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There’s no place like home.
Learn more about them here.
One of the staples in monster design fromDungeons & Dragonsis lair actions.
What if you want to create some of your own actions, though?
Either that or we want to use these actions, but a creativity block is getting in the way.
Why not check monsters with lair actions in the book and see what’s up?
Alternatively, you’re free to also check homebrew ideas from the community online.
You could also increase their AC, base health, attack or damage bonuses, etc.
you could also give them unique attacks empowered by their lair or evenaccess to spellsthey normally can’t use.
Let’s suppose that your BBEG is a master assassin - in fact, the best in your world.
When a fight happens in the lair, parts of the place can be damage sources.
We already suggested using magical darkness, a powerful way to weaken your players.
Still, you’re free to do other similar things that make their abilities less effective.
A single monster can often struggle due to a poor action economy compared to a whole party.
Join the adventure with an NPC run by the DM.
Art by Tyler Jacobson
Here are a few tips to help you run this situation.
Arcana checks can identify the spells your lair gives the villain.
1Consider The Narrative
What Lair Fits The Villain?
Art by Hinchel Or
What’s the kind of place your villain calls home?
A dragon won’t have robot minions fighting beside it - unless that makes sense in your plot.
Art by John Patrick Gañas
Assassin by Viko Menezes
Art by Linda Lithen
Hunger of Hadar by Joseph Weston
Animated Objects by Simon Dominic
Daylight by David Astruga
An Infiltration by Craig J Spearing
Tomb of Horrors by Mark Behm
