Waterdeep Dragon Heist Player Guide

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WATERDEEP DRAGON HEIST - PLAYER

GUIDE

SESSION ZERO

The goal for Session Zero is to come up with

a basic idea of your backstory, and nail down

the core aspects of your character (race, class,

background). This can always be fleshed out

more as you play.

STEP 1: WHO ARE YOU?

The first step is to establish a character concept.

This is the elevator pitch for your character. It

can be one sentence, or even just a few words.

An honorable thief. A noble who lost their lands.

A scholar with a drinking problem. This idea

is what will drive the rest of your decisions in

building your character.

STEP 2: HOW DID YOU GET TO THIS

POINT?

Try to come up with two or three “defining

moments” from your character’s past. It could

be the moment you first met your spouse, the

day you left your hometown, or the first time

you killed someone. It’s okay to be vague here.

Just try to think about what might have led to

who you are today.

STEP 3: WHY ARE YOU IN WATERDEEP?

This campaign takes places entirely in the city

of Waterdeep so it’s important to establish what

brings you to the city, why you would stay,

and importantly, why you would join up with

a group of strangers. See the next page for a

quick guide to the city if you need a better idea

of the city itself.

A word of advice!

As you create your character

concept, consider that this campaign takes place

in a densely-populated urban metropolis, where

openly wielding weapons or magic on the streets

can quickly land you in a jail cell. Combat isn’t

always the solution, and not all combat has to be

lethal.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

•

Random character generator for inspiration

https://trwolfe13.github.io/tiyl/

•

Which class should you play? (Flowchart)

https://preview.tinyurl.com/

yd4wzzgq

•

5 Steps to Writing a Killer RPG Character

Backstory (Geek & Sundry) -

https:

//preview.tinyurl.com/ybkyqkzr

•

20 questions to help you create a backstory for

your character (Reddit) -

https://preview.

tinyurl.com/oljh8rl

•

34 Questions to Ask When You’re Stumped on

Your Backstory (Reddit)

https://preview.

tinyurl.com/y777u35x

If you have access to the Xanathar’s Guide To

Everything, you can get a lot of inspiration from

the "This Is Your Life" section on page 61-73.

CHOOSING A BACKGROUND

This part of character creation is probably best

done

at

Session Zero together as a group, so

you can bounce ideas off each other to make

sure you’re a well-rounded group in terms of

skills and abilities. The following info is meant

to provide a mechanical structure around the

character concept you have in mind, but don’t

feel limited by the options presented. We can

always customize as needed!

A background will help guide how you pick

the following:

•

Two personality traits (Slow to anger, quick to

laugh)

•

One ideal that drives your character (Family,

loyalty, or honor)

•

One bond that represents your connection to

the world (Finding a lost artifact)

•

One flaw (Claustrophobic, gambling addict,

gullible, brash)

See Appendix A for a list of backgrounds.

1

WATERDEEP DRAGON HEIST - PLAYER GUIDE

A BRIEF GUIDE TO WATERDEEP

Waterdeep is a bustling, crowded, busy

mercantile city where coin is king and

tolerance for people of all races and religion

is high. Waterdhavians live life at a fast pace,

and despite their fervent work ethic, they

rarely miss an opportunity to celebrate, with

festivals often going on all day and all night. In

Waterdeep, wealth brings respect, respect earns

influence, and influence is power.

CITY LIFE

Government

The city is governed by the

Masked Lords, an anonymous group of

representatives who are in turn led by the

Open Lord of Waterdeep.

Economy

Economic activity in Waterdeep has

been dominated by the city’s dozens of guilds

for more than three centuries, and virtually

all commerce flows through them.

Law

The City Watch enforces the day-today law

in the city, while the Magisters act as judge

and jury. Both are swift to mete out justice as

needed and are guided by the Code Legal.

Military

The City Guard (and its famed griffon-

riders) defends the city from outside threats,

along with the Watchful Order of Magists and

Protectors.

PLACES & LANDMARKS

Yawning Portal Inn

Waterdeep’s most famous

inn, named for the large “well” within

its walls that down into the dungeon of

Undermountain. A common destination for

would-be heroes.

Walking Statues

These 100-ft tall statues were

built as a defense mechanism of the city, but

once wreaked havoc due to a magical disaster

years ago. They’ve since laid dormant.

Wards of Waterdeep

The city is divided roughly

into 8 wards, each of which serves its own

purpose. The Castle Ward is the seat of

government, the Trade Ward the center of

commerce, and so on.

IMPOR TANT PEOPLE

Laeral Silverhand

The current Open Lord of

Waterdeep. Helped oust Dagult Neverember.

Dagult Neverember

The previous Open

Lord. Removed from power and exiled for

corruption

Vajra ‘Blackstaff’ Safahr

Archwizard of

Waterdeep, leads Force Grey (see factions)

Durnan

Runs the Yawning Portal Inn. Former

adventurer, well beyond the typical human

age.

Volothamp Geddarm

A legendary traveler and

storyteller, most famous for his guidebooks.

FACTIONS

Emerald Enclave

Opposes threats to the

natural world, but recognizes the need for

balance between civilization and nature.

Many of its members are druids, rangers, or

those who worship nature.

Force Grey (or Gray Hands)

Elite adventurers

who work for the government of Waterdeep.

Harpers

A semi-secret organization dedicated

to promoting good, preserving history and

maintaining a balance between civilization

and nature. Has spies placed in cities across

the realm.

Lord’s Alliance

A coalition of rulers from cities

across Faerûn, who collectively agree that

some solidarity is needed to keep evil at bay.

Includes Neverwinter, Waterdeep, Baldur’s

Gate, and others.

Order of the Gauntlet

Formed to destroy evil

in the world at large. Many members are

paladins, clerics, or monks.

Zhentarim

An affiliation of merchants and

mercenaries known for their cutthroat tactics.

Rumors have emerged of a schism among

their members in Waterdeep.

2A BRIEF GUIDE TO WATERDEEP

APPENDIX A: BACKGROUNDS

PHB = Player’s Handbook, SCAG = Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide

BACKGROUNDS

Name Source Skills Languages Tools

Acolyte PHB

Insight (WIS),

religion (INT)

Any x2 None

Charlatan PHB

Deception (CHA),

sleight of hand

(DEX)

None

Disguise kit, forgery

kit

City Watch SCAG

Athletics (STR),

insight (WIS)

Any x2 None

Clan Crafter SCAG

History (INT),

insight (WIS)

Any x1 Artisan’s tools x1

Cloistered Scholar SCAG

History (INT), and

choose 1: arcana

(INT), nature (INT),

religion (INT)

Any x2 None

Courtier SCAG

Insight (WIS),

persuasion (CHA)

Any x2 None

Criminal PHB

Deception (CHA),

stealth (DEX)

None

Gaming set x1,

thieves’ tools

Entertainer PHB

Acrobatics (DEX),

performance (CHA)

None

Disguise kit, musical

instrument x1

Faction Agent SCAG

Insight (WIS), and

choose 1: special

(See page)

Any x2 None

Far Traveler SCAG

Insight (WIS),

perception (WIS)

Any x1

Choose 1: musical

instrument x1,

gaming set x1

Folk Hero PHB

Animal handling

(WIS), survival

(WIS)

None

Artisan’s tools x1,

vehicles (land)

Gladiator PHB

Acrobatics (DEX),

performance (CHA)

None

Disguise kit, unusual

weapon x1

Guild Artisan PHB

Insight (WIS),

persuasion (CHA)

Any x1 Artisan’s tools x1

Guild Merchant PHB

Insight (WIS),

persuasion (CHA)

Any x1 Navigator’s tools

Hermit PHB

Medicine (WIS),

religion (INT)

Any x1 Herbalism kit

Inheritor SCAG

Survival (WIS), and

choose 1: arcana

(INT), history (INT),

religion (INT)

None

Gaming set x1,

musical instrument

x1

Investigator SCAG

Insight (WIS),

investigation (INT)

Any x2 None

3

APPENDIX A: BACKGROUNDS

BACKGROUNDS

Name Source Skills Languages Tools

Knight PHB

History (INT),

persuasion (CHA)

Any x1 Gaming set x1

Knight of the Order SCAG

Persuasion (CHA),

and choose 1:

special (See page)

Any x1

Choose 1: gaming

set x1, musical

instrument x1

Mercenary Veteran SCAG

Athletics (STR),

persuasion (CHA)

None

Gaming set x1,

vehicles (land)

Noble PHB

History (INT),

persuasion (CHA)

Any x1 Gaming set x1

Outlander PHB

Athletics (STR),

survival (WIS)

Any x1

Musical instrument

x1

Pirate PHB

Athletics (STR),

perception (WIS)

None

Navigator’s tools,

vehicles (water)

Sage PHB

Arcana (INT),

history (INT)

Any x2 None

Sailor PHB

Athletics (STR),

perception (WIS)

None

Navigator’s tools,

vehicles (water)

Soldier PHB

Athletics (STR),

intimidation (CHA)

None

Gaming set x1,

vehicles (land)

Spy PHB

Deception (CHA),

stealth (DEX)

None

Gaming set x1,

thieves’ tools

Urban Bounty

Hunter

SCAG

Choose 2: deception

(CHA), insight

(WIS), persuasion

(CHA), stealth

(DEX)

None

Choose 2: gaming

set x1, musical

instrument x1,

thieves’ tools

Urchin PHB

Sleight of hand

(DEX), stealth

(DEX)

None

Disguise kit, thieves’

tools

Uthgardt Tribe

Member

SCAG

Athletics (STR),

survival (WIS)

Any x1

Choose 1: artisan’s

tools x1, musical

instrument x1

Waterdhavian Noble SCAG

History (INT),

persuasion (CHA)

Any x1

Choose 1: gaming

set x1, musical

instrument x1

4APPENDIX A: BACKGROUNDS