Dragon Encounters

May 28, 2023

AZER: Turning its Terrain Into a Hazard

The azer are extremely neutral. They won’t seek out a conflict, but they won’t shy away from one either. If the players are coming after them, or if for some reason they need to attack the players, they won’t try to avoid it. Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), minion

Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, difficulty 3, difficulty 4
May 25, 2023

ANKHEG: Four Ways to use for Burrowing Monsters

The ankheg’s preferred style of combat is to burrow, and to attack by coming out of its burrow right under the victim, so that only that one person can fight back at it. Continue reading

animal, guardian (CR 0-4)

Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, Combat rating 5, difficulty 3, difficulty 4, difficulty 5, traps
May 23, 2023

RUG OF SMOTHERING: Setting the Trap

Put one or two spellcasters or archers on the far side of the rug. Leaving the area free of enemies and obstacles will give a hint about the trap being there. Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), servant

animated objects, Combat rating 2, Combat rating 3, Combat rating 4, difficulty 2
May 15, 2023

FLYING SWORD: Having it Defend or Take Down a Bridge

I’m going to begin with a rope bridge, and an objective on the other side of the bridge. I would suggest some kind of power stone that is helping the enemies Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), servant

animated objects, Combat rating 1, Combat rating 2, Combat rating 3
May 11, 2023

ANIMATED ARMOR: How to Make the Mundane Special

One of the main rules of animated objects, and animated armor in particular, is to let the players see it, and get used to it, in its non-animated form. That way, when it does animate, if feels a lot more magical, mystical. Continue reading

guardian (CR 0-4), servant

animated objects, Combat rating 1, Combat rating 2, Combat rating 3, difficulty 3, puzzle
May 9, 2023

SOLAR: Tactics for Outdoor and Indoor Fighting

The solar has two different styles of fighting, indoors and outdoors. I’ll detail them both. If your players are fighting a solar, you might want to use both, as it will save the fight from becoming boring. besides, any boss fight can use a second phase. Continue reading

boss battle (CR 17+), leader

angels, Combat rating 23, Combat rating 24, Combat rating 27, Combat rating 28, difficulty 23, traps
May 9, 2023

PLANETAR: Cross-Examining the Players’ Motives

The planetar seems built to be an ally. Unfortunately, it’s too powerful to actually join with any party, even one that is level 20. This is instruction for how to go about it if you want your players to fight alongside an overly powerful ally. Continue reading

ally (CR 11-16), leader

angels, Combat rating 19, Combat rating 21, Combat rating 22, Combat rating 24, difficulty 17
May 4, 2023

DEVA: How to Run Tests of Character In D&D

A look at possible reasons why the PCs are left to go on quests. Why the angels don’t defeat all the villains for them. (The monster manual tries to give a reason, but comes up short. All it says is that then the angels would take over completely. It doesn’t address why that would be… Continue reading

ally (CR 8-10), leader

angels, Combat rating 12, Combat rating 14, Combat rating 17, Combat rating 20, difficulty 11, social encounter
May 4, 2023

ABOLETH: Strategies for the Masters of Enslaving

Story. The players have heard of the aboleth’s presence, and they wish to meet with it. Perhaps they want information from it, perhaps they want to defeat it, or maybe it heard of them and wishes to meet [and own] them. Spin it as you wish Continue reading

boss battle (8-10), leader

Combat rating 12, Combat rating 14, Combat rating 17, Combat rating 20, difficulty 10, difficulty 11, difficulty 12, puzzle
April 29, 2023

AARAKOCRA & Making Allies, Dissuading Allies, Using Allies Properly

How to Use: Good Alignment Monsters and Social Encounters The Aarakocra are one of D&D’s good monster types. The purpose of their existence revolves around fighting evil. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that they are going to be friendly to the PC’s. Perhaps They don’t trust the PC’s, and would rather they stay away from… Continue reading

ally (CR 0-4), minion

Combat rating 1, Combat rating 1/2, Combat rating 2, difficulty 2, difficulty 3, puzzle, social encounter, theater of mind

About Me

I’ve been a DM since I was about 10 years old. (Not of D&D, admittedly, but still.) After growing bored of fights that were all the same, dungeons heavily populated by one monster type, and a general shortage of ideas, I figured I’d embark on my own trip through the Monster Manual, one monster at a time. Feel free to join the quest.

Dragon Encounters

AZER: Turning its Terrain Into a Hazard

ANKHEG: Four Ways to use for Burrowing Monsters

RUG OF SMOTHERING: Setting the Trap

FLYING SWORD: Having it Defend or Take Down a Bridge

ANIMATED ARMOR: How to Make the Mundane Special

SOLAR: Tactics for Outdoor and Indoor Fighting

PLANETAR: Cross-Examining the Players’ Motives

ABOLETH: Strategies for the Masters of Enslaving

About Me

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