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 ho...

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...

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 lo...

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...

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...

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 w...

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 wit...

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 i...

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...

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 fac...

This week we look at how much you should charge for that magic item in the window. We all know that pricing items within the fantasy economy of a D&D campaign can be tricky. As a DM, you are trying to provide a balance between retail realism and just keeping the story moving. And it helps to have some sort of accurate guide for whenever a PC might decide to haggle, which is whenever they go in...

We dive into a different type of build this week. Instead of making a character, we are building a nemesis for our players -- someone truly evil, someone beyond redemption. Join us as we dig into Chapter 2 of Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft and build a Darklord of our own. We also tap into some tables from Xanathar's, the DMG and even turn some cards from the Tarroka deck. And the fates do not di...

We compare some of the Domains of Dread from the recently released Van Richten's Guide to the Domains originally published in Ravenloft: Realm of Terror box set published in 1990, and talk about some ideas for how we might run these as part of a campaign. We also discuss a new domain that adds some much needed Asian inspiration to the realm, along with some changes to genders and setting that make...

With the recent release of Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, we don't just take you into what this official supplement has to offer, we go deeper...much, much deeper... into The Mists. We offer you Dark Gifts, which come with even Darker Bargains: in exchange for the next hour of your life, we give you the forbidden knowledge that is the Like Dragon Like Son Guide to Ravenloft! Insights that have...

In the back of the DM's Guide is an often overlooked section about using spell points instead of spell slots. While many dismiss this as too confusing, on closer examination, this might be just the ticket for giving sorcerers that extra love they deserve...that and a few other tweaks, like light armor proficieny and Constitution as their casting ability. Also we take the training wheels off of Met...

We all like to build cool, interesting characters. We like breaking tropes, and coming up with original concepts. But often that's not enough. This episode, we look at not just building a good character, we look at building "the right character". Even the best character build will be terrible if they don't fit in with the setting, and they don't fit in with the rest of the party. To get it right,...

Is it possible to break D&D? What does it even mean when someone says, "That's totally broken!"? We investigate this idea and discuss how there is almost nothing, mechanically speaking, that can be introduced to the game that can't be managed somehow. And then we look at the one place where things are not always so easy to manage -- people's feelings. If there is anything that get broken in D&...

This week we hope to inspire you to re-examine subclass features you may have overlooked. We take a second look at a the Forge Domain Cleric, and in particular their unique Channel Divinity. Join us as we discuss how our Kobold cleric build would potentially generate hundreds of gold coin per day, just through an act of devotion to their diety. The idea is that as part of their daily prayers, the...

With the recent drop of new Unearthed Arcana focusing on draconic options, this week we unpack all the new ways that you can now boost your character's dragon ancestry. We discuss how we might choose between Chromatic, Metallic and Gem dragon lineages. We look at how you can build a "dragon-touched" race using custom lineage and the new dragon feats. And we unpack the lore surrounding some new dra...

Druids are well known for being able to take the form animals, but recent additions to the rules provide new uses for the Wild Shape feature. From magical bow and arrows to fiery elemental companions, join us as we look at how the new features are transforming the way we can play Druids. We will unpack the Wild Shape feature and discuss a few of the favourtie beast we like to see, and talk a bit a...

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...

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...

Jack and Jay go up the beanstalk this week to talk about all about something really big: giants! We work our way through the Ordning (social structure), from lowly playable giant-kin like Goliaths and Firbolgs, all the way to the top of the clouds and into the storms! We talk about their magic, their runes, their culture -- and even some fun ways to have a fog giant as your warlock's patron. We di...

With some new fey animalfolk races coming out in Unearthed Arcana, we take a look at all the features that the various animal races provide in D&D 5e. From Lizardfolk to Luxadons, Owlfolk to Leonin, we've got all the fur, claws, fangs, trunks, scales and feathers covered. We talk about how the various races might work with different classes, and discuss ways to subvert the tropes, taking a fre...

If you have ever thought about playing a rogue, then this episode is for you. First, yes, you should defintiely play a rogue. They are super fun, super easy, and incredibly valuable for any party. And they come in a rainbow of flavors...and that's the tricky part: which one is best? We've got you you covered this week as we discuss the Rogue subclasses, and debate which one is the best. It's a har...