Questions tagged [lore]
For questions about a setting's in-world details or background.
882
questions
32
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Will this series of events work to drown the Tarrasque?
Here's the challenge: I, a level 17 Bard taught by the College of Compulsion (a homebrew subclass), am hired by some random bumpkins to go and get rid of the Tarrasque all by my lonesome, for 5 silver ...
- 8,245
30
votes
2
answers
3k
views
+300
Are there rules and/or lore in any edition of D&D for managing time-travel paradoxes?
Background & motivation
On this question about weather prediction, user dsollen commented that someone could potentially use Druidcraft to predict the future, using the following steps:
Make a ...
- 5,617
8
votes
1
answer
972
views
What was reset in the canon between Cyberpunk 2020 and Cyberpunk Red?
Cyberpunk Red starts with a little text from the author of original Cyberpunk, and it contains in a nutshell, why Cyberpunk Red is not just a continuation of Cyberpunk 2020 and that there are a lot of ...
- 12.1k
9
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Why is the Ring of Warmth only an Uncommon item?
Related: Why is this uncommon magic item better than this rare magic item?
The related question and associated answers indicates that the opportunity costs of attunement can be significant driving ...
- 97.9k
7
votes
1
answer
548
views
How did the frequent blood hunts further Queen Anne's ambitions before the Fall of London?
I'm somewhat conflicted about the frequent blood hunts (WOD: A World of Darkness Second Edition, p. 57) because the stricter grip on the city signals weakness (WOD: A World of Darkness Second Edition, ...
- 2,308
9
votes
1
answer
662
views
Was the Tremere Curse not allowing the Banu Haqim to feed off each other deliberate or accidental?
The Clan weakness of the Assamites was, starting with the Convention of Thorns till the modern nights, the Tremere Curse:
Due to the Tremere blood-curse, should an Assamite consume the blood of ...
- 2,308
4
votes
2
answers
534
views
What is the general stance of the Camarilla on the existence of dhampirs?
Let's say that players are Camarilla agents, and I, as the storyteller, make them aware of the existence of a dhampir (humans born with one of their parents being a thin-blood, and — by V20 rules — ...
- 2,308
11
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Besides Volo's Guide, do any of the other published sourcebooks have in-universe counterparts?
Volo's Guide to Monsters, published by Wizards of the Coast in 2016, is a monster book, expanding on the monsters available to DMs. The book's namesake, Volo, is a real character in the Forgotten ...
- 144k
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Do "10th-level spells" show up anywhere in 5th Edition lore?
I saw a video a while back about some examples of so-called "10th-level spells" causing havoc, in possibly outdated lore.
I'm wondering if any of the examples of such spells have persisted ...
- 144k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How do I make an improptu fix to a lore discrepancy without it feeling forced?
For context, I'm running a Feywild campaign where I was told by one of my players (who I've noted metagames often) that pixies are evil. Turns out, they aren't, and I've already made it so my party is ...
- 346k
9
votes
1
answer
223
views
Are Norse Dwarf Chaos cults plausible?
I've decided to run a little campaign for a four player group and they together came up with a glorious idea that certainly produced a solid laugh. They ALL want to play as Norse Dwarves, each ...
- 40.1k
6
votes
1
answer
283
views
Is there any in game explanation from any edition of D&D for why Greyhawk Powers/Outsiders lost their psionics?
In the original edition of D&D (white box plus supplements version), Outsiders (meaning those who are not from the Prime Material plane, and more specifically Powers; I'm aware that this is ...
- 11.4k
8
votes
1
answer
244
views
How are Ajaba Metis being "hermaphrodites"?
I have not played W:TA before (but have been playing other systems since ~2009, mostly DnD variants and DSA 5). I will not have access to source books before session 1, where the group will create ...
- 40.1k
8
votes
2
answers
559
views
Can a hybrid Metis be born of parents of different Changing Breeds? If so, what happens?
I'm the secondary storyteller for a Werewolf: The Apocalypse game.
Our group is made out of mostly urban figures – specially Glass Walkers and Bone Gnawers – playing out a very finance-oriented pack ...
- 55k
5
votes
1
answer
777
views
What are known portals to the Hells in the Forgotten Realms?
I know that there is (or at least, used to be) one portal in the dungeons under Dragonspear Castle that linked the castle to Avernus, the first level of the Nine Hells. Are there other such fixed ...
- 97.9k
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What offspring would result from a high elf mother and a shadar-kai elf father?
I got into a debate with one of my players. They claimed that their character having a (full) high elf mother and a (full) shadar-kai elf father would be considered a high half-elf, and should use the ...
- 49.6k
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How have the Shadar-kai changed over the editions and is there any consistency to be found in the lore between editions?
In D&D 5e, the Shadar-kai are a sub-race of elves. However, it seems that in 4e, the Shadar-kai were humans. In both cases, they lived in the Shadowfell and served the Raven Queen, so it doesn't ...
- 49.6k
5
votes
2
answers
850
views
Do Shadar-kai retain their memory after their death and how do they resurrect (are they born as an infant or as from a Resurrection spell)?
In the book Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, we are presented with the prehistory of the raven queen and the subrace of the Shadar-kai elves. The book says that the Shadar-kai are not afraid of death, ...
- 49.6k
7
votes
2
answers
145
views
What are known portals to the Abyss in Greyhawk?
In the 2nd Edition Module WGR6, The City of Skulls, the players are to infiltrate Doraaka, Iuz' capital, to rescue a prisoner. They however cannot teleport there because, as the Master Elementalist ...
- 97.9k
28
votes
1
answer
712
views
What more is known about star-faring civilization(s) that crashed upon Oerth?
The old session City of the Gods ran back in 1975, which eventually became the Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (DA3), introduced such interesting sci-fi concepts such as cloning, laser pistols and ...
- 144k
16
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How does the Necklace of Adaption's bubble of air work out in practice underwater?
A recent question about the necklace of adaptation reminded me of an old question of my own that I've never been able to answer: Can a character wearing a necklace of adaption swim?
It might seem a ...
- 79
10
votes
1
answer
922
views
Are there rules that treat Ceremorphosis as an illness or curable/resistable infliction?
The Forgotten Realms have vivid descriptions of Ceremorphosis since at least Fiend Folio (2003) for most species, but The Illithiad (1998) before that shows Ceremorphosis of a Roper into a Urophion ...
- 346k
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Can a person make a magical pact for something other than warlock abilities?
If someone makes a pact with a magical entity, does it have to be warlock abilities, or can it be something more traditional — wealth, political influence, or something simple like killing someone ...
- 49.6k
-4
votes
2
answers
319
views
Can a devil patron grant a warlock immortality? [closed]
Are devils limited with regards the powers they give to a warlock by a pact? I want to know if a devil can grant immortality by a pact. Normally they want the souls after death.
- 72.8k
6
votes
0
answers
147
views
How many gods are there in oWoD? [closed]
I'm looking for a comprehensive listL
I know there is THE God, who made Angels, kicked some of them out of heaven thus making Fallen and left, bored with the state of things.
There are Egyptian Gods, ...
- 2,044
2
votes
1
answer
125
views
Are RIFTS Psi-Hounds fertile?
A few years back the magazine the Rifter published some material I submitted to Palladium- a small town in the Rifts setting, whose population partly consisted of Psi-Hound deserters and their ...
- 190k
5
votes
2
answers
258
views
Is there any more lore on Maleffluent?
I'm doing a campaign in 5e and I'm going to be bringing my PC's into 'The Forgotten Terror' scenario from the Ruby of Aggarath (Dagger, not domain.) It will have my own spin on it and rules will be ...
- 783
5
votes
1
answer
116
views
Where do I learn more about Jonas Albrecht?
W20 starts with a glorious little comic, in which a white-haired guy called Albrecht with a huge Klaive rescues a cub. Then in the Character Generation example, we learn Jonas Albrecht's setup for ...
- 2,041
11
votes
1
answer
735
views
Is there any in-game reason for Inflict xx Wound to be necromancy school?
I reviewed the spells and found this interesting fact:
Cure xxx wounds are channelling positive energy (likely via positive energy plane), so is conjuration; inflict xxx wounds are channelling ...
- 97.9k
35
votes
8
answers
8k
views
Is there a guide/reference for possible character hairstyles in D&D Forgotten Realms universe?
I was playing a D&D session as a female cleric of Qotal and, at some point, the party encountered some kind of wind monster. As I tried to cast spells requiring concentration, the DM argued that I ...
- 43.3k
18
votes
4
answers
816
views
How do aquatic races write underwater?
There are lots of situations where underwater races will want to send messages to each other, write in spell books, create maps, etc.
Are there any examples out there in D&D lore (any edition, any ...
- 371
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are Astral Diamonds made of?
In any edition of Dungeons and Dragons, or in any related fiction in any campaign setting, is there official word for what Astral Diamonds actually are? Lacking that, any hints or clues in any ...
- 144k
16
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is a Gloomblade (the magic item) in D&D lore?
In Adventurers League Season 6 (for Tales from the Yawning Portal), there were two adventures that mentioned the gloomblade:
DDAL06-02 The Redemption of Kelvan
DDEP06-02 Return to White Plume ...
- 144k
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do gods in 5e still have a "portfolio"?
Having studied the sources available to me on the 5th edition, I did not find any mention of the portfolio. We only know that now all the gods except Ao and demigods are inferior gods and nothing is ...
- 97.9k
36
votes
6
answers
13k
views
How are Githyanki effective against Mind Flayers?
The description of the Gith, particularly the Githyanki portrays them as deadly, implacable enemies of Mind Flayers, so much so that they took down the unbelievably vast and powerful ancient Illithid ...
- 39
10
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Is there any way for a Mind Flayer to go back to their original human(oid) form?
According to 5e lore, the Mind Flayer / Illithid lore reproduces via ceremorphosis: a tiny illithid-creature eats its way into the (sentient) target's brain, forcing transformation to occur some time ...
- 39
10
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Are there any monsters in D&D lore that focus on devouring memories?
Are there any monsters in D&D that would feed on memories/emotions?
I know about illithid and intellect devourers, but I was hoping there might be another type of monster that is known for that ...
- 6,483
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a common in-universe term to refer to civilized mortal humanoids in D&D?
Out-of-universe we would call them "playable races" or "character races".
Is there an in-universe term to refer to a member of a civilized humanoid race, for example humans, elves, ...
- 43.3k
5
votes
1
answer
207
views
In Lancer, where does the second "r" in "corpro-states" come from?
For some reason, in Lancer, "corporate states" are abbreviated as "corpro-states" instead of seemingly more natural "corpo-states".
Is the reason for that extra "r&...
- 1,883
5
votes
5
answers
571
views
What constitute as mechanics as opposed to lore information when it comes to races?
A bit of a while back, I asked a question about certain shadar-kai in printed material, which suggested to me that Mr. Witch and Mr. Light are not beholden to the Raven Queen as others of their race ...
- 97.9k
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why are all monasteries human?
In "Hero builders guidebook" a recurring theme is that all monasteries are in human lands only, with the book not even mentioning the idea of other races founding them. This makes it ...
- 40.1k
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What planes have predictable time warping effects?
In the 5e DMG travel to the Feywild is accompanied by a time warping effect, which is determined by rolling on a random table.
My wizard (semi-inspired by an ancient ball of fun from Critical Role) is ...
- 7,254
6
votes
1
answer
568
views
Are there famous Storm Sorcerers (or similar) in the Forgotten Realms lore?
I'm writing a D&D companion book for Hoard of the Dragon Queen (1489 DR), and in the final chapter, an unexpected ally would help the party. This ally uses the power of thunder and lightning to ...
- 46.1k
4
votes
2
answers
355
views
Can a human who has had their body stolen by an intellect devourer undergo Ceremorphosis?
As the question asks: Can a human who has had their body stolen by an intellect devourer undergo Ceremorphosis?
More importantly - would they allow such a transformation? I have taken a read through ...
- 79k
18
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Are there any official roles and/or names for the days of a tenday?
Most places and communities in Faerûn seem to be using the Calendar of Harptos. A calendar that divides the year into 12 months of 3 tendays each, and a total of 5 holidays mushed between some of ...
- 161
10
votes
1
answer
759
views
Can two mundane parents give birth to an awakened child?
Is it possible for two mundane parents to give birth to an awakened child in Shadowrun SR5? I've not been able to find any information about this in the core rulebook. By awakened, I mean someone ...
- 40.1k
8
votes
1
answer
345
views
Is there fluff available for the towns in Middenland?
Is there any fluff for the towns in Middenland, like Hargum, Holzbeck, Immelscheld, and so on? I am about to begin running the Ashes of Middenheim series, and I was wanting to add a few things on the ...
- 40.1k
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How many shadowrunners are there in Shadowrun?
How many shadowrunners are there in Shadowrun? (And, to be more specific, in Seattle?)
Is there an official stance on what percentage / how many people of the world's population can be considered ...
- 40.1k
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What is the status of the nation of Tashalar in the Forgotten Realms as of 5e?
As far as I understand, the Chultan Peninsula became an island for a time during 4e, and after the Second Sundering the regions around the Mhair Jungle were restored. Tashalar, an established and ...
- 10.1k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Which Planes Border the Astral Plane in the Great Wheel Cosmology?
After going through the Great Wheel Cosmology and going through the various wikia articles on the subject, I feel it's unclear which planes border the Astral one in D&D 5e.
I've found plenty of ...
- 9,705