inspiration, you can reward another player for good roleplaying, clever thinking, or simply doing something exciting in the game. When another player character does something that really
contributes to the story in a fun and interesting way, you can give up your inspiration to give that character inspiration.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
reflects the structure of dramatic stories. At the beginning of a story, something happens to shake the protagonists’ world and spur them into action. The characters take action to resolve their
Putting Events in Motion World-shaking events can happen at any time in a campaign or story arc, but the biggest incidents naturally fall at the beginning, middle, and end of a story. That placement
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
the story. Allow the character who has the highest passive Wisdom (Perception) score to see, hear, or smell something that no one else can perceive.
Details In a horror story, there’s no telling where danger might be lurking. A leering gargoyle might be a monster in disguise, or merely a fiendish sculpture. A mirror hanging on a wall might have
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
Personification Ascribing human characteristics to an inanimate thing is one way to turn something ordinary into something malevolent. A groaning house, the wailing wind, grasping mud, and a
squatting chest aren’t just mundane things—they’re characters in your story, made all the creepier thanks to their humanlike traits. Torches sputter nervously, rusty hinges shatter silence with their sudden
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen
After the Funeral After each character who wants to has shared a story or mingled with the locals, the reception winds down. Before the characters retire for the evening, Becklin approaches, thanks
them for coming, and says she has something Ispin left for them. She won’t say what it is but asks the characters to call on her at Thornwall Keep in the morning.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Rising from the Last War
Something to Lose In a noir story, things don’t necessarily end well. But any adventure carries a risk of death or failure, so what additional factors might be at risk for the characters? They should
have something to lose beyond hit points, vulnerabilities not reflected in game statistics: fear of a tarnished reputation, a threat to a friend or lover, a favorite business destroyed or taken over
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
determine what happens in the story. But the most important aspect of the game is your input. You help tell the story of your characters’ adventures.
In a moment, I’ll describe the scene you’re in, and
be more successful doing. Their skills are listed and described on your character sheet.
When your character does something that could succeed or fail, I’ll have you roll one of these 20-sided dice
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Lost Things in Yon If you used the “Lost Things” adventure hook, check the Story Tracker to see if Endelyn Moongrave has anything or anyone the characters seek to reclaim. When the characters enter
Yon, anyone who had something stolen by the hag gets the nagging sensation that it is somewhere in this realm, though the character doesn’t know where. The feeling fades when the character either
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
Why Do You Need 200 Gold Pieces? A flaw or regret is something that shapes your personality, something that plays an ongoing role in your story. But perhaps you have a problem that needs to be
something that can be part of your character moving forward. If you’re trying to reclaim a magic item from a pawn shop, it lets you establish that your character has that magic item — which could be an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
DM Tips The most important part of being a good DM is facilitating the fun of everyone at the table. Keep these tips in mind to help things go smoothly. Embrace the Shared Story. D&D is about telling
a story as a group, so let the other players contribute through the words and deeds of their characters. Encourage players to engage by asking them what their characters are doing. It’s Not a
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
something that the DM decides has a chance of both success and failure. The higher your roll, the more likely it is that you succeed. Damage The most common use for dice other than the d20 is to determine
chance of something happening. For example, a rule might say there is a 5 percent chance of something happening. You can determine whether that thing happens by rolling percentile dice; if the roll
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
gang conflict. A Callestan campaign is a dark neo-noir story. Clifftop in Upper Dura is a district catering to established adventurers. This is a place for pulp heroes, established explorers whose
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Lost Things in Thither If you used the “Lost Things” adventure hook, check the Story Tracker to see if Skabatha Nightshade has anything the characters want to reclaim. When the characters enter
Thither, anyone who had something stolen by Skabatha gets the nagging sensation that it is somewhere in this realm, though the character doesn’t know where. The feeling fades when the character either
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
something that the DM decides has a chance of both success and failure. The higher your roll, the more likely it is that you succeed. Damage The most common use for dice other than the d20 is to determine
something happening. For example, a rule might say there is a 5 percent chance of something happening. You can determine whether that thing happens by rolling percentile dice; if the roll is equal to or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
Lost Things in Hither If you used the “Lost Things” adventure hook, check the Story Tracker to see if Bavlorna Blightstraw has anything the characters want to reclaim. When the characters enter
Hither, anyone who had something stolen by Bavlorna gets the nagging sensation that it is somewhere in this realm, though the character doesn’t know where. The feeling fades when the character either
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Candlekeep Mysteries
. Sirok never got around to reading the book, and his story about the Yellowcrests was something he learned from gossiping acquaintances. The dark pedigree of Sirok’s donation was soon forgotten, and
for entry into Candlekeep, Sirok told the Avowed priests a grim story of how the patriarch of the family, Lord Yellowcrest, had returned to Waterdeep from a business trip to find his wife, their three
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Borderlands Quest: Goblin Trouble
…” Allow the players to succeed as much as possible and participate in the story. If they want to try something unexpected, try to say “yes” and work their ideas into the story. If you have to say “no” to
players and the DM are all on the same team. DMs aren’t playing against the characters. The DM wins when the players have fun and the story is exciting and memorable. Use “Yes, and …” or “No, but
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Stranger Things
world in places that the group has already visited, so they can see scary, haunted versions. Have there be strange howling noises on the wind, and make it feel like something is stalking them
loop back on themselves. None of it makes any sense. When it’s time to move the story forward, introduce the Proud Princess.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Journeys through the Radiant Citadel
can share the gossip on the What Sid Squid Knows table. What Sid Squid Knows Renown Gossip 0 Sid changes the subject to relate a story from their adventuring days. 1 Sid explains that a few vendors
business to run, which is against market tradition. 3 Sid saw Kasem stash something orange under the Xungoon family’s stall right before a sabotage occurred.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
, consider its place in your story and world. Many of the boons are extraordinary and represent the gradual transformation of a character into something resembling a demigod. The acquisition of a boon might
boons are best awarded after the characters complete a major quest, or accomplish something else particularly notable. A character might gain an epic boon after destroying an evil artifact, defeating an
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
distractions. Turn off the television and video games. If you have young children, hire a babysitter. Reducing distractions helps players stay in character and enjoy the story. It might be fine to have
players wandering away from the table and back, but some players prefer planned breaks. Have snacks. Decide before a session who will bring food and drink. This is often something the players can handle.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
influence on your behalf in subtle ways. Moon Your life is an idyllic story, except for something that makes you wonder if any of it is true. Puzzle You have part of a riddle that leads to a great
geared toward characters who rely on cunning, skills, and versatility, but any character’s story can benefit from the ideas presented here. When using this table to help shape your character’s story, you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron
players’ interest. Not every result from the table needs to be the beginning of something in your story. Simply showing that Sharn lives and thrives around the players’ characters—that it’s full of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
Using an Overarching Story This section presents a couple of examples of overarching stories which have, over the years, fueled many classic D&D campaigns. The adventurers’ goal in the first example
is to amass the power they need to defeat a powerful enemy that threatens the world. Their goal in the second example is to defend something they care about by destroying whatever threatens it. The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Book of Many Things
toward warriors—particularly fighters, barbarians, and monks—but any character’s story can benefit from the ideas presented here. When using this table to shape your character’s story, you can either
and fame are good motives, but they’re often hiding something deeper—perhaps a longing to be accepted, or a burning desire to prove your naysayers wrong.
Me? I fight to protect others and to kindle