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Variant Rules

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

Variant Rules A shared campaign might use some variant rules to handle certain aspects of the game. The Adventurers League, for instance, has variant systems for gaining levels and acquiring treasure

. These “house rules,” presented below, serve as a sort of common language, ensuring that the rewards all characters receive are equivalent no matter what kind of adventure a character experienced.

Don-Jon Raskin

Monsters Dragon of Icespire Peak

":"Sling","rollDamageType":"bludgeoning"} bludgeoning damage.A fearless troubleshooter who has experienced more than his fair share of adventures. Full of bluster and stories of his great exploits, Don-Jon

Brave. Don-Jon has advantage on saving throws against being frightened. Not Dead Yet (Recharges after a Long Rest). If damage reduces Don-Jon to 0 hit points, he drops to 1 hit point instead and

Cultist (Knights of the Black Sword)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

Levistus, the archdevil who rules Stygia, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells, from the confines of an ice prison from which he cannot escape. Most of the cultists are Icewind Dale natives who would

have perished in the wilderness had Levistus not intervened on their behalf. The cultists’ stories are all the same: the archdevil reached out to them in their minds as they were freezing to death

Amnizu

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

have no personalities or memories; they’re driven only by the desire to commit evil. The amnizus that patrol here drill the rules of the Nine Hells into the new arrivals’ minds and marshal

them into legions. Amnizu (Summoner Variant);Variant: Devil Summoning Some amnizus have an action that allows them to summon other devils: Summon Devil (1/Day). The amnizu summons 2d4

Gnoll Witherling

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

against each other, perhaps to determine who rules a war band or because of extreme starvation. Even under ordinary circumstances, gnolls that are deprived of victims for too long struggle to control

the remains back to a semblance of life in the form of a gnoll witherling. Witherlings travel with their comrades and try to kill anything in their path. They don’t eat and aren’t motivated

Cult Fanatic (Knights of the Black Sword)

Monsters Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden

","rollDamageType":"piercing"} piercing damage.The Knights of the Black Sword are a secret society of cultists devoted to Levistus, the archdevil who rules Stygia, the sixth layer of the Nine Hells, from the

’ stories are all the same: the archdevil reached out to them in their minds as they were freezing to death, offering a second chance at life in exchange for their absolute devotion. After they

Dragon Turtle Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

characters, and use the Dragon Turtle Spellcasting 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 those rules to these aquatic dragons.) Dragon Turtle Personality Traits d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Trait"} Trait

Young Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

explicitly include dragon turtles in the variant rules for making a dragon a spellcaster, you can apply those rules to these aquatic dragons.) Dragon Turtle Personality Traits d8

suggestions for stories and adventures involving dragon turtles. Dragon Turtle Adventure Hooks d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Adventure Hook"} Adventure Hook

Emerald Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

for the information I glean, I don’t care what others do with it. (Evil) Emerald Dragon Adventures The Emerald Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and adventures

be the center of attention. Emerald Dragon Ideals d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"} Ideal 1 Seclusion. It’s safer if others don&rsquo

Crystal Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

) 6 Control. Everyone is welcome, as long as they follow my rules. (Lawful) Crystal Dragon Adventures The Crystal Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and adventures

go on dangerous excursions so they’ll return with interesting stories to tell the dragon. 5 A crystal dragon wyrmling finds ice mephit;ice mephits to be the perfect household servants

Variant Human Legacy

Species Basic Rules (2014)

If your campaign uses the optional feat rules from the Player’s Handbook, your Dungeon Master might allow these variant traits, all of which replace the human’s Ability Score Increase trait.

Derro

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

themselves. Most dwarves don’t recognize derro as kin, but the legends that derro tell about their people and the story that duergar believe share a grain of truth. According to the histories of

power that the dwarves became Aberrations. Derro tell their own stories of flight and survival in the Underdark, in which mind flayers aren’t always the enemy. They tell of two brothers, the

Young Emerald Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

paid for the information I glean, I don’t care what others do with it. (Evil) Emerald Dragon Adventures The Emerald Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and

like to be the center of attention. Emerald Dragon Ideals d6;{"diceNotation":"1d6","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Ideal"} Ideal 1 Seclusion. It’s safer if others don

Kenku

Species Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

that there are as many kenku origin stories as there are kenku. Some of them paint their genesis as a curse, being a flightless bird people doomed to mimic other people’s creations. Other kenku

member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When determining your character&rsquo

Criminal / Spy Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

than most people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society

; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you. Variant Criminal: Spy Although your capabilities are not much different

Ancient Dragon Turtle

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

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

those rules to these aquatic dragons.) Dragon Turtle Personality Traits d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType":"roll","rollAction":"Trait"} Trait 1 I speak slowly and deliberately

Wereraven Legacy

monsters Curse of Strahd

light weapons. They are reluctant to make bite attacks in raven form for fear of spreading their curse to those who don’t deserve it or who would abuse it. A Kindness of Wereravens. Wereravens

, modestly give money to charity. They take steps to keep magic items out of evil hands by stashing them in secret hiding places. Characters as Wereravens. The Monster Manual has rules for characters

Derro Savant

Monsters Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse

, even among themselves. Most dwarves don’t recognize derro as kin, but the legends that derro tell about their people and the story that duergar believe share a grain of truth. According to the

’ psionic power that the dwarves became Aberrations. Derro tell their own stories of flight and survival in the Underdark, in which mind flayers aren’t always the enemy. They tell of two

Entertainer Legacy

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

. d6 Ideal 1 Beauty. When I perform, I make the world better than it was. (Good) 2 Tradition. The stories, legends, and songs of the past must never be forgotten, for they teach us

Guild Artisan / Guild Merchant Legacy

Backgrounds Player’s Handbook (2014)

in the guild’s good graces. Variant Guild Artisan: Guild Merchant Instead of an artisans’ guild, you might belong to a guild of traders, caravan masters, or shopkeepers. You don&rsquo

Young Sapphire Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Preservation. Most creatures cannot be trusted to properly safeguard historically significant artifacts. I can. (Lawful) 3 Knowledge. The stories surrounding every piece in my collection are as

important as the treasures themselves. (Any) 4 Order. An organized hoard makes me happy—and you don’t want to see me unhappy. (Lawful) 5 Preparation. Justice and righteousness do

Wilfred Godefroy

monsters

. Wilfred makes one Object Slam attack.Lord Wilfred Godefroy rules the afterlife of all who die in Mordent. Arrogant, impatient, and vengeful, the Darklord seeks any opportunity to exert his control and

. He uses his control over the dead to influence the living, threatening to harm his victims’ dead loved ones if they don’t obey his fickle commands. A generation ago, the creators of the

Noble Legacy

Backgrounds Basic Rules (2014)

inheritance that no one cares what you do, as long as you don’t embarrass the family? How does the head of your family feel about your adventuring career? Are you in your family’s good graces, or

. 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 (see the sidebar

Tortle Legacy

Species The Tortle Package

set out on their own. Beliefs Tortles don’t have their own pantheon of gods, but they often worship the gods of other races. It’s not unusual for a tortle to hear stories or legends

what little time they have left telling stories to their offspring. Within a year, the young tortle becomes an orphan, though not before it learns to speak and to survive on its own. A young tortle

Fisher

Backgrounds Ghosts of Saltmarsh

nature. 2 My friends are my crew; we sink or float together. 3 I need long stretches of quiet to clear my head. 4 Rich folk don’t know the satisfaction of hard work. 5 I

might not. D6 IDEAL 1 Camaraderie. Good people make even the longest voyage bearable. (Good) 2 Luck. Our luck depends on respecting its rules — now

Criminal - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society. Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth Tool Proficiencies: One

always occur in shady venues. Variant Criminal: Spy Although your capabilities are not much different from those of a burglar or smuggler, you learned and practiced them in a very

Sapphire Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

. The stories surrounding every piece in my collection are as important as the treasures themselves. (Any) 4 Order. An organized hoard makes me happy—and you don’t want to see me

treasures are the guests who stop by to see it. (Good) Sapphire Dragon Adventures The Sapphire Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and adventures involving sapphire dragons

Proficiency Bonus Legacy

Rules

(History) checks. In general, you don’t multiply your proficiency bonus for attack rolls or saving throws. If a feature or effect allows you to do so, these same rules apply.

Characters have a proficiency bonus determined by level, as detailed in chapter 1. Monsters also have this bonus, which is incorporated in their stat blocks. The bonus is used in the rules on ability

Deep Dragon Wyrmling Legacy

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

Dragon Adventures The Deep Dragon Adventure Hooks table offers suggestions for stories and adventures involving deep dragons. Deep Dragon Adventure Hooks d8;{"diceNotation":"1d8","rollType

it to the surface world. Lost and confused, the wyrmling has been captured by a group of cruel adventurers. 3 A deep dragon wyrmling whimsically rules over a worshipful group of kobolds, sending

Lady Illmarrow

Monsters Eberron: Rising from the Last War

— an ancient lich said to dwell in a castle of bone and ice in the coldest regions of the Lhazaar Principalities. Some stories say that she is served by a legion of undead and that she maintains a

Lady Illmarrow believe that she’s a champion of their faith, but they don’t worship or serve her. And the powers of priests of the Blood of Vol don’t come from Lady Illmarrow. Necrotic, Poison; Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing from Nonmagical AttacksCold, Lightning

Topaz Dragon Wyrmling

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

protectors who don’t understand the dragons’ proclivity for destroying large swaths of countryside. Beyond that, topaz dragons dislike company and grow irritated when disturbed. But anyone who

my territory has forfeited its right to be upset by anything I do to it. (Evil) 5 Wonder. Though I don’t wish to spend time in it, my soul sings at the sight of the vast beauty of the

Nafas

Monsters Quests from the Infinite Staircase

to the extradimensional realm that created him. From the steps of the staircase, Nafas hears the wishes of creatures across the multiverse but cannot act on them. Moved by their stories but barred by

long-departed comrades. These mirages don’t hold up to physical inspection and vanish after a brief interaction. Safe Descents. Within 3 miles of the lair, winds buoy creatures that fall

Noble - Baldur's Gate

Backgrounds Baldur’s Gate: Descent into Avernus

inheritance that no one cares what you do, as long as you don’t embarrass the family? How does the head of your family feel about your adventuring career? Are you in your family’s good graces, or

; without question, and any corruption among guards or government officials tends to work in your favor, not against you—at least until you make some effort to expose it. Variant Noble: Knight A

Owlin

Species Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos

, has a special tag in the rules that identifies the type of creature they are. Most player characters, including owlin, are of the Humanoid type. Creature types don’t have rules themselves, but

additional rules during character creation. Ability Score Increases When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one of those scores by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or

Young Topaz Dragon

Monsters Fizban's Treasury of Dragons

their coastal territories overlap, and they can nurture an inexplicably intense hatred of these metallic dragons. They can also draw the ire of druids and other nature protectors who don’t

forfeited its right to be upset by anything I do to it. (Evil) 5 Wonder. Though I don’t wish to spend time in it, my soul sings at the sight of the vast beauty of the ocean. (Good) 6 Code of

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