2CGazette - Designer's Diary — ELCR

The Role of Non-Combat Spells in D&D Monster Design

Dungeon Master ELCR Game Design Monsters Spellcasting

Epic combat & non-combat spells in the Epic Legacy Core Rulebook When it comes to designing monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, it's easy to focus on their combat abilities and damage output. However, non-combat spells can play a crucial role in creating more interesting and engaging monster designs. In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of non-combat spells in monster design and offer tips on how to incorporate them effectively into your game.   The Value of Non-Combat Spells While combat is a significant aspect of D&D, non-combat spells can bring a different dimension to encounters and help create...

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The Importance of Multi-Spell Features for High-Tier Spellcasting Monsters in D&D

Dungeon Master ELCR Game Design Monsters

Application of multispell monsters in the Epic Legacy Core Rulebook High-tier spellcasting monsters in Dungeons & Dragons are a staple of epic campaigns and memorable encounters. One way to make these powerful foes more challenging and engaging for your players is by incorporating multi-spell features into their arsenal. This blog post will explore the importance of multi-spell features for high-tier spellcasting monsters, and provide tips on how to effectively integrate them into your game. For those following the blogs, this is also an expansion of the previous posts, which speaks to balancing spellcasting, and *unbalancing* spellcasting, as well as other...

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The Unexpected Role of Rogues - Survivability and Tankiness

ELCR Optimization Players

Check out Epic Rogues in the Epic Legacy Core Rulebook! Rogues in Dungeons & Dragons are often seen as stealthy, nimble characters who excel at striking from the shadows and avoiding direct confrontation. However, the Rogue class is deceptively resilient and can, in many cases, take on a tankier role in a party. So lets discuss the surprising survivability of Rogues and explore how they can contribute to a party's frontline. And hopefully help you share the burden the next time your barbarian or paladin is struggling to hold back a tide of orcs.   Evasion and Uncanny Dodge One...

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Making Monsters More Powerful - When and How to Break Spellcasting Rules in D&D

Dungeon Master ELCR Game Design Monsters

More powerful magics in the Epic Legacy Core Rulebook As a Dungeon Master, designing challenging and memorable encounters is a crucial aspect of creating an engaging Dungeons & Dragons campaign. We talked previously about how to balance spellcasting - but sometimes, bending or breaking the traditional spellcasting rules can lead to more powerful and unique monsters that surprise and challenge your players! In this blog post, we'll discuss when it's appropriate to break the spellcasting rules and explore various ways to do so while maintaining balance and fun in your game.   When to Break the Rules  Breaking the spellcasting rules...

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Creating Compelling Spell Lists for D&D Monsters

Dungeon Master ELCR Game Design Monsters

Epic magic and its application in the Epic Legacy Core Rulebook Crafting a memorable Dungeons & Dragons experience often involves designing unique and engaging monsters for your players to encounter. While we have mentioned the importance of a well curated spell list before, the topic is worth diving a bit deeper into. An essential aspect of bringing these creatures to life is their spell lists, which can define their abilities, tactics, and overall impact on the game. Choosing a spell is difficult. There are many things to consider and the consequences for getting it wrong can be high. So lets...

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