Like Dragon Like Son - Episodes Tagged with “Three Pillars”

How To Tell Haunting Tales

Jay and Jack Oatway — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 20:00:00 +0800

Ghost stories are always fun to play -- especially around Halloween. Ghost hold a special status among D&D monsters. They aren't just sacks of HP that need to be smashed with an axe. They are creatures with unsettled business that requires deeper player involvement in order to truly vanquish the ghost. We look at some of the tools provided in Van Richten's guide and elsewhere that can turn your apparition into the haunting tale of adventure that no one will soon forget.

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.

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Great Teachers: 4 Types of NPCs that Can Help a Party Improve

Jay and Jack Oatway — Sun, 20 Mar 2022 13:00:00 +0800

Good DMs tell their players how to improve, but GREAT DMs use NPCs to show their PCs how to live up to their true heroic potential. But there are many NPC pitfalls to avoid. This week we look at a few different types of NPCs that can change the dynamic, and maybe help the PCs in a less obvious way. Join us as we delve into Sidekicks, Rivals, Survivors and Adversaries.

How to Make Character Death Meaningful

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0800

Death can be a real bummer -- especially if you didn't see it coming. While it has always been a part of the D&D experience, how you handle that experience as a DM or a player can be the difference between tears or cheers. Join us as we explore how to make death meaningful to players and the campaign.

The Joys of World Building

Jay and Jack Oatway — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +0800

One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a DM can be the time you spend creating a world for your players to adventure within. For those considering building a setting for a campaign, or even those who have done this before but want to up their game, we offer enthusiastic words of advice from our own experience.

New Feats, Background Feats, Epic Feats and More Feats

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 10 Dec 2021 09:00:00 +0800

There are so many interesting feats that you will never get to play. Well you could, if you didn't value an ability score bump more. So here's our hot take: with more and more feats being introduced into the game, why not let everyone take one or even two more just to round out their character?

Join us as we look at the new Strixhaven feats, and talk a bit about Jay's new Triton character build (and why he wishes he could take a couple of under-used feats). And we talk about Epic boons as feats for low level characters in heroic settings, and much more!

How To Bring a Campaign to Its End

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0800

If you are really lucky, maybe you will get a chance to play a long campaign with the same group of players over months, maybe even years. Through countless adventures, the PCs have become seasoned heroes, and now they must face one last challenge: how to say goodbye. This week we look at what needs to happen before the final curtain falls on your campaign.

Be the Support Hero Your Party Needs

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0800

While many players try to optimize their damage output, we find ourselves asking: How do we optimize our support output? It's not as glamorous to take the help action, or dodge action on your turn -- but if done well, and combined with a few object interactions, you might soon find yourself significantly boosting the damage output of everyone else at the table.

Join us as we look at how to play the best support character ever.

Role Play vs Roll to Play

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0800

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.

Travel & Exploration: The Journey is Half the Fun

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0800

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.

How To Make Boss Fights Properly Tough

Jay and Jack Oatway — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 14:00:00 +0800

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.

How To Use Traps in Your Game

Jay and Jack Oatway — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0800

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.

Part 2: The Great Outer Planes Travel Guide

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 10:00:00 +0800

Feeling the need for a little getaway? Why not send take a vacay to the fabulous Outer Planes? Let us help you decide which plane will provide the excitement you are looking for -- plus some great tips on how to use the Outlands to build you next character's back story.

With the first anniversary of the Like Dragon Like Son podcast upon us, we thought we'd give out listeners something special -- a two part episode! In Part 1 we took a quick tour of the Upper Planes, as well as did some creative brainstorming on what the gate-towns (Chapter 2 of the DMG) for each of these planes might be like. If you haven't had a listen yet, check out the episode here.

Now for Part 2! We are headed for the Lower Planes, but dont' worry, it will be more fun than you think! We also try to help you imagine how the gate-towns to those might be a bit like Las Vegas, or a really loud bar with live music...some might even call that fun.

So pack your adventure's supplies, we are going on the Grand Tour!

Part 1: The Great Outer Planes Travel Guide

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0800

Feeling cooped up? Feeling like your character just needs a little getaway? Why not send them to the fabulous Outer Planes? Can't decide which of the 16 planes to visit first? Don't worry, we've got you covered -- plus some great tips on how to use the Outlands to build you next character's back story.

With the first anniversary of the Like Dragon Like Son podcast upon us, we thought we'd give out listeners something special -- a two part episode! In Part 1 we take a quick tour of the Upper Planes, as well as do some creative brainstorming on what the gate-towns (Chapter 2 of the DMG) for each of these planes might be like.

When you get through these eight, be sure to check out Part 2 where we go down under! No, not Australia -- some place much, much hotter! The Lower Planes! And we try to imagine how the gate-towns to those might not be all bad...some might even be fun.

So pack your adventure's supplies, we are going on the Grand Tour!

Try to Talk Your Way Out

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 09:00:00 +0800

Sometimes an encounter with a monster doesn't have to become a fight. As a DM, to create opportunities for players to talk to the bad guys, you need to know what the monster wants (or at least have a handy table on stand-by that you can roll on to find out what they want). We look at how the "guidelines" for parley work, and how you as a player might be able to talk your way out of a tight spot.

Tune in to hear Jay and Jack spontaneously live roleplay and enounter with some Annis Hags, and see how well Jack's character does at talking his way across their bridge.

How to Stop Over-prepping and Trust Your Improv Skills

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 09:00:00 +0800

Right now, DMs are out there planning for something for their next session. They making maps, building encounters, and weaving intricate plots. There are also DMs who are stressed out because they don't have enough time to put together all that great stuff. If you ever feel like the latter, we are here to offer some comfort: have a few handy random tables in your pocket, and trust in your improv skills.

We look at our own habits in terms of what we prep, and over-prep. And the we crack open our new copy of Table Fables II and roll some dice. We'll show you how in just minutes you can whip up a setting, scene or encounter. We also talk about the advantages of going with 'Theatre of the Mind' instead of battlemaps.

Top 10 Tips For Playing D&D Online

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0800

As more and more of us find our way to online games of D&D, we need to look for the best practices that unlock the best experience possible. From camera tips to virtual table top ettiquette, this week we count down out top tips for being a good, maybe even great, virtual adventurer.

Calling For More Roleplay Not More Skill Checks

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 09:00:00 +0800

In a time when more and more of us are increasingly playing online, we've noticed a deminishing amout of roleplay -- both in our own online games, and the ones we watch online. The advent of virtual table tops has brought combat to forefront of many games. And while that is fun, it's only one of D&D's three pilars. So we ask ourselves, how do we bring back more of the roleplay element that we felt at the physical table.

And as we looked at this problem, we noticed one crutch that we all seem to be leaning on, both veteran players and noobs alike: too many Ability Checks. Ability Checks for everything. Ability Checks that slow, and often derail, the flow of the story.

This week we take a look at how as a DM (and players) we can choose to make fewer calls for skill tests, and instead use those moments of the game to do more roleplay. We look at reducing how often the dice decide (and derail) the story, and how to use Ability Checks best when conflict demands it.

Finding the Right Balance for Combat Encounters

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 14:00:00 +0800

This week we look at how to make build a combat encounter that is both challenging, and fun -- deadly, yet winnable. We discuss all the different factors at play, from multi-monster battles to Boss fights. If you want something that is scary, something where the players feel the heat -- while also providing them opportunities to shine -- we've got ideas to help you create a truly "balanced" encounter.

Yet, even with balance, death does happen. And it can be great for the story. We talk a bit about what to do if the fight takes an unexpected twist.

Links:

The Book of Hordes — The mechanics and monsters presented in this book are meant for use by DMs who wish to introduce larger-scale, grand battles, without the hassle of tracking a score of hit points and turns. Running monsters as hordes allows for faster, more simple turns, without the micro-managing required for fighting a large group of individual monsters. This simplifies the combat two-fold. First, DMs have less things to track, and can focus their attention on the storytelling and world-building. Second, the players no longer have to micro-manage enemy targeting, and are presented with a dynamic and interesting foe, all while not being entirely overwhelmed through sheer numbers in action economy.

Playing All The Three Pillars

Jay and Jack Oatway — Fri, 17 Apr 2020 18:00:00 +0800

There has never been a better time to play D&D -- but only if you touch all the Three Pillars of Game Play: Exploration, Roleplay (social interaction) and Combat. We look at which classes are best at bringing each pillar into your game, enriching your D&D experience, and making your next campaign even more interesting.

Sometimes, it's ok not to be the character that can do the most damage during combat. There are lots of ways to prove your worth. Can you give your teammates advantage on their attacks, did you heal them when they were close to death, did you maybe use your charm to prevent the fight from even happening in the first place? What does exploration mean? And how can you build a character that makes opening up that pillar of gameplay easier for everyone at the table? Investigation or Perception? Jack choses #TeamPerception and explains why.

Also: how much homebrew should you allow in your campaign? Does that include Unearthed Arcana? And why it's usually more ok to play a really underpowered character than an overpowered one. (Hint: It's all about fairplay, and the enjoyment of all the players at the table.)

If you love Like Dragon Like Son and want to help us out, you can support us by donating to our patreon and 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!