Welcome to Avernus

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 23:35:05 GMT

Welcome To Avernus

Welcome to Avernus is a reskin of the DnD 5e module Descent to Avernus. It uses the core concepts of the show Hazbin Hotel to make the world a little more dark humor and comedic rather than having the doom and gloom tones.

The Hotel

Your adventurers are going to be helping Charlie Morningstar, Daughter of Lucifer Morningstar, recruit demons they feel could be eligible for rehabilitation. Vaggie (Zariel) has lost faith in Charlie's mission and has decided to take matters into her own hands and punish demons. Your party is hired to help Charlie get back in touch with Vaggie before she is too far gone.

The Vanthampur Family

If you're DMing lore dumping can be annoying for you and the players. Instead I created a "team rocket" like trio that can represent the Vanthampur Family's plan to foil their plans at every corner. Don't let your party kill them but do a more or less "until next time send off" as they are defeated so that you can use the trio in ways to engage the party with familiar characters that you can lore dump on them in comedic sections as needed using these 3 character's lack of intelligence to give away the plans. The trio is always following the party to try and be annoying to their cause, just like team rocket, but they are not there to kill the party for the most part.

Is Goodberry Good in Out of the Abyss

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:06:54 GMT

Many players often believe that Goodberry serves as an excellent solution for circumventing the challenges posed by resource scarcity in Out of the Abyss. However, we’ll explore reasons that may lead you to reconsider this option.

Meet the Prisoners of Out of The Abyss

alexanderryangriffin@gmail.com (Alex Griffin) — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 18:34:19 GMT

Meet the other prisoners of Out of the Abyss from DnD 5e. A dungeon masters quick tab guide to the prisoners.

Ravenloft: Curse of Strahd 2nd Edition to DnD 5e

alexanderryangriffin@gmail.com (Alex Griffin) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:35:11 GMT

Curse of Strahd Converted from 2nd Edition to 5th Edition

Looking for an overview of Curse of Strahd 2nd Edition converted to 5th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons? Below is a chapter by chapter overview.

Pet System for DnD 5e and Shattered Realms TTRPG

alexanderryangriffin@gmail.com (Alex Griffin) — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 01:05:52 GMT

5e Pet and Animal Companion System

Ever wanted a pet animal companion in Dungeons and Dragons 5e. Now you can have one! No need to play a Ranger or Tamer. DM's can utilize these rules for other things like Beast Master Ranger, Tamer, and even spells like Find Familiar and Summon Animal.

DnD 5e Monster Tips for Dungeon Masters

alexanderryangriffin@gmail.com (Alex Griffin) — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 23:17:34 GMT

Tips for Optimizing Your 5e Monsters

Mastering your 5e monsters is key to thrilling encounters! Start by adjusting stats for balanced difficulty, utilize reactions, legendary actions, and lair actions for added complexity, and leverage terrain to enhance strategy. Remember, an engaging narrative brings monsters to life, making every battle unforgettable for your players!

Lair Actions and Environmental

Implementing lair actions and environmental combat on initiative count 20 can turn a static dungeon room into a dynamic, pulse-pounding encounter that challenges players to think tactically each round. Essentially, you treat the environment or lair itself as a “creature” that rolls (or simply acts) on initiative 20, inserting its effects just before or after the PCs act. This gives players a predictable window to react—but also a constant reminder that the terrain is as much an adversary as the monsters themselves.

To set this up, pick a thematic effect tied to the lair or environment (poisonous gas, shifting platforms, geysers of flame, etc.), decide how often it triggers (usually once per round on initiative 20), and describe its mechanical effect (damage type, area, save/DC, or forced movement). During combat, at the start of initiative count 20, narrate the environmental effect, resolve any AoE or line attacks against creatures in its area (with appropriate saves), and then continue normally.

Because initiative 20 comes up each round, the environment feels like a living, breathing opponent, adding tension without slowing the turn order. Keep the effects moderate—enough to force movement or creative thinking, but not so punishing that players constantly feel railroaded. Below are three balanced, fun, and engaging example lair/environmental actions you can drop into your next 5e encounter.

1. The Serpentine Cavern’s Acidic Mists

Description: Deep within the dragon’s last refuge, tendrils of greenish vapor slither along the cold cavern floor. On initiative 20, the lair exhales sulfurous acid mists that creep up to knee height, corroding armor and flesh if a creature stands too long in one spot.
Mechanical Effect: All creatures in a 15-foot cone must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 2d6 acid damage and have disadvantage on Strength checks until the end of their next turn (the acid eats at boots and armor). On a success, they take half damage and no penalty. Creatures can spend half their movement to edge back 5 feet out of the mist.
Tactical Impact: Players can feel the sting of acid forcing them to move constantly, repositioning to avoid getting cornered by the dragon or to flank it. Rangers might leap onto stalagmites to avoid the lowest part of the mist, while spellcasters use “earth tremor” or “shatter” on rocky outcroppings to block or disperse the mist temporarily. By placing the mist as a low‐lying hazard, you encourage verticality and make each round tense—stay still and get burned, move too recklessly and fall into the dragon’s jaws.

2. The Clockwork Fortress’s Rotating Gears

Description: In a clockwork villain’s workshop, massive bronze gears rotate in predetermined patterns. On initiative 20, the gears shift, opening and closing corridors while pushing anyone caught on narrow platforms toward crushing teeth.
Mechanical Effect: On initiative 20, choose one or two 10-foot-wide corridors or platforms. Any creature standing on those spaces must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or be shoved 10 feet toward the nearest gear teeth (take 2d8 bludgeoning damage as gears grind against armor). Even on a success, creatures are pushed 5 feet but take no damage. The corridors then lock in place until the next round’s initiative 20, potentially blocking line of sight or creating chokepoints.
Tactical Impact: This lair action forces melee characters to think twice before standing in a “safe” spot, since the terrain literally shifts beneath their feet. Rogues might use Cunning Action to dash off a platform at the last second, while fighters could grapple foes into gear‐free zones. Spellcasters can cast “web” or “grease” in the gear paths to slow or trip enemies. The rotating gears create constant ebb and flow, making positioning half the battle.

3. The Sunken Temple’s Rising Floodwaters

Description: In an ancient temple beneath a swamp, water trickles through broken levees until it gushes in full force. On initiative 20, floodwaters surge into the chamber, threatening to sweep adventurers into whirling currents.
Mechanical Effect: On initiative 20, a 20-foot-deep surge of water flows from the eastern archway into the room in a 30-foot straight line (10 feet wide). Each creature in the path must make a DC 13 Strength saving throw; on a failure, they are grabbed by the current and moved 15 feet toward a whirlpool trap (take 1d6 bludgeoning damage). On a success, they are only moved 5 feet and avoid damage. The water remains in the room for two rounds, imposing difficult terrain and covering floor switch panels (preventing them from being pressed). After two rounds, it drains back out, returning the room to normal.
Tactical Impact: Now PCs have to plan movement: do they sprint through the water at risk of being swept into a deadly whirlpool, or do they try to block off the archway with improvised barriers or spells like “wall of stone”? The prolonged flooding conveys urgency—if they linger, the whirlpool’s pull strengthens, reducing the save DC by 1 each turn. Characters with Swimming proficiency or spells like “control water” can counter the effect, but fighters and rogues must use cunning footwork to stay safe. The combination of environmental hazard and looming trap keeps everyone on edge.

By treating initiative 20 as the “turn” when these lair or environmental actions resolve, you ensure your encounters feel fluid and alive. Players learn to anticipate the timing, weaving their own actions around the room’s threats—ducking into alcoves, grappling enemies toward safer ground, or using magic to alter the terrain. This simple technique transforms a static room into a chessboard that shifts each round, making every combat memorable and engaging.

shattered-realms

Welcome to Avernus