We found 10 episodes of Like Dragon Like Son with the tag “tips”.
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True Magic: How to Make Spellcasting Work Like It Does In The Movies
Episode | March 24th, 2023 | 1 hr 12 mins
casting, magic systems, spells, tips
We've all seen spells explode on the big screen and thought, "I want my character to be able to do that!" Then gone looking in the Player's Handbook only to find the closest thing to it is some 3rd level spell with a ridiculous number of restrictions. The World's Greatest RPG shouldn't be so disappointing. So the solution is simple: steal some magical ideas from other sources. We look at Ars Magica, Push Powered, as well as some of our own homebrew to find ways to create a new full spectrum of magical powers full of the sort of risks and rewards that makes the TTRPG hobby so much fun.
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How To Make Players More Invested
Episode | March 17th, 2023 | 1 hr 15 mins
adding flavor, dm skills, improv, npcs, plot points, social interaction, tips, weirdness
Ever get the feeling that, as a DM, the weight of the world rest upon your shoulders alone? That your players just show up expecting to be entertained? That there is a lot of pressure on you to look after everyone's feelings? But then who is looking after you? Join us as we look into how to deepen player involvement in the game, the story, and the enjoyment at your table
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Changing the Way We Play
Episode | November 11th, 2022 | 55 mins 10 secs
blades in the dark, breaking trope, dragonlance, other systems, tips
This episode began as a sneak peek into the upcoming Dragonlance release for 5e. We started talking about how the Squire of Solomnia feat looked like what we have been seeing in the One D&D playtest material around feats. And then we started talking about the important ways the game has evolved since Dragonlance first hit the scene, and how the game of D&D has grown, and how we as DMs have continued to expand our playstyle, continue to push outside the boundaries of RAW. Join us for a rollercoaster discussion that includes Blightheim, Blades in the Dark, and, alos a bit of Dragonlance.
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How To Tell Haunting Tales
Episode | October 26th, 2022 | 46 mins 40 secs
adding flavor, halloween, huantings, three pillars, tips, weirdness
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.
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How Good Is Rolling With Advantage?
Episode | October 17th, 2022 | 51 mins 12 secs
advantage, tips, weirdness
Everyone loves rolling dice. And rolling twice seems even more fun! But how does that really change your odds of success and by how much? The answer might surprise you. Rolling with advantage is more than a simple +5, it radically alters the likelihood of success. This week we dig into the statistics, and discuss ways that you can use the odds to your advantage.
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Is Spelljammer a Bit of a Thin Update?
Episode | August 27th, 2022 | 49 mins 44 secs
adding flavor, cosmic horror, revised, spelljammer, tips, weirdness
As much as we love all things D&D, there are moments when we stop and ask: "Is that all you are giving me?" As experienced DMs we do a lot of homebrew, but that's not the case for everyone. And there is something nice about having a ruleset that is standardized between tables. So when we are looking at a scant 60 pages of Astral Adventurer's Guide, there's a lot more we need to bring to Spelljammer. This week, Jay and Jack talk about all the pre-existing resources that can be adapted to your Spelljammer campaign.
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Beyond Oathbreaker: Making Edgy Paladins
Episode | April 15th, 2022 | 1 hr 1 min
oath of conquest, oath of vengeance, oathbreakers, paladins, steal this character, subverting tropes, tips, warlocks, weirdness
Sometimes we get misled by the name of a subclass, and probably none more so than Oathbreaker. We discuss where this unusual subclass comes from, the weird quirks it offers, and how to build something better. We also clear up the old javelin vs. spear debate (and why your Paladin might want to switch to spears). And we do some comparisons with Warlock, noting how Paladins are about the oath they make, and Warlocks are about who they make the oath to -- and how that affects the way you might want to roleplay them.
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Adventures at Sea
Episode | April 4th, 2022 | 51 mins 34 secs
adding flavor, pirate, sailor, sea elf, steal this character, subverting tropes, tips, triton, weirdness
From the decks of a ship to the bottom of the ocean, nothing says adventure like the life at sea. This week we look at ways that players and DMs can create characters and environments well adapted to water-borne combat.
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Great Teachers: 4 Types of NPCs that Can Help a Party Improve
Episode | March 20th, 2022 | 42 mins 2 secs
adding flavor, dm skills, improv, npcs, preparation, social interaction, three pillars, tips, weirdness
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.
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The Joys of World Building
Episode | February 19th, 2022 | 50 mins 37 secs
adding flavor, three pillars, tips, world building
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.