Accents 101

dmwisdom:

dungeons-and-danis:

So if you’re a dm like me, you probably want to be relatively skilled in some typical fantasy accents for your game to make things feel that much more real. So i’ve decided to throw together a little master post of “how to” videos on some various accents. This is mostly for my own reference, but if you’d like to save this for yourself too, go right ahead. Feel free to add on to this, as well!

General Accent Tips

Scottish

English or “British”

French

Irish

Russian

German

Canadian

I don’t usually do reblogs but this may come in handy for some of you.

Disclaimer: using accents is NEVER required, but it can add a bit of fun! Don’t feel pressured to adopt one if you aren’t comfy with it!

concept for a D&D magical item

kath-artic:

-lightning bolt shaped short sword (1d6 piercing, light, finesse) possessed by the spirit of the bard who used to wield it (dude practically oozed charisma and used that to charm a bunch of goblins into becoming his followers) 

-requires attunement by a bard 

-when attuned the sword deals an additional 1d8 lightning damage and the target must succeed a con save against the bard’s spell DC or be stunned for the next round 

-also grants a +2 to charisma skill checks (persuasion, deception, intimidation, performance) 

-its mere presence in inherently charming towards goblins who must make a wisdom save against the bard’s spell DC and on a failure they will be unable to have any hostile intentions towards the wielder until they are attacked by the wielder or until they succeed a wisdom save, which they must make every hour spent near the player 

-the soul that inhabits the blade can communicate telepathically with the wielder and usually just suggests that they make bolder wardrobe choices or recycles David Bowie quotes like a follower in Skyrim that just says the same few lines of dialogue before every encounter 

-“Starsplinter, Blade of the Goblin King”

-literally just a sword inhabited by the soul of David Bowie

-“Dance magic, dance” “What kind of magic spell to use?” “Let’s dance!”

-(optional) whenever the soul trapped in the sword suggests that the wielder make a certain aesthetic choice (like shaving off their eyebrows or growing a mullet), the wielder must make a wisdom save against a DC of the DM’s choice or be forced to obey

sockablock:

Looking for stupid d&d items to spruce up your game? Here you go!

The Necklace of Fire Alarm: this object is a gorgeous, elegantly-cut ruby on a golden chain. Usually, it will lie still around the neck in a state of dormant calm. However, upon hearing any sudden, loud noises or flashes of light, the necklace will immediately become alarmed and and burst into flame. The fire lasts one minute, and is undeniably, unforgettably, scorching. Wearer beware.

The Snow Coat: a thick woolen coat that, for some reason, is always full of snow. Very cold. Very wet.

The Magnet of Missing Things: point this magical magnet in any direction, and concentrate on something you’ve lost. If it is smaller than a five-inch cube and is within a 20-ft radius, it will fly out from wherever it was hiding and attach itself to the magnet. But in return, another one of your belongings immediately goes missing, appearing in a random, hidden location within 20 feet of you.

The Band of Animal Handling: this band is a small wreath of oak leaves. It can be used once per day to instantly summon a random animal with a challenge rating of 0 into your hands. Does not help you deal with the resulting animal.

The Butterfly of Tempestuous Effect: a silver butterfly hairpin, with tiny sapphire eyes. Once per day, this pin can be used to cast the Gust cantrip. Upon the 1,000th utilization of this pin, instead of Gust, it will cast the 9th Level conjuration spell “Storm of Vengeance,” centered on itself, lasting a full 10 rounds. When the churning clouds subside, the pin resets. Try not to lose count.

And two submissions that made me laugh:

The Ring of Detecting Magic-Detecting: this ring glows faintly blue if anyone casts a Detect Magic within a 1 mile radius. Bad if two of these rings ever get too close to one another. (via @fluffy-papaya)

The Bagpipes of Invisibility: a set of scarlet bagpipes enchanted to make their user invisible. Upon playing this instrument, you instantly vanish from view. However, the invisibility wears off when the music stops—so take a deep breath, play strong, and pray your opponents are deaf. (via @madsadcatfish)

• • •

(more lists here! and if you enjoyed these, consider a ☕ ☕?)

sockablock:

Hello and welcome to this week’s installment of Jay’s Dumb D&D Items:

The Staff of Insect Plague: a gnarled wooden staff standing at 6 feet tall, topped with a smooth green stone. It can be used once per day to summon a swarm of butterflies that engulf a 20-ft cube. No damage dealt—but it is quite pretty.

The Pocket of Holding: a small pocket that can be sewn into any article of clothing. Holds up to 80 pounds of whatever will fit through the opening.

The Feather of Heavy Fall: though light as a feather to its holder, the object itself weighs as much as a kilogram of steel. It will also double your own weight, so try not to trip or walk off a cliff without noticing, because you’ll be taking 2x damage from any fall. 

A Hunk of Coal: a hunk of coal that gives a off a faint magical aura. You’re sure it has some kind of arcane properties. That’s what Detect Magic says, right? So it must, right?

Wit for Dummies: you’ve heard of Sparring and you’ve heard of Magic, now introducing Wit for Dummies! Once per day, this small leather-bound book will allow any non-bard to cast either Vicious Mockery or Cutting Words. 

Kitty Biscuits: a metal tin of 12 small biscuits. If fed to a cat/cat-like creature, it will grant advantage on animal handling checks (or persuasion checks) for 10 minutes. Also, will inexplicably attract all felines towards you in a 30-ft radius.

And one from the lovely @mochagabe:

The Ring of Purification and Refreshment: instantly turns any beverage the wearer holds into sparkling water (including but not limited to: beer, still water, poison, healing potions)

dangerouscommiesubversive:

sockablock:

I have found my new passion in life and it’s making stupid DnD items:

Potion of Fire-breathing: lets you breathe fire like water-breathing potions let you breathe underwater. Does not protect from burning, however, so best to keep this one on the shelf.

Fresh Ink: this ink will enable a user with bardic training to write the tightest, coolest, freshest verses known to man. Unfortunately, the ink will also never dry—making terrible smudging hopelessly inevitable.

The Two-Faced Coin: a talking golden coin. Both faces depict a head that can predict the future and answer “yes” or “no” questions. One speaks only the truth and one speaks only lies, and it is nearly impossible to tell which is which.

The Amulet of No Return: when placed on a dead body, this tarnished silver amulet prevents the target from becoming undead. Strangely, if worn by a living body, the wearer cannot move backwards or be moved backward.

The Scroll of Reverse Lycanthropy: can only be used on wolves. When activated, the scroll will curse the target to turn into a human being during every new moon. The target gains all the traits of a standard human, but will not remember anything about the transformation after the night ends.

T-leaves: fortune-telling tea leaves that always, inexplicably, spell out the letter “t.” Make of that what you will.

The Messenger Stone: this smooth rock can be used as a method of long-distance communication with any target in a one-mile radius. Simply write your message down on a piece of parchment, attach it to the stone with string, and hurl it as hard as you can. Make a ranged weapon attack against the AC of your target. On a failure, the stone falls to the ground. On a success, it travels the full distance to its destination. Your target takes 2d6 bludgeoning damage (doubled on a crit), and receives your message.

• • • 

(more lists here! and if you enjoyed these consider a ☕ ☕?) 

Uses for the Messenger Stone:

Party member, calling to enemy: “Lower your shield, I need to tell you something!”

*Enemy lowers shield. Is immediately hit in the face with a rock.*

Message tied to rock: “Bitch.”

Ideas for non-combat encounters/events

dare-to-dm:

For when you want some variety for your tabletop RPG.  These events will also give your players a chance to use character skills they don’t often have opportunities for.

  • Natural Disaster – Have the town the PCs are in catch on fire and see what they do!  Do they cut their losses and run?  Do they heroically try to save trapped townspeople?  What do they do about the aftermath?  Natural disasters are an interesting challenge because there can be lots of danger and drama without necessarily having a villain.  It may also get your PCs to use skills they don’t commonly have a chance to.  You could also try floods, earthquakes, raging storms while at sea, etc.
  • Powerful Fortress – Put one of your party’s goals in a location where they won’t be able to prevail through combat alone (Example: a fortress where they are vastly outnumbered).  Your players will have to rely on either stealth or guile (or both) to accomplish their goal.  The pacing of such events can be frustrating to some players, but few sessions are as rewarding as a creatively executed heist or infiltration.
  • Dangerous Crossing – Give them a dangerous physical obstacle to overcome.  A canyon, or a raging river, or quicksand or an old battleground littered with traps and mines.
  • Festival – Have the PCs encounter a festival or tournament!  With lots of contests! This could be a good opportunity for them to build their fame and fortune (especially if you allow gambling).  Some of my favorite sessions have involved festivals.
  • Entertainment – Put the PCs in a situation where they have to entertain someone.  What do they come up with?
  • Letter – Have one of the PCs receive a letter, either from an NPC they’ve dealt with before or from someone involved with their backstory.  This is a good way to make the consequences of their actions seem more real.  You can also use it to introduce new plotlines/sidequests.
  • Crafting Challenge – Put the PCs in a situation where they need to craft something in order to accomplish their goal.  Maybe they need to make something in order to fix a mechanism?  Or in order to satisfy some local gift-giving custom?  Or they need a forgery?  Maybe as part of an exchange for something else they need?
  • Lost and Found – Have your PCs discover someone or something that is clearly lost.  Maybe they find an infant in the wilderness.  Or a key with a strange inscription, or some kind of talisman.  Throw in a clue or two to present your players with a tantalizing mystery.  
  • Inhospitable Wilderness – Have the PCs go somewhere it’s an effort just to survive.  A barren desert, a treacherous swamp with poison gasses, a forest so dense the ground never sees the sun, or even the bottom of the ocean.  Test their endurance and survival skills!
  • Dinner Party – Have the PCs be summoned to a formal event!  Test them on the battlegrounds of social grace and etiquette!  Even better if it’s in a dangerous environment or an alien culture.
  • Thief – Have something important stolen from the PCs.  See how they handle it.
  • Needle in a Haystack – Give the PCs something very difficult to find.  Like a single specific housecat in a sprawling metropolis, or a legendary weapon of which there are many fakes/copies.  

Really, if you need any more inspiration, look at your player’s character sheets and see if they’ve invested any points in a skill they haven’t gotten to use much.  Then invent a challenge they could feasibly use that skill for.  If you can’t think of a situation that could be helped by an Appraise, Craft: Calligraphy or Handle Animal check, you need to practice your own creative problem solving skills!