D&D 5E Get The Vecna Dossier Free At D&D Beyond

WotC is offering a free product which you can claim by signing into D&D Beyond, including Vecna’s 5E statistics.

The dossier includes the stat block plus a half page or so of lore. Vecna's stat block is a CR 26 undead wizard, prior to the fallen paladin (and former bodyguard to the lich) Kas's betrayal. That means he still has his hand and eye, although he is a time traveller and can appear in different worlds and eras.

The archlich Vecna is one of the most iconic villains of Dungeons & Dragons lore. And now you can bear witness to his necromantic magic with the Vecna Dossier! Available at no cost with your D&D Beyond account, this thrilling supplement details the legacy and statistics of the Undying King himself!

This claim unlocks the contents of this promotional supplement for use with D&D Beyond, including the supplement in digital format in the game compendium and in the searchable listings, character builder, encounters, and digital sheet.

Claim The Vecna Dossier now! - D&D Beyond

www.dndbeyond.com

 

[dave2008]

I was told the point of cuting down the spell section was to make sure that no one casts usless or weak spells... but he can animate dead at will with a touch... that is a waste of part of his action

in general he can take a spell or one of his two special abilities... but both of those special abilities 7 out of 10 times will be better then any spell listed... if (unless there is a super weird set up) vecna ever throws a 8d6 lightning bolt I would laugh at him.

In general this is a compramise stat block... it still has "this is flavor but you shouldn't use them most fight" powers mixed in with combat abilities... but now there are less spells... so the odds of random choosing the wrong ability is higher.

I can almost imagine a DM wondering... "I just dropped the wizard with my counter spell damage... I can touch and animate him, or I can cast dominate on the rageing barbarian that needs a 17 to make the save, or I can throw a lightning bolt at the cleric..."

I prefer compromise statblocks in general. This is not exactly what I am looking for, but it is much closer. You can run him without ever looking at his spell list and that is an option I like to have. The spell list is primarily for flavor and I am fine with that. However, for Vecna I would still want to give him access to more spells, even if just for flavor.

 

[Nikosandros]

I thought there was, but I signed up a long time ago. I don't have an apple or Twitch account, but I do have a Google account. Never received any notification from them in my email though, so I doubt I signed up that way. But maybe it is different now that WotC owns it?

There's no way to register directly. Originally you needed Twitch and later they added other services such as Google.

 

[Omega9999]

Any statblock of Vecna that has not the words "Vecna is a 20th level spellcaster" in it... is to be changed

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Any statblock of Vecna that has not the words "Vecna is a 20th level spellcaster" in it... is to be changed

Why. They don't keep track of that anymore.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I prefer compromise statblocks in general. This is not exactly what I am looking for, but it is much closer. You can run him without ever looking at his spell list and that is an option I like to have. The spell list is primarily for flavor and I am fine with that. However, for Vecna I would still want to give him access to more spells, even if just for flavor.

Yeah, I think this is a moment of me going "Oh, I like this. Time to change it to make it better, though!"

And then I'll need to homebrew a God version of Vecna for this, too.

 

[Parmandur]

That's the Valeyard to you.

I had to Google that: not really familiar with Doctor Who, watched the Eckleston stuff and some of the Tennant stuff.

 

[Omega9999]

Why. They don't keep track of that anymore.

yes, but the statblock represents what an npc can or cannot do even outside of battle. I can understand the new policy regarding spells with random npc and monsters, but not with important figures such as that of Vecna

 

[Nikosandros]

Why not just keep doing what they are doing and allow you to buy the books on beyond, or include codes with the physical books that get you copies on beyond. Beyond's Subscriptions are for sharing the content.

Some time ago, when WotC did a sort of sneak-preview of their ideas for digital offerings, they talked quite a bit about a subscription based service.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Some time ago, when WotC did a sort of sneak-preview of their ideas for digital offerings, they talked quie a bit about a subscription based service.

The one that was about a VTT that it looked like they were working on? Yeah, that's not evidence pointing to them completely dumping support for pen-and-paper D&D.

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

AC is not that important. 18 is still decent. He has his teleport out of multi attack range reaction, and can heal 80 hp every round.

Say 13th level chars take on this stat block. Said char has a +10 to hit, BEFORE any magical weapon bonus. Let's give Mr Fighter a +2 Bow. (to bypass Fell Rebuke) That is a +12 before any other magical boosts, and there many potential boosts. That hits an AC 18 75% of the time (6 or better). In the first round, a player with any sense would Action Surge, for 6 attacks. Statistically, at least 4 are going to hit, maybe 5.

Any number of combinations at that level are doing 20 plus damage per attack. (I know a power-gamer can probably crank that up over 30). Note also Vecna's stat block only has a +3 to Initiative rolls. It is entirely possible that multiple chars would attack before Venca even gets a turn. 272 HP can evaporate in one turn if a Paladin gets lucky, like roll a 20 in that first turn, with Divine Smite.

This stat block only works with Lair Actions and/or minions. And CR 26's, needing those, against say 13th level chars, that speaks to lousy design, play-testing, and quality control. All things I have come to expect from WOTC.