Chapter 3: DM's Toolbox - Dungeon Master's Guide (2024)

Chapter 3: DM's Toolbox. A Blob of Annihilation attacks Sharn, the City of Towers, in the world of Eberron Whereas chapters 1 and 2 teach the essentials of being a Dungeon Master, this chapter provides advice on topics that can surface as you prepare or run a D&D game session, as well as rules for adventure elements ranging from chases and doors to traps. It also includes guidance on creating new backgrounds, creatures, magic items, and spells to amuse your players. Alignment As described in the Player's Handbook, alignment is a roleplaying tool. It is a quick way to describe a creature's moral and ethical orientation. Like other elements of the game, it's meant to be a tool to serve you and your game, not a constraint or burden. Alignment can help your game in three ways: as a tool for player characters, as a descriptor of a creature's demeanor, and as a summary of an organization's ethos. Character Alignment Some common misconceptions about alignment can cause conflicts between players and DMs. The following sections can help you navigate how player characters interact with alignment. Actions Indicate Alignment A character might think they're good and profess to believe that senseless slaughter is wrong, but if that character repeatedly engages in senseless slaughter, the character's beliefs aren't what they profess. Alignment doesn't limit the actions characters can take; rather, the actions they take indicate what their alignment is. It's OK to stray from the tenets of one's alignment now and then, and players can (and should) change their characters' alignments if these alignments no longer describe their characters. Good and Evil Can Cooperate Good and evil characters can share common goals, though they'll likely use different tactics to pursue those goals. Imagine two characters-one Lawful Good, the other Lawful Evil-who are both dedicated to stopping monsters from preying on the people of their city. The Lawful Evil character is willing to employ methods...