traps
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ETTERCAP (2): How to Run a Lost in the Woods Scenario
Lost in the Woods In the previous article, I described a basic ettercap encounter. One in which the players fought the ettercaps. Ettercaps are also well-suited for an encounter/game in which the players get turned around in a forest and find themselves unable to find their way out. In this article, we’ll discuss how to Continue reading
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Ettercap (1) & How to Run a Horde in D&D
Ettercaps are monsters that look like a cross between a human and a giant purple bug, and act like giant spiders. They live in large colonies of their own type, which immediately makes them a tricky monster to run in D&D encounters. How do you send the players against dozens or more of the same Continue reading
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DRACOLICH: How to Use Immortality as an Unfair Cheat
How to Use – Dracolich “Suicide” Tactics Fighting back isn’t the only way a villain can respond to the heroes’ aggression. Another way is to go after a city, or other civilians, forcing the heroes to either risk themselves in order to save the civilians, or to suffer the effects of massive unpopularity. [See below]. Continue reading
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ANCIENT SILVER DRAGON: Perils of the Fogbound Lair
The silver dragon has a lair that seems simple, but is actually a deadly maze to its enemies. Let’s explore why that is. How to Use – The Silver Dragon’s Lair (difficulty 24) Unlike with the other dragons, the silver dragon’s lair actions are actually better suited for the path to the dragon, as Continue reading
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GOLD DRAGON WYRMLING: A Garden of Beautiful Traps
D&D’s gold dragons live in splendor, with gardens of stunning color. But don’t mistake beauty for weakness—they know evil all too well. How to Use – A Gold Wyrmling and its Outdoor Defenses Combat Encounter (difficulty 4) Gold dragons live in splendor, with the outer part of their lair scenic gardens, with gently flowing Continue reading
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ANCIENT GOLD DRAGON: Life That is Like a Dream
Let’s look at enchantments the ancient gold dragon can have on its lair, and how they and the lair actions can make the fight unforgettable. How to Use – The Lair of a Gold Dragon Combat Encounters (difficulty 27) This article will be a look at some enchantments the gold dragon might have on its Continue reading
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ANCIENT COPPER DRAGON: The Host Hiding in Plain Sight
This ancient copper dragon can uses Change Shape to trick players, lure them into danger, mess them up, and strike when they least expect it. Change Shape as Combat Tactics How to Use (difficulty 24) The ancient copper dragon, like all ancient metallic dragons and several of the adult metallic dragons, has the ability to Continue reading
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ADULT COPPER DRAGON: Trials of the Acid Trickster
I already discussed in the last article how to use and not use the copper dragon’s sense of humor. I also mentioned that this dragon is closer to neutral than good, and that therefore there is probably no need to find reasons for the dragon not to join the party when you don’t want it Continue reading
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YOUNG COPPER DRAGON: The Comedian and the Crumbling Cliff
How to Use Personality of the Copper Dragon While the copper dragon is officially classified as good, I fail to see it in the flavor text description. Based on that description, I’d classify the dragon as neutral. This is not a dragon that will help vanquish evil, unless it is in its most direct self-interest Continue reading
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ANCIENT BRONZE DRAGON: How to Defend an Island Lair
How to Use – Combat Encounter (difficulty 25) Defense of the Waves If the young and adult bronze dragons live along the seaside, the ancient dragon will position itself even better, inhabiting its own island. Getting close to the island will be no small challenge, let alone fighting the dragon once on the island. The Continue reading
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.