Dungeon Master's Guide

• Describe or name the creature that warned the
populace about the oncoming disaster. Who listened?
ho were the lucky (or unlucky) ones who survived?
• Describe what the area looks like after the disaster, in
contrast to how it looked before.
~. ASSAULT OR INVASION
ne of the most common world-shaking events, an
Yasion occurs when one group forcibly takes over
.another, usually by military strength, but also by
.nfiltration and occupation.
An assault differs from an invasion in that the
acking force isn't necessarily interested in occupation
r taking power. On the other hand, an assault might be
e first step of an invasion.
Regardless of the scale, a world-shaking assault or
vasion stands out because its repercussions change
e characters' world, and its effects echo long after the
.nitial attack or takeover.
Imagine that part of your campaign world is attacked
r invaded. Depending on the current scale of your
ampaign, the area might be as small as a section
of a city or as large as a continent, world, or plane of
existence.
Define the aggressor and whether it represents a
..mown enemy or a previously unknown adversary.
-elect a threat that already poses a danger to the area
_·ou've chosen, or use the Invading Forces table to
determine the aggressor.
I NVADI NG FoRCEs
d8
Invading Force
A criminal enterprise
2 Monsters or a unique monster
3 A planar threat
4 A past adversary reawakened, reborn, or resurgent
5 A splinter faction
6 A savage tribe
7 A secret society
8 A traitorous ally
Now consider these other aspects of the conflict:
Name one element of the invasion or assault that the·
defenders didn't expect or couldn't repel.
Something happened to the first defenders who stood
against the invasion or assault-something no one
wants to talk about. What was it?
• The attackers or invaders had a motive for their
action that wasn't obvious or understood at first.
What was it?
• Who turned traitor, and at what point did they turn?
Why did they do it? Did an attacker try to stop the
incursion, or did a prominent defender throw in with
the invaders?
5. REBELLION, REVOLUTION, OVERTHROW
Dissatisfied with the current order, a person or group
of people overturns the dominant regime and takes
over-or fails to take over. Regardless of the result, a
revolution (even an attempted one) can shape the destiny
of nations.
The scale of a revolution need not involve the common
masses against the nobility. A revolution can be as small
as a merchants' guild revolting against its leadership
or a temple overthrowing its priesthood in favor of a
new creed. The spirits of the forest might attempt to
overthrow the forces of civilization in a nearby city that
cut down trees for timber. Alternatively, the scale can be
as dramatic as humanity rising to overthrow the gods.
CHAPTER 1 I A WORLD OF YOUR OWN
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