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Ambidexterity

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Ambidexterity was the mundane ability or trait to proficiently use both hands in any given task,[1][2][3] having equal amounts of coordination and skill with either, rather than having a primary left or right hand. Those who possessed the trait were referred to as ambidextrous.[3]

Some considered it possible for the trait to be "learned" later in life through regularly training someone to use their less dominant hand.[4] Possession of this trait was considered by many to be essential for fighting in a dual-weapon style,[3][3] such as the drow martial art draa velve.[5]

Magic[]

Ambidexterity could be artificially obtained by certain magic items, such as wearing the gloves of the balanced hands,[6] the Nightthief's Nimbleknife,[7] or wielding both of the silver sickles of Soranth.[8] However, when these magic items ceased to be worn or wielded, the user would cease to be ambidextrous.[6][7][8]

Society[]

Ambidexterity was most commonly exhibited among rogues and warriors.[3] Some particular types of rogues or warriors known for exhibiting this trait included acrobats,[9][10] assassins,[11] duelists,[12] sharpshooters, and swashbucklers,[13] and weapon masters.[14] And many of the fighter-rogue slavers of the Xanathar's Thieves' Guild were known to be ambidextrous.[15]

Other types of adventurers in the Realms that were commonly seen to exhibit this trait included blades,[16] bladesingers,[4] and breachgnomes.[17]

Beyond humans and demihumans, for whom ambidexterity was not an innate trait to all members of a given race[3][5] and could even be rather rare,[5] there were some creatures in the Realms for whom all members were naturally ambidextrous. These included alaghi,[18] chitines,[19] desmodus,[20] drider vampires,[21] greater doppelgangers,[22] hadozee,[23] malenti,[24][25] and thri-kreen.[26] For some races ambidexterity was quite common, but not an absolute certainty, such as being exhibited by most tieflings[27] and wang-liang.[28] Some undead were gifted with this trait regardless of whether or not the person they were in life was ambidextrous, such as deathbringers.[29]

History[]

When Nymorah, an annual peace festival and tournament in Ravens Bluff that was enacted by Lord Mayor Sirrus Melandor,[30] was first held one of the teams that competed was Pure and Passionate, a group of Tormtar women from Tantras. Among their numbers were three half-elf rangers that were all ambidextrous.[31]

Known Ambidextrous People[]

Neverwinter novel

A fierce ambidextrous battle is waged by Drizzt Do'Urden and Artemis Entreri on the cover of Neverwinter.

Appendix[]

Appearances[]

Adventures

Dungeon #34, "On Wings of Darkness" • Dungeon #66, " Operation Manta Ray" • City of the Spider Queen

Novels & Short Stories

Homeland • The Third Level • Eye of Justice • Maestro • Hero
Referenced only
Avenger

Video Games

Neverwinter Nights • Dungeons & Dragons Online • Baldur's Gate III

Organized Play & Licensed Adventures

The Wizard's Guard • Stop the Madness • Blaze of Glory • Red Dawn • It's Your Lucky Day • Curse of the Lizard King • Opening the Locks • Pilgrimage • Pirates of Yore • The Good, the Undead, and the Ugly • The Gift of Song • The Jig is Up • A Tale of Two Towers • Art Imitates Life • Family Ties • Unmasked • Wild Ride • Luck, Law, and Life • Forever Hold Your Peace • Call of the Griffon • A Day at the Races • News of the World • A Kind of Magic • Ow, Quit It! • Scum and Villainy • Glory of the Game • Per Our Usual Arrangements • Eat, Drink, and Be Merry • Enemy of My Enemy

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (August 2000). Player's Handbook 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 93. ISBN 0-7869-1551-4.
  2. ↑ Aaron Allston (1989). The Complete Fighter's Handbook. (TSR), p. 61. ISBN 978-0880387798.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Richard Baker, Skip Williams (1995). Player's Option: Combat & Tactics. (TSR, Inc), p. 66. ISBN 0-7869-0096-2.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Richard Baker (Nov 2010). Avenger. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 26, p. ?. ISBN 0786955759.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Sean K. Reynolds (2002-08-05). Drow Fighting Styles. Wizard of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2003-07-03. Retrieved on 2019-13-02.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sean K. Reynolds, Duane Maxwell, Angel McCoy (August 2001). Magic of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 158. ISBN 0-7869-1964-7.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ossian Studios (August 2019). Designed by Luke Scull. Neverwinter Nights: Tyrants of the Moonsea. Beamdog.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Eric L. Boyd (2002-01-30). Part 10: Chronicler's Compendium. Mintiper's Chapbook. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ Roger E. Moore (January 1999). Demihumans of the Realms. (TSR, Inc.), p. 15. ISBN 0-7869-1316-9.
  10. ↑ Douglas Niles (1995). Player's Option: Skills & Powers. (TSR, Inc), p. 66. ISBN 0-7869-0149-7.
  11. ↑ Douglas Niles (1995). Player's Option: Skills & Powers. (TSR, Inc), p. 68. ISBN 0-7869-0149-7.
  12. ↑ Jason Carl (January 2001). Sword and Fist. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 17. ISBN 0-7869-1829-2.
  13. ↑ Douglas Niles (1995). Player's Option: Skills & Powers. (TSR, Inc), pp. 80, 83. ISBN 0-7869-0149-7.
  14. ↑ Jason Carl (January 2001). Sword and Fist. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-7869-1829-2.
  15. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 281. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  16. ↑ Blake Mobley (1992). The Complete Bard's Handbook. (TSR, Inc.), p. 20. ISBN 1-56076-360-4.
  17. ↑ Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 181. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  18. ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  19. ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 26. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  20. ↑ Ed Bonny, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter (September 2002). Monster Manual II 3rd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 07-8692-873-5.
  21. ↑ James Wyatt (September 2002). City of the Spider Queen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 118. ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
  22. ↑ James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 35. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
  23. ↑ Jeff Grubb (1990). Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix 1. Edited by Mike Breault. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-88038-871-4.
  24. ↑ Daniel Cooper (March 2001). Pirates of Yore. Living City (RPGA), p. 17.
  25. ↑ Template:Cite organized play/LC/News of the World
  26. ↑ Tim Beach, Dori Jean Hein (1995). Thri-Kreen of Athas. Edited by Jon Pickens. (TSR, Inc.), p. 53. ISBN 0-7869-0125-X.
  27. ↑ Allen Varney, ed. (June 1994). Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 112. ISBN 978-1560768623.
  28. ↑ James Wyatt (October 2001). Oriental Adventures (3rd edition). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 198–199. ISBN 0-7869-2015-7.
  29. ↑ Ed Bonny, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter (September 2002). Monster Manual II 3rd edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 55. ISBN 07-8692-873-5.
  30. ↑ Nicolas Ventura (July 2002). Glory of the Game. Living City (RPGA), p. 4.
  31. ↑ Nicolas Ventura (July 2002). Glory of the Game. Living City (RPGA), p. 18.
  32. ↑ Ed Greenwood (2001-04-04). Part #14: Dark Temple Deeds, Darker Doers. Elminster Speaks. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2016-10-26.
  33. ↑ Catie Martolin, Rhonda Hutcheson (April 2001). The Gift of Song. Living City (RPGA), p. 18.
  34. ↑ Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
  35. ↑ R.A. Salvatore (December 1994). “The Third Level”. In James Lowder ed. Realms of Infamy (TSR, Inc.), p. ?. ISBN 1-56076-911-4.
  36. ↑ Dale Donovan (July 1998). Villains' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-1236-7.
  37. ↑ Craig Barrett (March/April 1992). “On Wings of Darkness”. In Barbara G. Young ed. Dungeon #34 (TSR, Inc.) (34)., p. 68.
  38. ↑ Monster and NPC statistics EL 18 included in Jeremy Vosberg (November 1994). Per Our Usual Arrangements. Living City (RPGA), p. 9.
  39. ↑ Richard Baker, Matt Forbeck, Sean K. Reynolds (May 2003). Unapproachable East. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4. ISBN 0-7869-2881-6.
  40. ↑ Monster and NPC statistics EL 18 included in Jeremy Vosberg (November 1994). Per Our Usual Arrangements. Living City (RPGA), p. 14.
  41. ↑ Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
  42. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 110. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  43. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 177. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 R.A. Salvatore (October 2016). Hero (Hardcover). (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 16, p. ?. ISBN 9780786965960.
  45. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 182. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  46. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 112. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  47. ↑ Erik Scott de Bie (September 2012). Eye of Justice. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 20, loc. ?. ISBN 978-0-7869-6135-1.
  48. ↑ Barratt Moy (June 2001). The Last Defense. Living City (RPGA), p. 10.
  49. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 109. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  50. ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Chris Sims (August 2008). Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide. Edited by Jennifer Clarke Wilkes, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 251. ISBN 978-0-7869-4924-3.
  51. ↑ Template:Cite organized play/LC/Scum and Villainy
  52. ↑ Heather Van Buren (July 2000). The Jig Is Up. Living City (RPGA), p. 30.
  53. ↑ Steve Kurtz (1993). A Dozen and One Adventures (Campaign Book). (TSR, Inc), p. 62. ISBN 1-56076-622-0.
  54. ↑ Carrie Bebris (2000). “Rogues Gallery: The Heroes of Myth Drannor”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon Annual #5 (Wizards of the Coast) (5)., p. 109.
  55. ↑ Daniel Cooper (March 2001). Pirates of Yore. Living City (RPGA), p. 5.
  56. ↑ Template:Cite organized play/LJ/Curse of the Lizard King
  57. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 115. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  58. ↑ Chris Ruester (March 1998). Red Dawn. Living City (RPGA), p. 12.
  59. ↑ Template:Cite organized play/LC/Unmasked
  60. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 116. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  61. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 191. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  62. ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 181. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
  63. ↑ Dale Donovan, Paul Culotta (August 1996). Heroes' Lorebook. (TSR, Inc), p. 90. ISBN 0-7869-0412-7.
  64. ↑ Template:Cite organized play/LC/Wild Ride (adventure)
  65. ↑ Monster and NPC statistics EL 18 included in Jeremy Vosberg (November 1994). Per Our Usual Arrangements. Living City (RPGA), p. 1.
  66. ↑ Robert Wiese (2002-12-04). Selinah Varhast, Psychic Assassin. Realms Personalities. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2016-11-01. Retrieved on 2019-07-15.
  67. ↑ Ed Greenwood, et al (1989). Hall of Heroes. (TSR, Inc), p. 113. ISBN 0-88038-711-4.
  68. ↑ Gail Reese (March 2000). It's Your Lucky Day??. Living City (RPGA), p. 23.
  69. ↑ Heather Van Buren (July 2000). The Jig Is Up. Living City (RPGA), p. 38.
  70. ↑ Curtis Scott (March 1992). Pirates of the Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 69. ISBN 978-1560763208.
  71. ↑ Paul Culotta (January/February 1998). “Operation Manta Ray”. In Christopher Perkins ed. Dungeon #66 (Wizards of the Coast) (66)., p. 42.
  72. ↑ Bill Kerney (August 2001). A Tale of Two Towers. Living City (RPGA), pp. 24–26.
  73. ↑ Nicky Rea (July 1994). “The Living City: The Hand of Mercy and Marigold's Menagerie”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #97 (TSR, Inc.), p. 8.
  74. ↑ James Wyatt (September 2002). City of the Spider Queen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 139. ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
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