Our live chat that corresponded with this week’s newsletter was a bit all over the place. It was fun though. If you like unboxings and haven’t seen the D&D Movie: Honor Among Thieves promotional mimic you can see it: HERE.

I’m going to focus on the second part where we discussed the Thieves’ Gallery from the movie instead. Nearly all of the main characters from the movie statted out. You can claim over on D&D Beyond. Not sure if it was for a limited time or not, but it was free. You get Doric, Edgin, Forge, Holga, Simon, Sofina, and Xenk.

I know some people will be disappointed because they didn’t do character sheets, but instead, they are all NPC stat blocks. Personally, I actually find this way more useful. An NPC stat block I can port right into my games either piecemeal or whole cloth. We get a couple of new abilities and uses of abilities we haven’t seen before.

Here is a list of those abilities you might use in your game. This is something I often do in my games. If one monster has an ability that I like I’ll just drop onto another to make things a little bit more interesting.

• Multiattack. Doric makes two Shaped Claw or Sling attacks. She can replace one attack with the use of Spellcasting.
• Multiattack. Simon makes three Quarterstaff or Chaos Bolt attacks. He can replace one attack with one use of Spellcasting.
  • Both Doric and Simon get access to multi attack that allows them to replace one of their attacks with casting a spell. Seems like fair game for creating those spell caster enemies that also have weapon attacks.
• Doric has an additional non-standard wildshape form (owlbear) as part of her wildshape. So if you are using a druid in your game as an NPC consider giving them an exotic wildshape form or two.
• Disorienting Words. Edgin magically taunts up to three creatures he can see within 60 feet of himself. Each creature must succeed on a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or take 10 (3d6) psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll it makes before the start of Edgin’s next turn.
  • This is basically a beefed-up Vicious Mockery great for those enemies who want to have a taunt ability that has a little bit of a kick to it.
• Inspiring Words (3/Day). When a creature Edgin can see within 60 feet of himself fails an ability check, an attack roll, or a saving throw, Edgin grants the creature magical encouragement. The creature can roll a d8 and add the number rolled to the total, potentially turning the failure into a success.
  • This ability translates nicely into a buff for the enemies who oftentimes don’t have anything to do with their reaction.
• Disarming Charm. While Forge isn’t wearing armor, his AC includes his Charisma modifier.
  • Have a high charisma, no armor monster or NPC you want to introduce disarming charm is the perfect ability.
• Double-Cross. If Forge hits a creature friendly to him with an attack roll, the attack is automatically a critical hit.
  • This ability is downright dastardly but perfect for that turn cloak NPC or monster you were thinking of.
•  Wrestle. Holga shoves a creature within 5 feet of herself. That creature must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be moved 5 feet into an unoccupied space of Holga’s choice.
  • Holga doesn’t give us much, but if you want to build a battlefield bully enemy her wrestle ability as a bonus action could offer them what you are looking for.
• Wild Magic. When Simon takes 20 or more damage from a single source or takes damage from a critical hit, he must roll on the Wild Magic Surge table in the Player’s Handbook.
  • Simon’s wild magic feature is a great way to add wild magic to any stat block.
• Sheltering Shield (3/Day). When Simon or another creature he can see within 10 feet of himself would take damage, he conjures a shimmering, 10-foot-radius sphere of magical force centered on himself. Creatures inside the sphere have resistance to the damage that triggered this reaction.
  • Another great ability from Simon is Sheltering Shield. It’s better than and not as good as the shield spell all at the same time. It’s a reaction that can affect Simon or another creature. It won’t stop attacks but lessens damage. More versatility but probably less overall effect. Great for an enemy that can buff their allies.
• Aura of Protection. Xenk and his allies within 10 feet of him have advantage on saving throws.
  • Xenk offers up a great buff ability for himself and his allies. Perfect to add to a monster stat block that buffs their allies.
• Multiattack. Xenk makes three Daggersword attacks and uses Daggersword Flourish. He can replace Daggersword Flourish with Cleansing Touch if it’s available.
  • If you wanted to rip Xenk’s daggersword into your game for an enemy of the party you could just adapt the parts from his multi attack to apply to it.
• Longsword. Xenk magically detaches the longsword’s blade from its hilt, launching the blade at a creature he can see within 30 feet of himself. The target must make a DC 16 Dexterity saving throw. On a failed save, the target is impaled by the blade, taking 14 (3d6 + 4) piercing damage, and is knocked prone. At the end of the current turn, the blade magically attaches to its hilt.
• Shortsword and Dagger. Xenk lashes out with both weapons. Each creature of his choice within 10 feet of him must make a DC 16 Dexterity throw. On a failed save, the creature takes 7 (2d6) piercing damage and has disadvantage on attack rolls until the start of Xenk’s next turn. On a successful save, the creature takes half as much damage and suffers no other effect.
• Daggersword Shift. Xenk changes the form of his daggersword, choosing one of the following forms: a longsword, or a shortsword in one hand and a dagger in the other.
  • Just lift all of the Daggersword abilities and drop them on an enemy warrior that will offer up some extra battlefield control and debuff options.