Like Dragon Like Son

In a game where players obsess over optimization, and DMs call for skill checks around every corner, it's important to remember that the dice aren't everything (sorry to all you who have crippling dice addictions). Sometimes the rules in D&D just don't make sense, but instead of just arbitrating some sort of ability check -- we recommend you call for a narration check.

This week, we look at how this plays out against magical traps. When a player, probably the rogue, decides they want to disarm the magical trap, the DMG says it is an Intelligence(Arcana) check to do so. But what if they aren't proficient in Arcana, or know anything about glyphs or spellcasting? Does it make any sense? Instead of just calling for the Ability check, you might instead ask a player, "Tell us how it is with your background that you think you know how to disarm this. Describe for us what you do." This may require the DM going into a bit more detail about the glyphs or the nature of the trap, so as to give the PC something to work with. What happens next will only make the game better.

We call this Role Play vs Roll to Play, and we discuss it in more depth in this week's show.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

This week we talk about the implications of healing potions as the main source of 'non-magical' healing in a campaign, discussing rules-as-written all the ways you can heal your party and introducing experimental new rules for diversified healing in your setting, including bandages, salves, and surgical operations.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

As a DM looking for ways to encourage more RP between players, you might want to consider our table rules for campfire interactions and downtime activities.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

Dare to live the wild life of a goblin, bugbear or hobgoblin! Join us this week as we delve deep into what we love about these interconnected races, and some of our favourite ideas for building PCs with them that break free of tired old stereotypes.

These characters are sometimes comical, sometimes chaotic, and as we discuss, maybe even sometimes stoic and serious -- but always full of fun to play. No one thinks they will fall as in love with their goblinoid character as they actually do.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

We take a long walk into the woods of travel and exploration. This key pillar of adventure is often skipped over, but with a little bit of forethought it can provide your players with a more immersive world, and you as a DM the shared excitement of discovering the unknown.

We look at how to use random generated story that works to enhance your campaign, and how to create an easy to use system that suits your table's style of play. We discuss how to balance encounters, foraging, and weather to create fun challenges that enhance emmersion in your world.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

This week father and son face off in a showdown to decide which is better: making a fantasy robot character using the Warforged race from Eberron, or building one using the Reborn race from Van Richten's Guide. Two robots enter, but only one can prevail!

We compare features and traits, overall role play potential and additional add-ons. It's a close fought battler. Tune in to find out which race will best serve your next fantasy robot PC build.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

Are your players chewing up and spitting out your tough monsters? Does a deadly level CR seem like a walk in the park? Are you regretting letting everyone have magic items? Fear not, we are here to help you fix that. We look at ways to go beyond simply turning your big boss into a big bag of hit points -- and instead turn it into a fight that makes everyone feel like a hero.

From peppering PCs with a monster's legendary actions to triggering a PCs internal conflict with a monster's knowledge of what they truly desire, there are plenty of ways to level the playing field for the bad guy -- while creating new opportunities for players to rise to the challenge. Join us as we discuss some of our favourite ways to put the fight back into Boss Fights.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

Traps have been a part of the D&D experience since its earliest days. But a lot has changed over the years. Join us as we poke at some traps with a 10' pole, and learn how today's best uses of traps can enhance your next adventure.

From Gygazian meat grinders to Van Richten's Haunted traps, we tip toe around the pressure plates to show you how to (and maybe how not to) implement this element into you next session.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

There are some subclasses which no one plays because, well, they kind of suck. We often ask what it would take to make them suck less -- but also not to get too overpowered that they make the DM want to pull out their hair. This week both Jay and Jack bring some ideas together on what the Banneret subclass (aka Purple Dragon Knight) is all about (leadership), and how to bring out the best of that theme.

We look to try to fix features if we can, or possibly replace them with something similar but functionally better -- like how do we improve on a feature connected to Second Wind or Action Surge, when both of those are so limitied in uses. We also try adding a few new features (bonus action: help) to make this subclass one of the most supportive fighters in the game, something that's a bit lacking within the class.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!

Once again we offer a look at how to break out of tired tropes: this time with the Bard. Internet memes would have you believe that these characters only reason to exist is to seduce everything they come in contact with. So we want to go a different direction with this build, what if our bard is really very good at preaching and has found a home within religion -- and not just one religion. In fact, he's talked his way into every religion in town.

The acolyte background affords shelter to PCs who share the same religion as a temple or church they find...but what if a College of Eloquence Bard, with their Silver Tongue, convinces those who run the temple or church that he is, in fact, a priest within their religion (even if he's really not). Well, then it's healing for all his friends and a modest lifestyle for our bard. The trick is simply not to forget whcih religious ceremonies he needs to perform each day.

Welcome to Like Dragon Like Son, a podcast hosted by Jay and Jack Oatway where they discuss everything D&D, from character builds to personal experiences. Stay tuned for new episodes on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by sharing this podcast with your friends. It's the support of listeners like you which motivate us to put out more episodes, so thank you!