Alarm 5e - D&D 5th Edition Spell Book

Alarm 5e DnD Spell
Alarm 5e Image

Alarm 5e Spell Effects

1st-level abjuration (ritual)


Casting Time: 1 minute

Range: 30 feet

Components: V, S, M (a tiny bell and a piece of fine silver wire)

Duration: 8 hours


You set an alarm against unwanted intrusion. Choose a door, a window, or an area within range that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. Until the spell ends, an alarm alerts you whenever a Tiny or larger creature touches or enters the warded area. When you cast the spell, you can designate creatures that won't set off the alarm. You also choose whether the alarm is mental or audible.


A mental alarm alerts you with a ping in your mind if you are within 1 mile of the warded area. This ping awakens you if you are sleeping.


An audible alarm produces the sound of a hand bell for 10 seconds within 60 feet.


All information about Alarm 5e comes from the DnD Player's Handbook.

Alarm 5e

Classes That Can Cast Alarm 5e

The following classes gain access to casting Acid Splash 5e as part of their normal class spell availability:


Alarm Usefulness

Alarm 5e is a very useful spell depending on your party's adventuring style, and chances that you'll be ambushed. Theoretically, alarm should be a top-tier spell almost no matter what adventure your group is undertaking. However, as I can personally attest to, some groups prefer combat encounters over roleplay or exploration-type encounters.


Obviously, alarm is not a combat-based spell, so that's why its effectiveness really depends on how your group plays. It should be noted that ritual-cast spells do not consume spell slots, and they do not need to be prepared first, before they may be used. This means that even if you spend your prepared spell slots on other utility spells or combat-based spells, you may still cast alarm at any time.


Given that alarm, even as a 1st-level spell does not take up a spell slot to cast, it should be a staple for probably every artificer, ranger, and wizard, regardless of how your group plays. You never know when being alerted to someone entering your warded space may provide you with a drastic advantage.

Combine Alarm 5e with the Following Spells

One of the most fun parts of playing D&D is the interaction so many spells have with one another. Since games like DnD allow for near-unlimited player creativity - especially when it comes to roleplaying-based spells like alarm 5e - you can really create some interesting combinations.


One idea you can use is to combine alarm 5e with silence 5e. Any area that you ward with alarm would then also take on a complete lack of sound. Of course, silence requires concentration, and only lasts for 10-minutes, so it would't be practical to use to ward an area while sleeping, or potentially even for taking a short rest.


However, you could cast alarm 5e on an area and silence it, as a trap. Whenever someone walks into the alarm area, they're deafened from silence, and so if your party has eyes on them, you can attack without them having any indication that the attack is coming (perhaps aside from the silence effect itself, if the target's particularly perceptive).


Alarm 5e Counters

There are many ways to deal with alarm 5e, though many of them show up beyond 4th level (such as dispel magic, which is a 3rd-level abjuration spell, attainable by some classes at 5th-level). Other options include scrolls or magic items that may disable the effect.


Short of having expensive resources or powerful dispel magic effects, the best way to deal with an alarm spell is to go around the spell effect's area of coverage. Of course, this approach may not always be effective, such as in a case where you need to pass through an alarm-warded cave, or break into an enemy's alarm-warded camp.


It is worth noting, however, that alarm 5e only alerts its caster to "creatures" who enter the warded space, not - say - arrows or damaging spells such as acid splash 5e. So, if you can find someone to attack in an area affected by alarm, getting in an ambush round for attacks may be a good way to deal with the effect, as well.

Alarm-Type Spells in Eternity TTRPG

In the Eternity TTRPG Game System (my own independently-published TTRPG), every class has its own unique spells and abilities, which all have combat application. Instead of having spells that are broken down into "combat-based" and "roleplay-" or "exploration-based," all spells can be used creatively by players in a way that fits with the spell's intent.


This means that a player casting the sage spell "Blessed Light" (which heals allies) could also cause an effect like brightened light in a dark cave, or something similar. The only restrictions on using spells or abilities in roleplay scenarios is that the creatively-determined effect can't be more powerful than the spell would otherwise be in combat, beyond what its name would imply its capabilities should be, or beyond its originally intended effect.


Below is one spell, as an example, that could be an Eternity TTRPG equivalent for the alarm 5e spell.

Druid Class Icon

Druid - Core Class Spell

Wolf Shape (Magic - Shapeshift): you shapeshift into a wolf. You gain +2Initiative and +3Speed, but you have -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will. You can also see in the dark and you have a heightened sense of hearing and smell. Monsters will not attack you if they only see you in “Wolf Shape” unless you attack them. You can cast Spells while in “Wolf Shape,” but you can only make physical attacks at 1Range. Leaving “Wolf Shape” is an Instant Action.

You can only benefit from one

“Shapeshift” form at a time. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Spell for

3Inspiration.

  • (Nature's Wrath) You shapeshift into a werewolf. Gain either +3Strike Bonus or +3Faith. All other effects are the same. If you leave “Wolf Shape” but then shapeshift back later in the Battle, you still get the benefits of this Critical. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 6Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Nature's Healing) You shapeshift into a werewolf. Every turn, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, heal +1HP. This Critical allows you to heal 1HP above you normal max HP. Every time you heal with this effect, you are also Fatigued, giving -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will for 1Day Duration (can stack without limit). If you leave “Wolf Shape” but then shapeshift back later in the Battle, you still get the benefits of this Critical. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Primal) Instant Action. When you use this Critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. 


It wouldn't be beyond the scope or intention of the "Wolf Shape" spell to say that the character's heightened senses of hearing and smell would provide an alarm effect whenever anyone unknown by the party might enter the area. Since the Wolf Shape spell effect can be maintained indefinitely, it would also be no problem for a party to go to sleep with the "wolf" in their midst, providing continual protection via their perception.


Curious to learn more? Check out the Eternity TTRPG Core Game!

Druid - Core Class Spell

Wolf Shape (Magic - Shapeshift): you shapeshift into a wolf. You gain +2Initiative and +3Speed, but you have -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will. You can also see in the dark and you have a heightened sense of hearing and smell. Monsters will not attack you if they only see you in “Wolf Shape” unless you attack them. You can cast Spells while in “Wolf Shape,” but you can only make physical attacks at 1Range. Leaving “Wolf Shape” is an Instant Action.

You can only benefit from one “Shapeshift” form at a time. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Spell for

3Inspiration.

  • (Nature's Wrath) You shapeshift into a werewolf. Gain either +3Strike Bonus or +3Faith. All other effects are the same. If you leave “Wolf Shape” but then shapeshift back later in the Battle, you still get the benefits of this Critical. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 6Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Nature's Healing) You shapeshift into a werewolf. Every turn, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, heal +1HP. This Critical allows you to heal 1HP above you normal max HP. Every time you heal with this effect, you are also Fatigued, giving -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will for 1Day Duration (can stack without limit). If you leave “Wolf Shape” but then shapeshift back later in the Battle, you still get the benefits of this Critical. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Primal) Instant Action. When you use this Critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. 


It wouldn't be beyond the scope or intention of the "Wolf Shape" spell to say that the character's heightened senses of hearing and smell would provide an alarm effect whenever anyone unknown by the party might enter the area. Since the Wolf Shape spell effect can be maintained indefinitely, it would also be no problem for a party to go to sleep with the "wolf" in their midst, providing continual protection via their perception.


Curious to learn more? Check out the Eternity TTRPG Core Game!

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Jacob Tegtman Eternity TTRPG Creator

Author - Jacob Tegtman

Dear reader, I hope you enjoyed this article. Tabletop gaming has been a passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I've played just about every game from Dungeons and Dragons to video games like Final Fantasy. These games have inspired me, made me laugh, made me cry, and brought me endless hours of enjoyment.


I started Eternity TTRPG - and the indie tabletop game that goes along with it (Eternity Shop) - to share my love of gaming with others. I believe that in our technology-driven age, tabletop games help bring a sense of magic and community back into our world.


If you love the site, please share it with others! I have lots of gaming-related material for you to peruse and use in your own gaming sessions. If you have any questions about the site or want to contribute, just send me a message using the "Contact" page, which you can find in the site's footer.

Critical Role Campaign 4, Episode 1 summary. A blindfolded, green-skinned humanoid with a castle-topped head, and gold logo.

Under 10min Summary of Critical Role Season 4 - Episode 1

By Jacob Tegtman • November 5, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-EVzgJ_nSs Transcription It’s been a while, but welcome back to Eternity TTRPG. I’ve had a bit of a hiatus, but back to bringing you awesome news in the D&D space – this time, with quick summaries of the Critical Role 4 campaign thus far.  Whether you’re a fan of Critical Role, or you’ve heard about it and you’re curious on what it’s all about, these summaries will be in the range of 5-10min, so you can hear what’s happening without the full time commitment of watching an episode. Additionally, stick around to the end, because I’m also pulling out a few tips from the Critical Role campaign — storytelling tricks, DM inspiration, and roleplaying ideas you can borrow for your upcoming game night to get the most magic from your adventures. So with that, today we jump into Episode 1 — The Fall of Thjazi Fang. The campaign opens in Dol-Makjar ( doll mak-JAR), in the land of Kahad [ KAH-had] (in the world of Aramán [AH-rah-man]). Thjazi Fang , a war hero of the Falconer’s Rebellion and former mercenary with the Torn Banner, is scheduled for execution by the Chamber of the Lords-Advisory. Arcane Marshal Azune Nayar (Ah-ZOO-nay NAY-ar) — once a comrade — inspects him for magical glyphs. He uncovers one on Thjazi’s back and secretly passes a message of hope. As Thjazi is led to the gallows, he speaks telepathically with his brother Halandil ( ha-LAN-dil) Fang “Hal” Fang , who is in the crowd. Thjazi sees something ominous in the sky, urgently tells Hal to “help Murray at the Penteveral, paint is waiting for Bolaire, tell Thimble not to be afraid,” and defiantly proclaims the coming fall of false authority — then is hanged. The crowd reacts with grief, shock, and political tension. After the execution, Hal readies a farramh (FAH-rahm) — an orcish custom for viewing the body — at his home, with his daughter Shadia ( SHAH-dee-uh), members of his theater troupe, and guests. Thaisha Lloy ( THAY-sha Loy), an orc druid, and Occtis Tachonis ( OK-tis ta-KO-nis), a human necromancer student, arrive early. Both had ties to the rescue attempt of Thjazi. Thaisha is ex-partner to Hal; they share a daughter Shadia and a son Alogar. Occtis is investigating his role in the failed plan to save Thjazi. Azune brings Thjazi’s body to the wake. Teor Pridesire (TEE-or pry-de-SEER) and Commander Loza Blade (former Torn Banner) honor Thjazi’s memory. Loza reminisces about Thjazi’s rise from common birth to rebellion. Wicander ( wi-KAN-dur HAL-o-var ) “Wick” Halovar and Aspirant Tyranny (uh-SPY-rant TYR-uh-nee) arrive as emissaries of House Halovar. Wick, a cleric devoted to the Candescent Creed ( kan-DES-sent kreed), brings Thjazi’s scimitar and laments that he couldn’t prevent the execution. Wick reveals he pleaded with his grandmother, Photarch Yanessa Halovar , to spare Thjazi — but was rebuffed. Tyranny, a demon in service to House Halovar, drinks at the funeral, teasing Wick, testing boundaries. Thaisha drunkenly explains that she and Hal fell in love in their youth, but she felt a pull toward the wider world beyond their small circle. Azune and Occtis piece together how the rescue chain broke. They head out to find Thimble , a fairy rogue and Thjazi’s close friend. In Thjazi’s apartment, ransacked, they find Thimble near death. Her memories flash back to Faerie, and she recalls the glyph she was supposed to deliver was interrupted. Kattigan Vale , a drunken ranger who recognizes Teor and Azune, joins them. He uses Clues to determine that 7 masked assailants entered, 3 were killed, crow feathers left behind, and the Stone of Nightsong was stolen from Thjazi’s safehouse. Thimble confirms: thieves attacked her as she tried to deliver the glyph. The wrong glyph was detected by Azune. The Stone of Nightsong is missing — someone betrayed Thjazi. Back at the wake / gathering place (the Rookery): Bolaire Lathalia , a warlock / curator, arrives to support Hal. Aranessa Royce ( uh-RAH-nes-sa ROYS), Thjazi’s grieving widow, enters with Sir Julien Davinos ( sir joo-LYEN duh-VEE-nos), the man who brought Thjazi to justice and perhaps bore much resentment. Julien taunts Thjazi’s memory, spits on his corpse, and clashes with Thaisha. Murray Mag’Nesson (dwarven wizard of the Penteveral) arrives, triggering a moment of distraction. Thaisha senses a shadow following Julien — the superstition of protection is broken; something dark has latched onto him. Wick chastises Tyranny for her drunken antics, but also gives Hal Thjazi’s scimitar. As night falls, Vaelus , an elven paladin (800 years old) and devotee of the dead goddess Sylandri, arrives. She demands the return of her property — the Stone of Nightsong, stating that Thjazi stole it. It’s revealed that the Stone was made by Sylandri to guide elven spirits through the underworld. Without it, the journey may be blocked. In an eerie moment, the silver box containing broken ceramic tiles flies open, forming a mask bearing uncanny resemblance to Bolaire’s face. Vaelus demands Thimble’s whereabouts. The implication: Julien or someone close to him is connected. The first episode ends with tension in the air: multiple factions now want the Stone, the betrayal is active, and the cast is drawn together by grief, mystery, and political intrigue. We’re left with a firm reminder of the world’s lore: the Shapers (gods) were killed 70 years ago, magic is unstable, and the Sundered Houses (Royce, Halovar, Tachonis [ta-KO-nis], Einfasen [INE-fa-sen], Cormoray) wield enormous power. The stakes are clear: retrieve the Stone. Unravel the betrayal. Discover who killed Thjazi — and why. “So what can we learn from The Fall of Thjazi Fang? First — start big. That opening execution isn’t just drama; it’s a crisis that instantly ties every character together. You don’t need a warm-up quest — drop your players into the fallout and let them claw their way through. Second — make it personal. Every hero at the table had a history with Thjazi. That’s why it hits so hard. When your next campaign begins, link each PC to the same event — a death, a secret, a shared failure. And finally — let failure stand. The rescue didn’t work, and that makes the story matter. When you let plans fall apart, the next victory your players earn will feel legendary. D&D heroes don’t always have to succeed. In fact, in many cases, the best stories come from failure or setbacks that shape the events to come. If you adopt just one thing for your next session, I’d say: start with a crisis tied to your players, and let every character have skin in the game from the first moment. If you’re feeling up to it though, combine that with selective reveals, emotional stakes, and the room to fail, and you’re halfway to a compelling campaign. And there you have it — a full dive into Episode 1 of Campaign 4: the execution, the betrayal, the stolen artifact, and the gathering storm. If you like this kind of breakdown, drop a comment with your favorite moment from Episode 1, or your take on how the Crow Keepers or Julien might be involved. Next time, we’ll recap Episode 2 — Broken Wing — and pull more DM and roleplaying lessons from it. Until then — let your dice fly, and may your stories be legendary.
D&D characters read a glowing book, split scene, half lush daytime, half purple night.

D&D Heads to Magic: The Gathering's Lorwyn-Shadowmoor

By Jacob Tegtman • October 7, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE2fUonKzl8 Transcription Dungeons & Dragons is officially crossing over with Magic: The Gathering’s Lorwyn-Shadowmoor! This fairytale world of eternal sunlight and creeping twilight is joining the Forgotten Realms through a brand-new digital-exclusive expansion. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your go-to source for all things Dungeons & Dragons! So, what’s this mysterious realm and why is it part of the new 5.5 Edition rollout? And—should you actually spend fifteen bucks on it? Let’s dive in. Wizards of the Coast is making a bold move with Lorwyn: First Light—a brand-new digital-only supplement coming to D&D Beyond on November 18th . According to both Bell of Lost Souls and D&D Beyond’s official announcement, it’s part of the new Forgotten Realms bundle—which includes The Player’s Guide, Adventures in Faerûn, and three exclusive add-ons: Astarion’s Book of Hungers Netheril’s Fall and today’s star—Lorwyn: First Light. So, what is Lorwyn-Shadowmoor? If you’ve played Magic: The Gathering back in the late 2000s, you might remember these twin worlds—one a radiant fairytale land of endless summer, the other a dark, dreamlike reflection of it. In D&D terms, it’s being reimagined as a Domain of Delight in the Feywild—those whimsical, dangerous realms ruled by Archfey. But here’s the twist: Lorwyn and Shadowmoor used to shift every few centuries—light giving way to night. Now, both have begun bleeding together in unpredictable ways. Imagine meadows of sunlight interrupted by patches of midnight, separated by shimmering auroras. It’s a stunning concept—and one that promises both beauty and peril in equal measure. The big question is what do you actually get with Lorwyn: First Light? According to Wizards’ release info, you’ll get: 2 new feats 2 new backgrounds (likely tied to those feats) 2 new magic items 8 monsters drawn from the Feywild’s weirdest corners 2 playable species , plus advice for adapting 8 more to the Lorwyn-Shadowmoor setting Two mini-adventures —each with maps ready to drop into your campaign And yes, all of this can be used in the Forgotten Realms or as standalone Feywild content. Characters might cross over via fey crossings, or your adventurers might stumble through a glowing portal in the Moonshae Isles straight into a land where “dreams have claws.” The price tag is $14.99 for the standalone version—or as part of the Forgotten Realms Ultimate Bundle, which includes digital dice, and both digital and physical book copies. That’s stirred some debate online. Some fans love the idea of expanding the Feywild with official crossover content, while others worry it’s another micro-expansion cash grab. But the excitement is real—this marks the first time a Magic: The Gathering setting has officially joined D&D 5.5E. If this goes well, you should probably expect Wizards to do more of this kind of thing. In any case whether you’re a Lorwyn nostalgia fan or just want more Feywild flavor in your campaigns, this expansion could scratch both your card game and tabletop itches. Do you think that Lorwyn: First Light will be a delightful addition to your Feywild campaigns—or is this just another shiny portal to your wallet? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring that bell for more weekly D&D news and updates.

Gygax Memorial Fund Kickstarter to Commemorate Gary and D&D

By Jacob Tegtman • October 3, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfmCpJPQM7o Transcription The Gygax Memorial Fund is working to build a D&D memorial for the late Gary Gygax. The memorial will (hopefully) be placed in Library Park , in downtown Lake Geneva, Wisconsin —the birthplace of Dungeons & Dragons. This is the park that Gary himself loved and even chose as the spot for a memorial before he passed. In 2024, during D&D’s 50th anniversary, the city officially granted land for the project. This memorial will be a life-sized stone gaming table, with a dungeon map designed by Gary Gygax himself. But the question is, will this Kickstarter finally succeed where past efforts failed? Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG—your weekly quest hub for all things Dungeons & Dragons. Today, we’re talking about a very feel-good story for your Friday – a legendary project years in the making: the Gary Gygax Memorial Game Table. Gary, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, passed away in 2008. Since then, his widow Gail Gygax has championed the idea of a permanent memorial in their hometown of Lake Geneva. Now, the Gygax Memorial Fund has revealed their project: a stone game table in Library Park, complete with benches and, eventually, a bronze statue of Gary himself. The table will feature a bronze map of Gygax’s very first dungeon. The Kickstarter launched October 1st, 2025, marking the anniversary of TSR, the company Gary founded to publish D&D. Backers for this project get everything from digital scrolls to engraved pavers around the monument. Of course, fans are excited—but also cautious. The Gygax Memorial Fund has been planning memorials since at least 2012, and past efforts fizzled after raising over $100K. This has left some fans asking wondering about this attempt. On EN World, one user wrote: ‘The fund has talked about this for a decade—none of it has come to fruition. What makes this attempt special?’ But others point out that since Paul Stormberg took over as chair in 2020, the fund has started producing real results—like memorial benches and library exhibits. And with Lake Geneva officially granting land for the project, this campaign has a stronger foundation than ever. For some D&D fans, this may not just be a statue, but a chance to gather in the very town where roleplaying was – more or less – born. It is pretty amazing to think that you could sit at Gary’s table and roll dice on his original dungeon. This is both a tribute to the past and a playable monument for future generations of adventurers. If you’re interested in helping fund the project, I’ll leave a link the video description, and comments. And lastly, what do you think? Will the Gary Gygax Memorial Game Table finally become a reality—or is this another critical fumble? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring that bell so you don’t miss next week’s D&D news.
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