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

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Right, that's what I meant. No difference to folks objecting, I suspect, access is still linked to the account, outside workarounds. (It also occurs to me that if D&D Beyond ever went away, workarounds would become the only way to access the information. Unlike a PDF or such.)

Why would someone object to just making a D&D Beyond account?

 

[JEB]

Why would someone object to just making a D&D Beyond account?

Based on above comments, because they don't like the model it represents for digital releases. Sort of like how some folks won't make an account on Spotify.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Well they are just going to have to miss out on free stuff then.

 

[Deset Gled]

It never ceases to amaze me how giving something valuable away for free triggers reactions like this.

On a related note, never list anything as "free" on Craigslist. It's $20, and when they offer you $10, counter with "You can have it for $1 if you show up in the next 30 minutes".

 

[darjr]

You needed a drive thru account to get the free Magic D&D stuff too.

Edit: I stand corrected.

Wizards later added the Plane Shift PDFs to DM Guild/DriveThruRPG, but they were originally released as downloads on the MTG web site. (They're still there, in fact: Plane Shift: Zendikar etc.)

 

[Reynard]

You can in fact just download it freely and use it wherever. You click Print in your browser, choose Print to PDF (which comes automatically these days if your computer runs Windows), and save it to your drive. That's it.

But really, even if you can't do that for some strange reason, why would it bug you that they're giving something away for free that you don't want for whatever reason?

This is a disingenuous argument.

 

[Quartz]

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)

(I don't have a Beyond account so cannot see the stats.)

Why are you assuming magic equipment? CRs are normalised against a party without magical equipment, are they not? If you're assuming equipment that bypasses an opponent's defences then of course the effective CR of that opponent is going to be lower.

 

[Flamestrike]

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.

Or Vecna with his Scrying and Plane shift/ Dimension door simply teleports in, gaining surprise and blows the Fighter to kingdom come, or better yet Dominates him and turns him on the party.

Int 24, so he's not exactly... dumb.

I do agree his AC and HP are too low, and his DPR is also on the low side. Nothing a Book of Vile Darkness, Staff of Power, and Ring of Protection cant fix (plus adding a few spells to his repertoire, gained from the Book).

Adding shield to his at-will spells (plus those items) gives him an AC of 27 (factoring in a Dex bump from the book), and still leaves him 2 x reactions a round.

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

Or Vecna with his Scrying and Plane shift/ Dimension door simply teleports in, gaining surprise and blows the Fighter to kingdom come, or better yet Dominates him and turns him on the party.

Int 24, so he's not exactly... dumb.

I do agree his AC and HP are too low, and his DPR is also on the low side. Nothing a Book of Vile Darkness, Staff of Power, and Ring of Protection cant fix (plus adding a few spells to his repertoire, gained from the Book).

Adding shield to his at-will spells (plus those items) gives him an AC of 27 (factoring in a Dex bump from the book), and still leaves him 2 x reactions a round.

I have no problem with any of your comments (any and all of my casters automatically get Shield). But the point is, the stat block, as is, is stupid.

 

[Reynard]

Or Vecna with his Scrying and Plane shift/ Dimension door simply teleports in, gaining surprise and blows the Fighter to kingdom come, or better yet Dominates him and turns him on the party.

Int 24, so he's not exactly... dumb.

This brings up an interesting (if old) question: how does the GM play a super genius when they, presumably, are not one themselves.


My answer is: allow yourself to meta game and use out of character knowledge to some (arbitrary) degree when playing the genius. They are Batman smart, always a step ahead, so the best way to emulate that is to let them be ready for the PCs with just the right spell,ability, trap or minion.