Hellish Rebuke 5e: An Eye for an Eye

Sometimes in real life, someone does something to us that unleashes a fury of anger and resentment that feels almost supernatural. It’s a bit over the top, but what can we do? It happens!


Of course, we don’t use fire and brimstone to get back at someone in reality. However, if you’re playing Dungeons and Dragons, you can use the Hellish Rebuke 5e spell to do just that.


Disclaimer: I’m not encouraging any sort of real-life violence. I’m just explaining the power you have with this formidable spell. Hellish Rebuke 5e is one of countless DnD spells, and honestly, I think it doesn’t get enough credit. Let’s get to know this intense spell that every adventurer should be thankful for (or scared of).

Hellish Rebuke 5e

What Is Hellish Rebuke 5e?

Hellish Rebuke is a spell that was actually introduced in the fourth edition of Dungeons and Dragons. It’s a first-level evocation and reaction spell, which means it summons or manipulates magic energy to create something or cause an effect. According to the Player’s Handbook (page 250), Hellish Rebuke 5e stats and rules are as follows:


  • Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take in response to being damaged by a creature within 60 feet of you that you can see
  • Range: 60 feet
  • Component: V, S
  • Duration: Instantaneous


“You point your finger, and the creature that damaged you is momentarily surrounded by hellish flames. The creature must make a Dexterity saving throw. It takes 2d10 damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 2nd level or higher, the damage increases by 1d10 for each slot level above 1st.”


Hellish Rebuke 5e Characteristics

Before your head starts spinning with energy, let’s break down the characteristics of Hellish Rebuke 5e.


First-Level Spell

First-level spells are prevalent assets at the beginning of a D&D RPG campaign. Therefore, Hellish Rebuke 5e is available right at character creation, and can be one of the cornerstone spells for your character’s magical journey.


Evocation and Reaction Spell

An evocation spell is one that calls upon magical energy to create an effect. They’re energy-based spells that you can use to create or cause something.


A reaction spell is one that someone casts in response to a particular trigger, such as being damaged by an enemy. These two types of spells combine to make the Hellish Rebuke 5e spell a powerful reaction that can cause substantial damage.

How Does Hellish Rebuke 5e Work?

Hellish Rebuke 5e is triggered when someone damages you. You can use your “reaction” action for that turn to unleash a fiery explosion of energy at the attacker. The spell deals 2d10 fire damage, plus an extra 1d10 for every slot level above the first. In other words, if you cast it at a higher level, Hellish Rebuke can deal some serious damage.


Also, being a "Reaction," casting Hellish Rebuke does not take up your Bonus Action for the round.


What I love about this spell is that it’s a great way to get revenge. When someone messes with you, Hellish Rebuke lets you take them down quickly and easily. It’s a great way to send the message of “don’t mess with me,” and give your attacker a taste back of what they’ve done.


Hellish Rebuke makes everyone think twice about their actions in combat: an eye for an eye, as they say.


Who Can Cast Hellish Rebuke?

Imagine if everyone could cast Hellish Rebuke. The adventure would become a lot more chaotic. Thankfully (or unfortunately), it’s only available to certain classes.


If you need some DnD character ideas, Hellish Rebuke 5e is accessible to all Warlocks, regardless of their Patron. Oathbreaker Paladins can also access it at third level. A Bard can cast the spell if they have the Magical Secrets feature.


Hellish Rebuke 5e is also available to tieflings who choose the Bloodline of Asmodeus. It becomes a second-level spell with the Infernal Legacy trait, dealing 3d10 fire damage. Tieflings can only cast their version of Hellish Rebuke 5e once per long rest though, even if it doesn’t burn a spell slot.

Hellish Rebuke 5e Classes

When and Where Should You Cast Hellish Rebuke 5e?

If you think the spell can’t get any better, think again. I personally believe that there’s no bad time to cast this chaotic spell. At least, I believe there’s no bad time. But, of course, there are optimal times and places to give your enemies a proper hellfire-infused rebuke.


First of all, you have to be damaged to cast the spell. It’s reaction-based, so there must be a trigger, or something must happen to you to react to it. For example, a creature damages you in your turn, casting a spell that requires a reaction point. You can use that reaction to cast Hellish Rebuke 5e in return. The spell ranges from 60 feet, so you have a great chance of hitting the creature who hit you! I love that, similar to Spiritual Weapon 5e, this spell allows me to attack enemies from a distance.


I cast Hellish Rebuke 5e whenever I find myself in the following situations:


Front-Liner

When you’re a front-liner, you inevitably receive damage near enemies. Generally, being a front-liner is bad for a spellcaster, but you can cause immense extra damage in a battle when using Hellish Rebuke 5e. Again, the range is 60 feet, so you have plenty of chances to make it a worthwhile spell.


Basically, think of yourself as a shield for your team, that has spikes. Whenever anyone attacks the shield (you), they take damage in return. With that thought in mind, you want everyone to attack you as often as possible – at least until you run out of spell slots.


Manipulate Saving Throws

I also cast Hellish Rebuke 5e with the help of another party member. For example, I can force an enemy to make a saving throw for the spell, and my party member can cast Silvery Barbs 5e if they succeed. Sure enough, the enemy will then often fail their save and take extra damage. The cantrip Mind Sliver 5e can also make the spell more effective by lowering the target’s next saving throw, so try to use it whenever possible.

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Hellish Rebuke 5e Tips

Hellish Rebuke is really a simple spell, but we all know that D&D can be complex, so here are some tips to get the most out of the spell:

  • Bypass fire resistance: if you’ve played D&D 5e for very long, you know there’s a lot of fire resistance in the game. Immunities can still prevent Hellish Rebuke 5e from happening, so use the Elemental Adept feat to gain an advantage.
  • Think twice when an enemy attacks from behind a wall: Hellish Rebuke 5e is less effective when attacking targets who have cover. Cast another spell if you can, or just wait for the next turn.
  • Pair it up with other spells: Hellish Rebuke 5e is powerful alone, but you can make it even scarier using other spells. For example, Armor of Agathys, a first-level Warlock spell, deals cold damage to anyone who strikes you while the effect is active. If you get attacked, your enemy takes cold damage then gets hit by your Hellish Rebuke, as well.
  • Choose Pact of the Blade: if you’re a Warlock, choosing the Pact of Blade allows you to unleash the flames of hell. Well, the spell is powerful regardless of your Patron, but it becomes a game-changer in melee range.
  • Be a Hexblade Warlock: besides Pact of the Blade, Hellish Rebuke 5e can also be a great pick for Hexblades. Hexblades are more likely to stay close to enemies, which results in more attacks against you, and more chances to use Hellish Rebuke.
  • Play with caution when silenced: if your main strategy is to draw in enemy attacks so that you can unleash Hellish Rebuke, be careful of Silence 5e effects. While Silenced, you won’t be able to cast spells, so you’ll either need countermeasures prepared, or you’ll need to make a quick retreat from the front lines of battle.
  • Trick the enemy: this tip is mostly flavor, but you can trick an enemy into thinking that the spell will be coming from another direction by pointing a finger away from them. The Player’s Handbook says, “You point a finger,” but not specifically “toward the creature,” so you can throw the enemy off balance. Give them a show because you can!
  • Communicate with your party and DM: always talk to your group and dungeon master about what spells are necessary during your adventures. If you want to just cast Hellish Rebuke without restraint, go for it. But if you want to really play as a team, communicate with other players to see how you can best plan spell slots to fill gaps in your party’s overall strategy.
  • Plan before casting: finally, I suggest taking a moment to consider the overall battle before casting Hellish Rebuke 5e. Try to time your spell for maximum effect, or think if there may be a better spell available for the situation. It can be entertaining to spam-cast Hellish Rebuke, but it pays to plan – especially during difficult battles.
Hellish Rebuke 5e Monsters

Own Your Revenge With Hellish Rebuke 5e

Let’s take a break from strict D&D rules, shall we? Remember that the game also has a roleplay aspect, and you can customize your revenge when it comes to the Hellish Rebuke 5e spell. You know that descriptions make role-playing even more fun, so come up with creative ways to describe the spell.


What the Spell Does for You

When someone hurts you in real life, how do you feel? Do you feel like combusting in rage? Ask the same questions when you’re in the D&D world, and use Hellish Rebuke to make your revenge fit with your character’s personality.


When thinking about the spell, imagine if your character is seeking vengeance or maybe just believes in an eye for an eye. It’s your story, so make the spell fit in with it.


What the Spell Does and Looks Like

When you hear the word “hell,” you might picture many things. There can be an eruption of flames, a blast of fire, or a ball of fire coming to your enemy. But even if “hell” is in the name of the spell, you don’t have to limit yourself. Use colors and ideas that fit with the character, the environment, and your story. Think about the scene you want and make sure that it looks cool.

Your party (and enemies) will be there to witness the spell, so make the spell’s aesthetics unique.


Change the Spell Damage Type

When running a D&D campaign, Hellish Rebuke 5e can be more than “fire damage.” It depends on your dungeon master’s ruling, but you could consider asking them if they’d consider allowing your Hellish Rebuke spell to deal a different type of damage, to better fit your character’s aesthetic, or personality.


If they’re game for it, perhaps you could even alter the spell to cause some kind of chaotic effect, rather than just straight up damage.

Level Up With an Awesome Dice Tower

Ok, this is a little off topic, but at the end of the day, tabletop RPGs are for having fun, right? If you're going to spend the time optimizing your character's strategies in combat, why not also maximize your game table aesthetics? Dice roll fine without a device to do it for you. But, having a dice tower can certainly add a lot to the feel of your game. Imagine rolling dice down this magical tower's steps. Between every dice roll, you have a prop that brings your D&D game to life that much more.


Check it out! Change up the color or find some of the other great dice tower options available. They make great DnD gifts for yourself or others.

Is Hellish Rebuke 5e Good?

Out of all the spells in the Player’s Handbook, Hellish Rebuke 5e is one spell that makes me say “Hell yes!” There’s no doubt that other spells can be even more powerful, but this one is definitely good. Especially for low-level Warlock spells, the Hellish Rebuke 5e is absolutely a must-have. I keep it ready for use at basically all times.


The spell’s range is an upside, along with scaling damage as you level up and use higher level spell slots. Also, even if your target makes a successful saving throw, the spell still deals some damage to them.


Warlocks and front-line characters are obviously easy targets for enemies, so Hellish Rebuke 5e can be an excellent way to avenge yourself. Generally, you can use it as an ace up your sleeve, as it’s a great spell that packs a punch. I’m sure you’ll use it more often than other spells once you get a taste for how fun it can be (like I did).


Rebuke Your Way to a Great Adventure

Again, I’m not encouraging violence, but in Dungeons and Dragons, Hellish Rebuke 5e is about giving your enemies a fitting punishment. With its long-range and scaling damage, you can finally feel like the badass spell caster that you are.


So, go out and find your adventure. And if the enemy gets too close for comfort, prepare to rebuke them with a show of fire and brimstone. And read on for how Hellish Rebuke effects work in the Eternity TTRPG Game System.


If you need DnD Quest Ideas, having an enemy that casts Hellish Rebuke is also honestly a great way to begin a series of adventures.

Hellish Rebuke in Eternity TTRPG

Hellish Rebuke in D&D 5e vs. Eternity TTRPG

In D&D 5e, Hellish Rebuke is a spell that effectively acts as a ranged, magical counterattack when you take damage. It’s useful whether you’re playing a caster or a front-line melee character (who has access to the spell, obviously).


In the Eternity TTRPG Game System, there is no exact equivalent of the Hellish Rebuke 5e spell, though there are many effects that fit into the same or similar categories. 


It’s also worth noting that in D&D, Hellish Rebuke 5e takes up a spell slot to cast. This means that any targets capable of casting Hellish Rebuke have a limited number of times they may cast the spell. Meanwhile, in Eternity TTRPG, counterattack effects do not have a limit to the number of times they may be used. So, characters capable of counterattacking may be very dangerous. 


What Classes in Eternity TTRPG Have a Hellish Rebuke Effect?

Cryomancer (Core Rulebook) and Witch Hunter (Classes Expansion) are the only classes that receive Silence as a core class spell. However, Alchemist, Dread Priest, and Druid all have specialization/ critical options that allow them to obtain Silence.

Eternity TTRPG Assassin

Assassin – Core Class Ability

First Strike: this Ability can only be used both 1) the first time you attack an enemy, and 2) the first time you are attacked by an enemy. Instant Action, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, deal 1damage. Battle Recharge after both uses.

  • (Life-Ender) You also gain +7Strike Bonus, +6Resilience, +6Dodge, and +6Will for 1turn.
  • (Infiltrator) You can move to the target of this Ability once during the rest of the Battle, as an Instant Action, up to your Speed value in Range away.
  • (Expert) You also gain +3Initiative.
Eternity TTRPG Berserker

Berserker – Core Class Ability

Vengeance: this Ability can only be used when you drop to 0HP. Instant Action. Take an attack Action against the target who dropped you to 0HP. After your Action, you still drop to 0HP. When you use or Critical this Ability, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn. 1Day Recharge.

  • (Decimation) Your attack is made against up to 3 enemies in Weapon Range. *Double-Hit with this Critical only allows one of the attacks to cause additional effect.
  • (Recklessness) Even if your attack misses, up to 3 enemies in 4Range, +4Strike Bonus vs. Resilience, knocks back all affected targets up to your Speed value -2, in any direction. This Critical effect cannot Double-Hit or give a Block.
  • (Dauntless Fury) If your attack hits, +3Strike Bonus vs. Resilience, Daze for 2turns. The Daze effect from this Critical continues even after you drop to 0HP. This Critical effect cannot Double-Hit or give a Block.
Eternity TTRPG Fallen Paladin

Fallen Paladin – Critical Option

Blood Spiller (Magic): after you cast this Spell on yourself, every time you attack an enemy, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, deal 1damage. You can only deal damage with this Spell once per turn. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Spell for 3Inspiration.

  • (Shield of Corruption) Also roll to deal damage with “Blood Spiller” every time an enemy attacks you. This Critical also allows you to deal damage with “Blood Spiller” twice per turn. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 6Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
Eternity TTRPG Royal Guard

Royal Guard – Core Class Ability

Counter-Slam: this Ability can only be used if you are wielding a shield. After you use this Ability on yourself, every time you are attacked by an adjacent enemy, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, +7Strike Bonus vs. Resilience, Daze for 1turn. You can only Daze with this Ability once per turn. “Counter-Slam” cannot Double-Hit or give a Block. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Ability for 1Inspiration.

(Dazed): the effect from “Counter-Slam” is temporarily interrupted while you are Dazed.

  • (Executor) If you roll 18-20, it also deals 1damage to the target. You can only deal damage with this Critical once per turn. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 4Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Life-Sworn) Roll 15-20. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 2Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Ancient Blade) Instant Action. You also gain +9Resilience, +9Dodge, and +9Will for 1turn. When you use this Critical, you can’t use any more Wisdom this turn.  
Eternity TTRPG Sage

Sage – Core Class Spell

Crimson Curse (Magic): up to 3 enemies in 4Range, +7Faith vs. Will. If this Spell hits, whenever an affected target deals damage, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, they also take 1damage. “Crimson Curse” cannot Double-Hit or give a Block. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Spell for 3Intelligence.
(Dazed): the effect from “Crimson Curse” is temporarily interrupted while you are Dazed.

  • (Darkness and Light) Roll 16-20. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Intelligence (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Secrets of the Ancient Tomes) For one enemy who’s hit, instead roll 13-20 to hit. For all other enemies affected by this Spell, still roll 18-20 to hit. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Intelligence (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Powers of the Eternals) Whenever an affected target is healed, roll d20. If you roll 18-20, they heal an additional +1HP. This Critical cannot trigger itself. This Critical allows the affected target to heal 2HP above their normal max HP. Healing from this effect also Fatigues the target, giving -1Resilience, -1Dodge, and -1Will for 1Day Duration (can stack without limit). You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 2Inspiration (plus the base 3Intelligence, and 0Wisdom).
Eternity TTRPG Vanguard

Vanguard – Core Class Ability

Retribution: after you use this Ability on yourself, every time an enemy in Weapon Range attacks you, roll d20. If you roll 16-20, you Instantly counterattack that same target with a non- Critical attack or Ability of your choice, after their attack is finished.

You may also use “Quick Switch” just before your attack with Retribution, if you so choose. You can only attack an enemy with this Ability once per turn. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Ability for 3Inspiration.

(Dazed): the effect from “Retribution” is temporarily interrupted while you are Dazed.

  • (Tip of the Spear) Roll 11-20. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Intelligence (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Shock Troop) Whenever you attack with “Retribution,” you also gain +12Resilience, +12Dodge, and +12Will for 1turn. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
  • (Ranger) You also gain +3Initiative. You can instead choose to continually maintain this Critical for 5Inspiration (and 0Wisdom).
Epic World Builder

Strategies for using Counterattack Effects

As with D&D 5e, having counterattack spells and abilities in Eternity TTRPG can either be used to dissuade people from attacking you, or can be used after placing yourself in the battle’s most dangerous locations, to maximize your damage output.

In Eternity TTRPG, some attacks are rolled against the enemy’s defenses, while other attacks are considered to be “piercing,” and have a flat hit chance, no matter what.


Basically, characters with high Strike Bonus or Faith (physical or magical hit chance stats) should rely more on spells and abilities that utilize those stats, such as the Vanguard Retribution ability. Meanwhile, more defensive characters (tanks) should rely on counterattacks with piercing effects, such as the Fallen Paladin Blood Spiller spell.


Dissuade Attackers

If you build a character with very high hit chance and very low defenses, you do not want to be in the thick of battle where you may be attacked very often. Having a counterattack spell or ability for this kind of character can be very valuable, as the first enemy to attack you may just get obliterated in return.


If you can essentially make enemies fearful of attacking you, then you help to place more enemy attacks on (hopefully) your party’s tank.


With this strategy, you don’t really want to even use your counterattack spell or ability at all, as it requires you receiving an attack, first. However, having it there to dissuade attackers is extremely valuable.


Deal Damage Even as a Tank

The only way to really maximize your damage with counterattacks in Eternity TTRPG is either to have high hit chance and a dedicated healer who keeps you up during the battle, or to use pierce attacks.


If you build a tank character with a piercing counterattack spell or ability, then run directly into enemy lines, you’ll both draw a lot of attention to yourself (thereby protecting allies), and you’ll maximize your chances to deal damage with your counterattack.


Generally, tanks have terrible hit chances, so dealing damage isn’t really their thing. However, if you have a flat hit chance pierce attack, and you’re attacked a lot, then you maximize your chances to counter. Though this strategy will never deal substantial damage to single targets, its wonderful for crushing large groups of enemies.


Maximize Single Target Damage

Finally, if you have a dedicated healer in your party, it’s possible to use counterattacks as a way to really pour on big damage to a single target. Basically, you max out your character’s hit chances, knowing that you’ll be very vulnerable in battle. Then, you run directly at the single enemy, drawing their attention.


Because of your high hit chance, when you attack the enemy, you’ll deal damage. Similarly, when they attack you, you’ll also deal damage.


If you’re fighting very difficult enemies, you basically have to go in knowing that you’re walking a tightrope. High-difficulty enemies can deal multiple damage per attack, so purposefully putting yourself in the way of harm is risky. However, if you have someone to heal you, you’ll no doubt be able to deal substantial damage back to your adversary.

Fiery Effects for Your Tabletop

Countering Counterattacks

In any good tactical combat game, every counter has its counter. Here are a number of possible ways to deal with Hellish Rebuke-type effects if you’re on the receiving end of things. Or, if you simply want to think two steps ahead, here are some of the ways that characters you counterattack might respond:


Remove the Counterattack Effect

Many classes have a version of “Dispel,” which can be used to remove beneficial status effects from enemies. Characters that do not have their own class-based dispel effect may use dispel scrolls to achieve the same effect. Since most Hellish Rebuke, counterattack type effects in Eternity TTRPG are “maintained” effects, they can be dispelled.


It’s also worth noting that if a counterattack effect is dispelled, it can usually just be reactivated right away. However, if the effect is a critical and it keeps getting dispelled, it’s a good way to run out of wisdom, and be at a huge disadvantage for the battle.


Greater Dispel (Magic): 4Range, Faith vs. Resilience, removes all stacks of one ongoing Magic, maintained effect, or status effect from the target (excluding summons), at your choice. Or alternatively, 4Range, +5Faith vs. Resilience, deals 1damage to a summoned unit. This spell is cast on any target you’d like, but the roll is made against the character who cast the spell or used the ability you are attempting to remove, unless the target is a summon.

(Double-Hit): removes all stacks of 2 ongoing Magic or maintained effects (excluding summons). Or alternatively, if cast at a summon, deals an additional 1damage to the summoned unit.


Mass Dispel Scroll (10 Uses): up to 3 targets in 4Range, -7Strike Bonus vs. Resilience or up to 3 targets in 4Range, -7Faith vs. Resilience, removes all stacks of one ongoing Magic, maintained effect, or Status effect from each affected target (excluding summons). Or alternatively, up to 3 summons in 4Range, -2Strike Bonus vs. Resilience or up to 3 summons in 4Range, -2Faith vs. Resilience, deals 1damage. This Item is cast on any target you’d like, but the roll is made against the Character who cast the Spell or used the Ability you are attempting to remove, unless the target is a summon. This Item cannot Double-Hit or give a Block.

 

Don’t Attack Enemies Who Have Hellish Rebuke

Another obvious way to deal with enemies who use Hellish Rebuke-type effects is just to prioritize attacking other targets before finally dealing with them. Of course, enemies who counterattack may not want anyone to attack them, so ignoring them may actually play into their strategy.


However, the worst-case scenario when facing an enemy with Hellish-Rebuke-type effects is to get blasted with counterattack damage over and over again. If that target doesn’t have a personal healer, maybe you can kill them before they get in many high-damage counters. If the target does have a healer though, you may really want to deal with that healer before moving forward.


Try The Eternity TTRPG Game System

D&D has become synonymous with tabletop RPGs (TTRPG) for so long that sometimes people forget there are other options available. As with any genre of game, there’s the best-known games and lesser-known games.


The Eternity TTRPG Game System is a tabletop RPG similar to D&D, but with some big differences. The game allows for multiple game masters, provides more tools for immersive world-building, and features highly-tactical (yet easy-to-learn) combat.

Pick up an inexpensive PDF copy today at the Eternity TTRPG shop. Or check out more information at the Eternity TTRPG Game System page.

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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.

Dragonlance

DragonLance Legends coming to Amazon in February

By Jacob Tegtman • December 17, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=257fKzW8yzA Transcription Before there was Game of Thrones, Baldur’s Gate, and Critical Role.… there was Dragonlance .  A fantasy saga that defined an entire generation of D&D players — epic wars, tragic heroes, and dragons that actually felt like dragons. But if you aren’t familiar, what is Dragonlance — and why are we still talking about it in 2026? Well to answer that last question, the new “Legends Edition” which is the second Trilogy of Dragonlance is coming to Amazon in February. This is a big deal because getting new copies of the original Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy, and now this second “Legends” Trilogy was becoming very difficult. I’m hoping these new prints rekindle the spark of one of the greatest D&D settings and novel series of all time, and introduce even more people to its magic. Welcome back to Eternity TTRPG, your home for D&D history, lore deep-dives, and the stories that shaped the game we play today. If you love tabletop RPGs, classic settings, and learning why D&D looks and plays the way it does today, you’re in the right place. So, let’s talk about one of my favorite fantasy settings – and fantasy book series of all times – Dragonlance . Dragonlance started as a bold idea from Tracy Hickman and Laura Hickman , later developed with Margaret Weis at TSR. To answer the burning question you may be having, right off the bat – yes, the Dragonlance adventures came before the book series. At the time, most D&D adventures were simple and modular. You’d kick in a dungeon door, fight some monsters, grab treasure, and move on. Dragonlance asked a very different question. What if Dungeons & Dragons could tell one long, epic story? Instead of disconnected adventures, the Dragonlance team wanted a campaign with a clear beginning, middle, and end. A single, continent-spanning war. A story that unfolded over time, not just session to session. To make that work, players wouldn’t create random characters. They’d play pre-generated heroes, each designed to fit directly into the narrative, with personal arcs baked into the plot. That idea became the original Dragonlance AD&D module series — eventually twelve linked adventures telling the story of the War of the Lance. On paper, it was revolutionary. At the table… it was complicated. The problem is simple. And honestly, you can probably pause the video here and tell me the problem, yourself, based on your own D&D games. It’s basically this: D&D games, and it’s players – are unpredictable. Dungeons & Dragons thrives on player choice, improvisation, and chaos. Dragonlance, on the other hand, needed players to be in very specific places, doing very specific things, at specific times. If the party ignored a hook, skipped a location, or made an unexpected choice, the entire story could fall apart. So the modules relied heavily on railroading — nudging, and sometimes outright forcing, players back onto the intended path. That tension made Dragonlance awkward to run as a campaign. The story was strong, but the format worked against the strengths of tabletop roleplaying. And that’s when Dragonlance found the form it was truly built for. To promote the modules, TSR (that is, the company founded by Gary Gygax and Don Kaye, to publish D&D) decided to release a trilogy of tie-in novels. That decision came late, the original author didn’t work out, and Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman ended up writing the first book themselves — in roughly three months. The result was Dragons of Autumn Twilight, released in 1984. Which, even talking about almost brings a tear to my eye – the book was just that impactful to me in my teenage years. TSR expected modest sales. But instead, the book was a massive hit. For many readers, this wasn’t just their first Dragonlance novel — it was their first D&D novel. It introduced the idea that a D&D party could be the heart of a fantasy epic, with flawed characters, emotional arcs, and long-term consequences. This is basically why Dragonlance matters to D&D history. And not just a little bit. It matters – a LOT. Dragonlance proved that Dungeons & Dragons wasn’t just a game system — it was actually its own entire storytelling engine. If you haven’t read the novel series, I have some amazing news for you, shortly. But at its core, Dragonlance is about one idea: hope in darkness. The world of Krynn is broken. The gods are distant. War is everywhere. People are scared, tired, and cynical. But, the world of Dragonlance isn’t saved by a single chosen hero. Instead, this novel series tells you that the world can be saved when ordinary people choose to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and even when it feels pointless. That philosophy shaped the tone of the setting. Dragonlance was darker than most TSR-era worlds, but it was never hopeless. Friendship mattered. Faith mattered. Sacrifice mattered. Umm, a lot. Those themes became incredibly influential, especially for party-focused storytelling in D&D campaigns. Dragonlance also changed how dragons were treated in D&D. Before this, dragons were often just very powerful monsters. Dangerous, sure — but still just another encounter. Dragonlance made dragons rare, mythical, and world-shaping. What becomes the mystical return of dragons isn’t just a side quest in this setting. It’s THE central event that changes the balance of power across the entire world. That idea — that dragons should feel legendary, and not just routine — stuck, and it still shapes how dragons are presented in modern D&D. After the success of the original trilogy, Weis and Hickman followed it with Dragonlance Legends, which is what I’ll be getting to more about in just a few minutes. Instead of escalating to an even bigger war, Legends zoomed in. It focused on the twins from the first trilogy: Raistlin and Caramon Majere, and on the topics of ambition, responsibility, and the cost of power. It introduced time travel – which to be honest, I don’t love – personal tragedy, and consequences that felt intimate. This trilogy, too, was a massive success, even hitting the New York Times bestseller list — a first for TSR. For a brief moment, Dragonlance wasn’t just a D&D setting. It actually became the face of D&D storytelling. But Dragonlance’s greatest strength eventually became its weakness. The setting was tightly bound to one story and one cast of characters. Once the War of the Lance was resolved, the world of Krynn felt… finished. New stories struggled to find the same weight. Bigger threats felt repetitive. New heroes had a hard time stepping out of the shadow of the originals. Unlike the Forgotten Realms, Krynn never felt like a neutral playground. It felt like a world where the most important story had already happened. And slowly, Dragonlance faded from the spotlight. Dragonlance went quiet after 2010. But in February 2026, we’re getting a new hardcover release of Dragonlance Legends — collecting the full trilogy with new behind-the-scenes material from Weis and Hickman. It’s not a full revival of the setting. It’s a reminder of an important moment in D&D history, when the game experimented with storytelling in a way that permanently changed how we think about campaigns. This trilogy about the twins: Raistlin and Caramon – is coming after the Chronicles trilogy was rereleased (I believe) just this last year – I got my copy from Margaret Weis at GenCon. These books haven’t been in print for some time. So, if you like what you’ve been hearing about Dragonlance, or you – like me – are a longtime fan, you may want to pick these up. You can get the original Chronicles Trilogy on Amazon now, and the second Trilogy – Legends – is coming out this February. Dragonlance asked a question that D&D is still trying to answer: Is this game about total freedom… or about telling powerful stories? Most tables today try to balance both. And whether you loved Dragonlance or bounced hard off its railroads, its influence is still baked into how D&D is played, written, and remembered. So I want to know — have you read Dragonlance, or played in a campaign set in Krynn? Would you run a Dragonlance campaign today, or does it feel too tied to its story? Let me know in the comments, like the video if you enjoyed it,subscribe for more D&D deep dives, and I’ll see you next time.
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D&D Beyond's Holiday One-Shot Wonders Adventure Pack

By Jacob Tegtman • December 15, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kh5bY2opoA Transcription The holidays just got more magical… and a little chaotic! Today we’re unwrapping the brand-new One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack on D&D Beyond, perfect for your next winter game night — whether you’re running one session or surprising your group with some festive mayhem! This pack delivers not just one, but five holiday themed adventures that you can run in about 3 hours each — from silly toy factory break-ins to battling puddling gremlins and more!” So what exactly is in this Holiday Adventure Pack? The pack includes five standalone adventures, each designed for a specific level range, from early Level 1–2 play all the way up to Level 11–12. Each adventure is built to be completed in a single three-hour session, with minimal prep required and optional guidance for scaling difficulty up or down depending on your party. Included are also five fully illustrated battlemaps, featuring festive locations like a toy factory, an ice castle, and a grand holiday banquet hall. These maps are compatible with D&D Beyond’s Maps VTT, making them easy to drop into both in-person and online games. Additionally, you can have fun with three brand-new monsters: the Great Fir Drake, Pudding Gremlins, and the Snow Sphinx. Sometimes I feel these kind of holiday-themed monsters add charm to end-of-year games, and other times, I think it’s a bit of stretch to add them because they can feel a bit gimmick-y. But these ones, I like. Each creature comes with full stat blocks, original art, and lore, giving DMs memorable seasonal threats that still feel mechanically distinct and interesting to run. One thing I really like are the four new playable species, including a Frosty-inspired Snowborn, a humanoid reindeer known as the Tarandus, the tree-like Hederan, and the fox-folk Canisar. These species are fully integrated into D&D Beyond’s character builder, making them easy to use for one-shots or even longer campaigns. The reindeer-people kind of freak me out a bit, but I’d play a snowborn. Rounding things out are twelve new magic items inspired by the Twelve Days of Christmas. These items lean into festive flavor while still offering practical in-game utility, making them fun rewards that won’t feel out of place at the table. If you’re like – well – most of us, getting everyone together during the holidays is tricky. That makes one-shots like these a pretty decent solution — fast, fun, and filled with seasonal character. And, often chaos! At $14.99 for the whole pack, it’s only about $3 per ready-to-run adventure , and that includes a lot of bonuses with the special holiday races, monsters, and 12-days of Christmas items. Overall, not a bad value for some D&D holiday cheer. So there you have it — a festive, fun, and flexible way to bring your group together this winter. Whether you’re gifting this pack to your DM or grabbing it to run your own seasonal session, the Holiday Adventure Pack on D&D Beyond is a great way to keep your table rolling into the new year. I’ve got a link to D&D Beyond in the video description for you, below, in case you want to pick it up! That’s it for today! Hit LIKE if you want more holiday game ideas, SUBSCRIBE for D&D news and tools, and let me know in the comments — which adventure would you run first?
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The New Final Fantasy TTRPG Is Here — And It’s Incredible

By Jacob Tegtman • December 12, 2025
Transcribed content from our recent YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GBbHsUFBR8 Transcription Visit the Final Fantasy Tabletop Roleplaying Legend Edition Website . Final Fantasy fans… it’s finally happening. A brand-new tabletop RPG built specifically to capture the tactical, job-swapping, limit-breaking chaos we love from the Final Fantasy series. But… for those of you who are familiar with Final Fantasy d20, and other predecessors to this Legend Edition, why make a whole new system when Final Fantasy Tabletop RPGs have already existed in the past? And what makes the Final Fantasy Legend Edition so special? Today, we’re diving in to the game that aims to become the definitive way to play in Ivalice—or any Final Fantasy world—at your table. Oh, and did I mention that this is a professionally-designed game book and PDF assets for every conceivable part of your game – and it’s all 100% free? That’s right, free. This is a passion project brought to you by Mildra the Monk and his amazing team that they’ve been working on for years. It’s absolutely incredible what they’ve put together, and you can get it for your table today – at no cost. Hey everyone, welcome back to ETTRPG—your home for tabletop news, deep dives, and world-building inspiration. If you love Final Fantasy, Tactics-style combat, or job systems with way too many builds to ever be able to properly enjoy it all, today’s video is for you. So, Final Fantasy TRPG: Legend Edition is a spiritual successor to the long-running Returners’ Final Fantasy RPG and its offshoots like Final Fantasy 4e and Omega Fantasy. But this isn’t just a rehash—this is a completely modernized, research-driven rebuild of the whole system. The devs, among them Mildra the Monk, who has been a big supporter of us at Eternity TTRPG for years, spent three years dissecting the games, the lore, the combat, and all the unique systems that Final Fantasy fans love. The result? An intermediate-complexity tabletop RPG laser-focused on recreating the true Final Fantasy experience – at the table—without any confusing crunch, or decade-old legacy rules. Ok, as I mentioned, there are other Final Fantasy tabletop systems already. But here’s what it boils down to for why it was worth it for Mildra and his team to create this new system. Number one: Simplicity None of the previous games fully capture the mythos of Final Fantasy while still giving players complete setting freedom . Where earlier systems often tied you to a specific world, tone, or era, Legend Edition was built around a single core design principle, which is: “Mythos over setting.” This means the rules capture the soul of Final Fantasy—Summons, Jobs, elemental affinities, cinematic abilities—but they don’t lock you to Ivalice, Gaia, Spira, or any one timeline. Using this game system, you can: Recreate your favorite Final Fantasy world. Mash up multiple games. Or build your own world entirely from scratch. This is FF energy, but not FF rails , that makes it such a big deal. So, moving on, What Makes Legend Edition Stand Out? The first piece is: Ridiculously Modular Character Building. In the future, I plan to do more videos on Final Fantasy Legend Edition. But let’s content ourselves today by summarizing – at least for this section – that there’s 50+ Jobs drawn from across the franchise. Included are fan favorites and long-time classics such as Dragoon, Black Mage, Thief, Time Mage, Gunbreaker, and dozens more. Using these 50+ Jobs, you do in fact have over 25,000 job combinations available to you, as a player. And these aren't “same-y” class splashes. The track-based advancement system makes each mix feel meaningful, distinct, and highly customizable. Oh—and there are 14 playable races taken from the Final Fantasy universe , each with their own unique ability. This is one of the most flexible JRPG-inspired character engines out there. The second big item that makes the Legend Edition Stand Out is Streamlined, Row-Based Combat, like your favorite Final Fantasy games from back in the day. Legend Edition offers an easy-to-learn row-based combat system that keeps the spirit of classic Final Fantasy battles while speeding everything up. You still get things like: Elemental affinities, Status effects, Skills with cinematic alt uses, And powerful Limit break moments. But, the math is way smoother than you’d expect. You won’t need a calculator, like if you took Final Fantasy I directly to your table. Next up is that the book provide you with Mythos-Driven Campaign Systems. Final Fantasy stories, across all games even back to the originals, are political. Big factions, world tension, and meaningful alliances are core to the franchise. Legend Edition builds this directly into play with: A Reputation & Affiliation system . You also have what’s called “The Holdings system” to build your very own base. The game comes with expanded NPC creation rules, and a robust Skill Game system for non-combat set pieces. This is the stuff that makes your campaign feel like a Final Fantasy game, not just another “game like D&D,” but with a “Final Fantasy” sticker slapped on their for flavor. As if all of the core game’s features are not enough, The Expansion Books Are pretty Wild. The Ultimania Expansion adds: 28 new races , 4 new jobs , 300+ sample items , Airship & Mecha creation systems , plus More Skill Games and Affiliations. Meanwhile, the Enemy Intel Field Guide brings you 200 full NPC stat blocks , a Fully detailed bestiary, and Drop-in encounter prep tools. Basically, everything you need as a Dungeon Master to prep your game with maximum Final Fantasy feel, and minimal effort. Additionally, if you want to run FF Tactics, FFIX, FFX, or even a fully original world—these books give you all the toys for each of those specific settings. Wrapping it all up, Legend Edition emulates the cinematic spirit of Final Fantasy with its Big narrative beats, Cutscene-worthy skill moments, Dramatic faction politics, Summons that feel truly mythic, and Job classes that are meaningful extensions of character identity. If you’ve ever said “I wish Final Fantasy had a premier tabletop version,” this is the game you need to try out at your table, next. So, if you’ve made it this far, I think you and I both know it’s time for you to download your free copy of Final Fantasy Legends Edition. I’ve got that link in the video description below. But I want to hear from you: what do you think? Does Legend Edition finally deliver that top-quality Final Fantasy tabletop experience we’ve all been waiting for? And if so, what will be the first Job class you’ll try out? Let me know in the comments. Hit like, subscribe, and share this video with your party. Let’s get Mildra and his team the recognition on this masterpiece that they truly deserve. Until next time—may your crits be big, and your summons be even bigger.
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