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Returning 35 results for 'spikes of rules defeating variants'.
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Volo's Guide to Monsters
One useful trick: if ye face bugbears who have severed heads on spikes as trophies, cast a spell to make the heads speak. After that, ye can cozen the bugbears into doing almost anything.
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those he kills and puts them on spikes in his den, where they utter pleas for mercy and sing paeans to his might. Grankhul watches over Hruggek when he sleeps, but if he must be elsewhere, he whispers
Monsters
Fizban's Treasury of Dragons
62,000 XP (124,000 XP total) for defeating the dragon turtle after its Blessing of the Sea activates.
Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If the dragon turtle fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed
table to help select spells for a spellcasting dragon. (Though the Monster Manual doesn’t explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply
Monsters
Mythic Odysseys of Theros
up to her speed without provoking opportunity attacks.
Snaky Hair. Hythonia makes one attack with her snaky hair.
Petrified Earth (Costs 2 Actions). Hythonia causes stone spikes to erupt from the
creatures in one encounter. Award a party 36,000 XP for defeating Hythonia after she uses Shed Skin.
Hythonia’s Lair
Hythonia makes her lair on Skathos, an island where a secret sect of
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
you take the action. This entry also provides the DC for the action. Craft. This entry lists what, if anything, you can craft with the tool. For crafting rules, see “Crafting Equipment” later in the
chapter. Variants. This entry appears if the tool has variants, which are listed. Each requires a separate proficiency.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
you take the action. This entry also provides the DC for the action. Craft. This entry lists what, if anything, you can craft with the tool. For crafting rules, see “Crafting Equipment” later in the
chapter. Variants. This entry appears if the tool has variants, which are listed. Each requires a separate proficiency.
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
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Dungeon Master’s Guide (2014)
magic items. The options in this chapter relate to many different parts of the game. Some of them are variants of rules, and others are entirely new rules. Each option represents a different genre, style
Chapter 9: Dungeon Master’s Workshop As the Dungeon Master, you aren’t limited by the rules in the Player’s Handbook, the guidelines in these rules, or the selection of monsters in the Monster Manual
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus
menacing war machines can crush entire hordes of demons or deliver shock troops behind enemy lines. Infernal war machines are made of infernal iron and bristle with spikes, blades, chains, and siege
weapons. An infernal war machine’s engine roars a bass, growling rumble with an undertone of agonized screams as its furnace burns souls for fuel. This appendix includes stat blocks for infernal war machines, rules for running and repairing them, and guidelines for handling chases in Avernus.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
33. Ghohlbrorn’s Grave The Dwarvish word for bulette is “ghohlbrorn,” and one of King Melair’s greatest battles was fought against such a creature. After defeating the bulette, the king had its body
. Spiked Pit This hidden pit is 10 feet wide, 30 feet deep, and lined with adamantine spikes. A character who searches the floor for traps and succeeds on a DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check spots the trap
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Eberron: Forge of the Artificer
the following list: Ball Bearings Flask Pouch Basket Grappling Hook Rope Bedroll Hunting Trap Sack Bell Jug Shovel Blanket Lamp Spikes, Iron Block and Tackle Manacles String Bottle, Glass Net
Tinderbox Bucket Oil Torch Caltrops Paper Vial Candle Parchment Crowbar Pole See the rules for the item in the Player’s Handbook. The item lasts until you finish a Long Rest, at which point it vanishes. You
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
variants of the monsters discussed in chapter 1. This chapter is a continuation of the Monster Manual and adopts a similar presentation. If you are unfamiliar with the monster stat block format, read the
introduction of the Monster Manual before proceeding further. It explains stat block terminology and gives rules for various monster traits — information that isn’t repeated here. As with the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Quests from the Infinite Staircase
Character Advancement If you want to use story-based level advancement, the characters receive experience points for achieving milestones rather than defeating monsters. When the characters leave the
hearts carry the heroes further than strength of arms.
This updated version of the adventure reimagines Caerwyn and Porphura’s—originally Porpherio’s—garden as the Eternal Garden, a domain in the Feywild, and the Green Man as the Gardener, the benevolent archfey who rules it.
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
Points (XP) a monster is worth is based on its CR, as detailed in the Experience Points by Challenge Rating table. XP is awarded for defeating the monster in combat or otherwise neutralizing it
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden
he moves the lever to trigger a trap. Trap. When the lever is pulled, iron spikes spring out from the floor and ceiling to form barriers across each doorway. A creature in either opening must succeed
on a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw or take 7 (2d6) piercing damage from the spikes and be restrained until the spikes are retracted or the barrier is destroyed. The spikes can be retracted only by
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Heroes of the Borderlands
ooze seeps from the supplies with a hideous squelching noise and fights the characters. Roll Initiative! Preparing for Combat. Use the “Combat” section of the D&D Beyond Basic Rules, along with the
Trail Map and the Gray Ooze Glob stat block, to run this encounter. Reward After defeating the ooze, carting the goods is straightforward work. When the characters return to Oleira, she’s shocked to
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
spikes at the bottom. A creature that steps on the breakaway floor falls into the pit, taking 10 (3d6) bludgeoning damage from the fall and 10 (3d6) piercing damage from the spikes. The pit remains
(see “Gates”). The rules of this gate are as follows: If one pint or more of any liquid is poured on the floor within 5 feet of the arch, the gate opens for 1 minute. Characters must be 9th level or
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes
The Balance The demons and the devils both foresee their own versions of the future of the multiverse — a cosmos in which one side or the other triumphs in the Blood War and rules for the rest of
discouraged from seeking out and defeating Demogorgon, because doing so could weaken the Abyss enough to allow the forces of the Nine Hells to gain a firm foothold there. An adherent of the Balance
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Volo's Guide to Monsters
who have severed heads on spikes as trophies, cast a spell to make the heads speak. After that, ye can cozen the bugbears into doing almost anything.
— Elminster
Gang Mentality Since bugbears
, Hruggek and Grankhul often fight alongside each other, preying upon all they encounter as is their right as superior warriors. Hruggek takes the heads of those he kills and puts them on spikes in his den
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Mythic Odysseys of Theros
makes one attack with her snaky hair.
Petrified Earth (Costs 2 Actions). Hythonia causes stone spikes to erupt from the ground in a 30-foot radius centered on her. The area becomes difficult terrain
until the start of her next turn. Any creature, other than Hythonia, takes 9 (2d8) piercing damage for every 5 feet it moves on those spikes.
Mythic Actions
If Hythonia’s mythic trait is active, she
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Spelljammer: Adventures in Space->Light of Xaryxis
already joined). The “Vortshu and T’kitka at Vocath” sidebar shows these rules in play. VORTSHU AND T’KITKA AT VOCATH
The following is an example of the “Forming a Coalition” rules in play.
A
ways:
By challenging the thri-kreen representative to a duel (which T’kitka declines, but the challenge alone is enough to win over Vortshu) By defeating Vortshu in a wrestling match, which
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk
requires quelling all the crypt hauntings and defeating the ghosts. When this happens, a sigh like grinding stone echoes through the crypt, and each room momentarily flickers with light. No more crypt
the rules for blessings presented in the Dungeon Master’s Guide: Blessing of Dumathoin. Your eyes become keen enough to pick out hidden secrets. You gain darkvision. If you already had darkvision, you
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Vecna: Eve of Ruin
Mordenkainen is Kas in disguise, it counts as a secret for the purposes of the Power of Secrets rules in this book’s introduction. If They Find Out? Diana Cearley Malaina van Talstiv Although it’s unlikely, the
, award the characters the appropriate number of milestone level-ups so they have a fair chance of defeating the threats in the adventure’s final chapters.
compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Legends of Greyhawk: Secrets of the Free City
the less fortunate and to drive evil from the land. Its nature sometimes manifests in a less-than lawful or legal manner, and it always puts people over rules. The sword always believes it knows best
. Alternatively, defeating the cultists and the cultist fanatic also ends the ritual, dispelling all summoned mephits. Failure. If the adventurers are unable to stop the ritual before Fragarach is reduced to 0 Hit
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Player’s Handbook
. 1 CP Scholar’s Pack 22 lb. 40 GP Shovel 5 lb. 2 GP Signal Whistle — 5 CP Spell Scroll (Cantrip) — 30 GP Spell Scroll (Level 1) — 50 GP Spikes, Iron 5 lb. 1 GP Spyglass 1 lb. 1,000 GP String — 1 SP
feet of yourself. The target must succeed on a Dexterity saving throw (DC 8 plus your Dexterity modifier and Proficiency Bonus) or take 1d4 Fire damage and start burning (see the rules glossary
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Whistle — 5 CP Spell Scroll (Cantrip) — 30 GP Spell Scroll (Level 1) — 50 GP Spikes, Iron 5 lb. 1 GP Spyglass 1 lb. 1,000 GP String — 1 SP Tent 20 lb. 2 GP Tinderbox 1 lb. 5 SP Torch 1 lb. 1 CP Vial — 1 GP
throw (DC 8 plus your Dexterity modifier and Proficiency Bonus) or take 1d4 Fire damage and start burning (see the Rules Glossary). Ammunition (Varies) Ammunition is required by a weapon that has the
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Monster Manual (2014)
fate. Baphomet The demon lord Baphomet, also known as the Horned King and the Prince of Beasts, rules over minotaurs and other savage creatures. If he had his way, civilization would crumble and all
rotting heads of his enemies, while his dark armor is set with spikes and skull-like serrations. He carries a huge glaive named Heartcleaver, but often hurls it into the fray so as to face his enemies with
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
stones form one of Halaster’s magic gates (see “Gates”). Its rules are as follows: Any creature that touches one of the standing stones is targeted by a maze spell (save DC 22). To open the gate, a
enter the area. The quaggoths drop to the floor or crawl down the walls to attack intruders they don’t recognize. 12d. Giant Lizard Pen Monsters. Ten docile giant lizards are tethered to iron spikes
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a5
when a Small or larger creature places weight on it. A creature that triggers the lid must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or fall 20 feet onto a bed of stone spikes, taking 7 (2d6
also make changes to the abilities they can use. A reduced-threat creature is worth half the normal XP earned for defeating it.
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
of reciprocity dictates that guests repay her kindness (see “Rules of Conduct” earlier in the chapter). If the characters aren’t sure what to give her, Tsu says, “Any old trinket will do.” If the
rows of severed bullywug heads, all impaled on spikes, chatter at each other. Waterlogged Battlefield The characters come upon a bog that was the site of a battle between elves and fomorians long
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
battle, Meadowleaf calls off the attack. The dryad is too bitter and angry to apologize for any errors in judgment on her part. Reminding her of the rule of hospitality (see “Rules of Conduct” in
. If the characters pass this way again after defeating the hag, they find the old tree’s branches covered in fresh green buds—a sign that the grandfather oak is healing. Jabberwock’s Trail The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->The Wild Beyond the Witchlight
. The crate contains the carcass of a curled-up, eight-legged reptile with spikes running down its back. With a successful DC 15 Intelligence (Nature) check, a character can determine that it’s the
desperation compels you to enter my home, little darlings?”
See “Dealing with Bavlorna” below for advice on how to run an encounter with the hag, keeping in mind the rules of hospitality, ownership, and
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
have closed off the tombs. Opening the doors requires removing the wedged spikes, which takes a few minutes with the right tools. A successful DC 25 Strength check allows a character to force the
doors without removing the spikes. If the characters open the doors, read the following text: Beyond the doors, the floor declines toward a great chasm. The tombs and crypts of dwarves sprawl like a city
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Curse of Strahd
in the north wall. (See “Sample Traps” in chapter 5, “Adventure Environments,” of the Dungeon Master’s Guide for the rules on how this trap functions.) The trap resets when the weight is lifted and
victim or victims fall into the pit, its doors snap shut. (See “Sample Traps” in chapter 5, “Adventure Environments,” of the Dungeon Master’s Guide the rules on locking pits and spiked pits.) The
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Tales from the Yawning Portal->a6
bronze horn to warn the hall (see area 2). The giant has four rocks for throwing. If the characters are returning after severely defeating the giants, a ballista (from the arsenal at 10A) will be set up
that is not a potion or a scroll should be disregarded but not rerolled. Chest 4 is unlocked and trapped. It contains 1,600 gp. If its lid is lifted before the trap is disabled, numerous spikes shoot
Compendium
- Sources->Dungeons & Dragons->Princes of the Apocalypse
seven small gold spikes project upward.
The crowned helmet is an ancient dwarven relic (see “Treasure” below) that radiates strong magic when scrutinized with a detect magic spell. As soon as
protective of the pool and attacks intruders. The mephits join in, but unlike the myrmidon, each one reduced to fewer than 10 hit points flees. See area G6 for rules about moving through the river of