Dungeon Master's Guide

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--~ If you want to take an NPC stat block and adapt it for a specific monster race, apply the ability modifiers and add the features listed in the NPC Features table. If the NPC's AC, hit points, attack bonus, or damage changes, recalculate its challenge rating. CREATING NPCs FROM SCRATCH If you need completely new statistics for an NPC, you have two options: • You can create an NPC stat block (similar to the ones in the Monster Manual) as you would a monster stat block, as discussed in the previous section. You can build the NPC as you would a player character, as discussed in the Player's Handbook. If you decide to build an NPC the same way you build a player character, you can skip choosing a background and instead pick two skill proficiencies for the NPC. ~'--------------------------------------------------------------~~~ ~ NPC FEATURES ~ Race Aarakocra· Bullywug Dragon born'~ Drow''' Dwarf>~ Elf>'' Gnoll Gnome''' Gnome, deep Goblin Grim lock Half-elf 1 ' Half-ore* Halfling''' Hobgoblin Kenku Kobold Kuo -toa Lizardfolk Merfolk Ore Skeleton Tiefling 1 ' Troglodyte Zombie Ability Modifiers +2 Dex, +2 Wis -2 ln t, -2 Cha +2 Str, + 1 Cha +2 Dex, + 1 Cha +2 Str or Wis , +2 Con +2 Dex , +1 lnt or Wis +2 Str, -2 lnt +2 lnt, +2 Dex or Con +1 Str, +2 Dex -2 Str, +2 Dex +2 Str, -2 Cha +1 Dex, +1 lnt, +2 Cha +2 Str, + 1 Con +2 Dex, +1 Con or Cha None +2 Dex -4 Str, +2 Dex None +2 Str, -2 lnt None +2 Str, -2 lnt +2 Dex, -4 lnt, -4 Cha +1 lnt, +2 Cha +2 Str, +2 Con , -4 lnt, -4 Cha +1 Str, +2 Con, -6 lnt, -4 Wis, -4 Cha Features Dive Attack; talon attack action; speed 20ft., fly 50 ft.; speaks Au ran Amphibious, Speak with Frogs and Toads, Swamp Camouflage, Standing Leap; speed 20ft., swim 40ft.; speaks Bullywug Breath Weapon (use challenge rating instead of level to determine damage), Damage Resistance, Draconic Ancestry; speaks Common and Draconic Fey Ancestry, Inn ate Spellcasting feature of the drow, Sunlight Sensitivity; darkvision 120ft.; speaks Elvish and Undercommon Dwarven Resilience, Stonecunning; speed 25ft.; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Dwarvish - Fey Ancestry, Trance; darkvision 60ft.; proficiency in the Perception sk il l; speaks Common and Elvish -- Rampage; darkvision 60ft. Gnome Cunning; Small size; speed 25ft.; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Gnomish ·- Gnome Cunning, Innate Spellcasting, Stone Camouflage; Small size; speed 20ft.; darkvision 120ft.; speaks Gnomish, Terran, and Undercommon Nimble Escape; Small size; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Goblin Blind Senses, Keen Hearing and Smell, StoAe Camouflage; can't be blinded; blindsight 30 ft. , or 10ft. while deafened (blind beyond this radius); speaks Undercommon - Fey Ancestry; darkvision 60ft.; proficiency in two skills; speaks Common and Elvish - Relentless Endurance; darkvision 60ft.; proficiency in the Intimidation skill; speaks Common and Ore Brave , Halfling Nimbleness, Lucky; Small size; speed 25ft.; speaks Common and Halfling Martial Advantage; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Goblin Ambusher, Mimicry; understands Au ran and Common but speaks only through the use of its Mimicry trait ·- Pack Tactics, Sunlight Sensitivity; Small size; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Draconic Amphibious, Otherworldly Perception , Slippery, Sunlight Sensitivity; speed 30ft., swim 30ft.; darkvision 120ft.; speaks Undercommon Hold Breath (15 min.); +3 natural armor bonus to AC; speed 30ft., swim 30ft.; speaks Draconic - Amphibious; speed 10ft., swim 40ft.; speaks Aquan and Common -- Aggressive; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Ore Vulnerable to bli.jdgeoning damage; immune to poison damage and exhaustion; can't be poisoned; darkvision 60ft.; can't speak but understands the languages it knew in life Infernal Legacy (use challenge rating instead of level to determine spells), resistance to fire damage; darkvision 60ft.; speaks Common and Infernal Chameleon Skin, Stench, Sunlight Sensitivity; +1 natural armor bonus to AC; darkvision 60 ft. ; speaks Troglodyte Undead Fortitude; immune to poison damage; can't be poisoned; darkvision 60ft.; can't speak but understands the languages it knew in life ( ,., See the Player 's Handbook for descriptions of this race's features , none of which alter the NPC's challenge rating. ~ ·- - - - - CHAPTER 9 I DUNGEON MASTER'S WORKSHOP
The NPC Features table summarizes the ability modifiers and features of variou nonhuman races, as well as various creatures from the Monster Manual with a challenge rating lower than 1. Apply these modifiers and add these features to the PCs stat block, then determine the NPC's challenge rating just as you would for a monster. Features that can affect a monster's challenge rating are listed in the Monster Features table. The NPC's proficiency bonus is determined by its level, just like a character, rather than by its challenge rating. If the monster you want to use isn't listed on the table, use the process described below under "Monsters with Classes." MONSTERS WITH CLASSES You can use the rules in chapter 3 of the Player's Handbook to give class levels to a monster. For example, you can turn an ordinary werewolf into a werewolf with four levels of the barbarian class (such a monster would be expressed as "Werewolf, 4th-level barbarian"). Start with the monster's stat block. The monster gains all the class features for every class level you add, with the following exceptions: The monster doesn't gain the starting equipment of the added class. For each class level you add, the monster gains one Hit Die of its normal type (based on its size), ignoring the class's Hit Die progression. The monster's proficiency bonus is based on its challenge rating, not its class levels. Once you finish adding class levels to a monster, feel free to tweak its ability scores as you see fit (for example, raising the monster's Intelligence score so that the monster is a more effective wizard), and make whatever other adjustments are needed. You'll need to recalculate its challenge rating as though you had designed the monster from scratch. Depending on the monster and the number of class levels you add to it, its challenge rating might change very little or increase dramatically. For example, a werewolf that gains four barbarian levels is a much greater threat than it was before. In contrast, the hit points, spells, and other class features that an ancient red dragon gains from five levels of wizard don't increase its challenge rating. CREATING A SPELL When creating a new spell, use existing spells as guidelines. Here are some things to consider: If a spell is so good that a caster would want to use it all the time, it might be too powerful for its level. A long duration or large area can make up for a lesser effect, depending on the spell. Avoid spells that have very limited use, such as one that works only against good dragons. Though such a spell could exist in the world, few characters will bother to learn or prepare it unless they know in advance that doing so will be worthwhile. • Make sure the spell fits with the identity of the class. Wizards and sorcerers don"t typically have access to healing spells, for example, and adding a healing spell to the wizard class list would step on the cleric's turf. SPELL DAMAGE ----------------------------- For any spell that deals damage, use the Spell Damage table to determine approximately how much damage is appropriate given the spell's level. The table assumes the spell deals half damage on a successful saving throw or a missed attack. If your spell doesn't deal damage on a successful save, you can increase the damage by 25 percent. You can use different damage dice than the ones in the table, provided that the average result is about the same. Doing so can add a little variety to the spell. For example, you could change a cantrip's damage from ldlO (average 5.5) to 2d4 (average 5), reducing the maximum damage and making an average result more likely. I , CHAPTER 9 I DUNGEON MASTER' S WORKSHOP
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CREDITS D&D Lead Designers: Mike Me
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INTRODUCTION T'S GOOD TO BE THE DUN
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KNow YouR PLAYERS The success of a
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OUR WORLD IS THE SETTING FOR YOUR C
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for example, might also be patron o
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FORCES AND PHILOSOPHIES Not all div
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SETTLEMENTS The places where people
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_ lost settlements are agricultural
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each is ruled by a council of drow
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11ARPER5 ORDER OF THE GAUNTLET EMER
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dedicated to preserving the natural
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CREATING A CAMPAIGN The world you c
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PuTTING EvENTS IN MoTION -------- W
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• Describe or name the creature t
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Who or what is to blame for the los
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times of day. And some holy days ar
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CHARACTER NAMES Part of your campai
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Characters who reach 20th level hav
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DARK FANTASY Vampires brood on the
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HAPTER 2: CREATING A MULTIVERSE lHE
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"PLANAR PORTALS • aistlin's] eyes
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dead god or other chunks of rock dr
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ETHEREAL CURTAINS d8 Plane Color of
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S HADOWFELL • iven stood in the u
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wt of clashing energies and collidi
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PLANE OF FIRE Fire represents vibra
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·cinder Wastes ,, ' '" THE EM ENTA
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-=:;.·.,.,-,
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O PTIONAL RULE: INTENSE YEARNING -e
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that figure into the schemes of the
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Stygia is also home to its previous
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have the celestial type and are alw
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I' A
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USEFUL MAPS A good adventure needs
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O""i'Mi:.'i\ C.o~"L~ dl2 Goal Seize
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ongoing plan to commit more crimes,
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Suspects might be obvious or could
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on the characters. A love interest
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COMBAT ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTY There a
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medium, hard, and deadly encounters
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CHECKING FOR RANDOM ENCOUNTERS You
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CHAPTER 4: CREATING NONPLAYER CHARA
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BOND In a sentence, summarize the p
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protecting lower-level NPC party me
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o1 LL AIN 1 S METHODS d20 Methods M
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H A NNEL DIVINITY: TOUCH OF DEATH :
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eholder·s disintegration eye ray h
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after door and killing whatever lie
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(Perception) check. To set an appro
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WILDERNESS Between the dungeons and
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STRONGHOLDS Strongholds provide the
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THIN leE Thin ice has a weight tole
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RANDOM BUILDINGS Pulse-pounding cha
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~~ I , " ,.. /
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determining exhaustion. Swimming fo
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AIRBORNE AND WATERBORNE VEHICLES Sh
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actively looking for a trap can att
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15 Dexterity check using thieves' t
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To keep players from straying, save
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MoRE Do-\\~TIME AcTn~TIE Chapter 8,
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individuals interested in buying ma
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CHAPTER 7: TREASURE DVENTURERS STRI
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250 GP ART OBJECTS dlO Object Gold
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TREASURE HOARD: CHALLENGE 0-4 CP SP
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i cursed. Most methods of identifyi
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Dwarves might make items usable onl
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WHAT MINOR PROPERTY DOES IT HAVE? d
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MAGIC ITEM TABLE c dlOO Magic Item
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MAGIC ITEM TABLE G dlOO Magic Item
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MAGIC ITEM TABLE I dlOO 01-05 06-10
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APPARATUS OF K W A LISH ANIMATED SH
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BAG OF 110LOING dlOO Effect 01 Sd4
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The belt of stone giant strength an
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BooTs o• STRIDING AND SPRINGING B
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CLOAK OF THE MANTA RAY C I RCLE T O
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The tower is made of adamantine, an
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CHAPTER 7 I TREASURE
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~t il the start of your next turn,
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DR IFTGLOBE DusT OF DISAPPEARANCE E
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Eves OF THE EAGLE SERPENTINE Owe FI
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FLAME ToNGUE GAUNTLETS OF OGRE PowE
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HAMMER OF THUNDERBOLTS Weapon (maul
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1oLv AvENGER I MMOVABLE Roo 110RN O
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A stone has AC 24, 10 hit points, a
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JAVELIN OF LIGHTNING KEOGHTOM'S OIN
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To create a golem, you must spend t
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NINE LIVES STEALER Weapon (any swor
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P I PES OF liAUNTING PiPES OF THE S
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POTIONS OF HEALING Potion of ... He
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RING OF ANIMAL INFLUENCE FREE ACTIO
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RING OF P ROTECT ION RING OF SPELL
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Rose oF Eves The eyes on the robe c
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slots, up to a maximum of 5th level
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RoPE oF ENTANGLEMENT by the rope ca
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successfully copied. Whether the ch
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equal to 16 x the number of charge
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STAFF OF THE WooDLAND S STAFF OF WI
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TALISMAN OF THE SPHERE TALISMAN OF
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Vecna watches anyone using this tom
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AND OF LIGHTNING BOLTS -land, rare
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dlOO Effect 54-58 You cast darkness
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A LIGN MENT A sentient magic item h
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when it wants to communicate someth
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MAJOR DETRIMENTAL PROPERTIES MINOR
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Blessings of Moradin. If you are a
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psychic damage, and each non-evil c
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SwoRD OF KAs Wondrous item, artifac
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A character should receive only a b
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more·concerned about doing right b
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Page 238 and 239: CONTESTS A contest is a kind of abi
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Page 242 and 243: • RESOLUTION AND CONSEQUENCES You
Page 244 and 245: TRACKING Adventurers sometimes choo
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Page 248 and 249: ogres, each of which has 59 hit poi
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Page 252 and 253: OPTIONAL RULE: DIAGONALS The Player
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Page 256 and 257: SIEGE TOWER Gargantuan object Armor
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Page 260 and 261: LONG-TERM MADNESS dlOO Effect (last
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Page 269 and 270: PLOT POINTS Plot points allow playe
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Page 273 and 274: Instead of using the effect describ
Page 275 and 276: adjust the challenge rating uggesre
Page 277 and 278: STEP 9. DAMAGE VuL "ER..'\BILITIES,
Page 279 and 280: The Monster Features table list \·
Page 281: Name Light Sensitivity Magic Resist
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Page 287 and 288: Age. Aasimar mature at the arne rat
Page 289 and 290: SPELL POINTS BY LEVEL Class Level S
Page 291 and 292: DOORS Whenever a table roll indicat
Page 293 and 294: DUNGEO N: LAIR d20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8-
Page 295 and 296: GENERAL DUNGEON CHAMBERS d100 Purpo
Page 297 and 298: I / d20 2 4-8 9-12 13-14 15 16 17 1
Page 299 and 300: AIR dlOO 01-60 61-70 71-80 81-83 84
Page 301 and 302: CONTAINER CONTENTS dlOO Item dlOO I
Page 303 and 304: Monsters Challenge Rating (XP) Brow
Page 305 and 306: UNDERDARK MONSTERS UNDERWATER MONST
Page 307 and 308: Half-ogre Harpy Hippogriff Imp Kuo
Page 309 and 310: CHALLENGE 11 (7,200 XP) Vampire Mum
Page 312 and 313: APPENDIX C I MAPS
Page 314 and 315: APPENDiX C I MAPS
Page 316 and 317: APPENDIX D: DUNGEON MASTER INSPIRAT
Page 318 and 319: creating a wi lderness, 14, El emen
Page 320: shipwrecks, 118 structure (ad ventu
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