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Mike's Tavern
Mike's Tavern
The Game Master's Table
The Player's Table
Tavern Wisdom
About Mike's Tavern
FAQ
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Mike's Tavern
Mike's Tavern
The Game Master's Table
The Player's Table
Tavern Wisdom
About Mike's Tavern
FAQ
Let's Chat
The Game Master's Table
The Player's Table
Tavern Wisdom
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The Smartest Ways to Win Initiative Without Building Around It
Michael Lim 1/24/26 Michael Lim 1/24/26

The Smartest Ways to Win Initiative Without Building Around It

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How to Get More Damage From the Same Weapon Without Changing Your Build
Michael Lim 1/10/26 Michael Lim 1/10/26

How to Get More Damage From the Same Weapon Without Changing Your Build

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From Grapple to Grave: How to Turn Wrestling Into a Death Sentence
Michael Lim 12/29/25 Michael Lim 12/29/25

From Grapple to Grave: How to Turn Wrestling Into a Death Sentence

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Why Small Races Can Out‑Tank Giants — The Physics of Being Hard to Hit
Michael Lim 12/22/25 Michael Lim 12/22/25

Why Small Races Can Out‑Tank Giants — The Physics of Being Hard to Hit

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Double Concentration Without Cheating: Bending the Rules the Legal Way
Michael Lim 12/15/25 Michael Lim 12/15/25

Double Concentration Without Cheating: Bending the Rules the Legal Way

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Reaction Chains: When One Trigger Turns Into Three Kills
Michael Lim 12/8/25 Michael Lim 12/8/25

Reaction Chains: When One Trigger Turns Into Three Kills

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The Shield That Bites Back: How to Turn Defense Into Punishment
Michael Lim 12/1/25 Michael Lim 12/1/25

The Shield That Bites Back: How to Turn Defense Into Punishment

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Critical Fishing: The Dirty Secrets of More Dice, More Often
Michael Lim 11/24/25 Michael Lim 11/24/25

Critical Fishing: The Dirty Secrets of More Dice, More Often

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The Power of Forced Movement. Shove, Slide, and Toss ’Em Off a Cliff
Michael Lim 11/17/25 Michael Lim 11/17/25

The Power of Forced Movement. Shove, Slide, and Toss ’Em Off a Cliff

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Why Flanking Is Still the Deadliest Tactic in the Tavern
Michael Lim 11/10/25 Michael Lim 11/10/25

Why Flanking Is Still the Deadliest Tactic in the Tavern

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Top 5 Damage Multipliers Every GM Hopes You Forget
Michael Lim 11/3/25 Michael Lim 11/3/25

Top 5 Damage Multipliers Every GM Hopes You Forget

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Top 5 D&D 5e Builds That Dominate Without a Single Magic Item
Michael Lim 10/20/25 Michael Lim 10/20/25

Top 5 D&D 5e Builds That Dominate Without a Single Magic Item

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The Action Economy Goldmine: How to Squeeze Three Turns Into One
Michael Lim 10/13/25 Michael Lim 10/13/25

The Action Economy Goldmine: How to Squeeze Three Turns Into One

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Top 5 Feat Combos That’ll Make Your Party Fear You (In a Good Way)
Michael Lim 10/6/25 Michael Lim 10/6/25

Top 5 Feat Combos That’ll Make Your Party Fear You (In a Good Way)

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Top 5 Dirty Tricks for Dodging Fights Without Getting Caught
Michael Lim 9/29/25 Michael Lim 9/29/25

Top 5 Dirty Tricks for Dodging Fights Without Getting Caught

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Feat Chains That Break the Game (Without Breaking the Rules)
Michael Lim 9/22/25 Michael Lim 9/22/25

Feat Chains That Break the Game (Without Breaking the Rules)

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The High Ground Isn’t Just for Archers — How Position Wins Fights
Michael Lim 9/15/25 Michael Lim 9/15/25

The High Ground Isn’t Just for Archers — How Position Wins Fights

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 The Art of Retreat: Why Running Away Is Sometimes the Most Lethal Move
Michael Lim 9/8/25 Michael Lim 9/8/25

The Art of Retreat: Why Running Away Is Sometimes the Most Lethal Move

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Stealth, Lies, and Shadows: Skipping Encounters Like a Professional Coward
Michael Lim 9/1/25 Michael Lim 9/1/25

Stealth, Lies, and Shadows: Skipping Encounters Like a Professional Coward

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Lockdown Tactics: How to Keep Enemies From Ever Reaching You
Michael Lim 8/25/25 Michael Lim 8/25/25

Lockdown Tactics: How to Keep Enemies From Ever Reaching You

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Older Posts

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Got some 5E or pathfinder tips, tricks, story, or just complainin’ about that bloody sorcerer always using Eldritch Blast? Send the tavern yer message! If Mike likes it, ya might just see it here! Now get writin’, ya milk drinker!

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Thank you!
Featured
Story-First Players vs. Strategy-First Players — Which One Is Dragging Your Game Off Course?
Feb 2, 2026
Story-First Players vs. Strategy-First Players — Which One Is Dragging Your Game Off Course?
Feb 2, 2026
Feb 2, 2026
The Quiet Player vs. The Table Hog - How to Keep Both Happy Without Losing Your Mind
Jan 5, 2026
The Quiet Player vs. The Table Hog - How to Keep Both Happy Without Losing Your Mind
Jan 5, 2026
Jan 5, 2026
When Every Battle Feels Like a Board Meeting with Dice
Dec 30, 2025
When Every Battle Feels Like a Board Meeting with Dice
Dec 30, 2025
Dec 30, 2025
Top 5 Ways to Up Yer GM Game (Without Tearin’ the Whole Thing Down)
Dec 30, 2025
Top 5 Ways to Up Yer GM Game (Without Tearin’ the Whole Thing Down)
Dec 30, 2025
Dec 30, 2025
When Yer Heart’s Givin’ Out but Yer Hands Keep Preppin’
Dec 23, 2025
When Yer Heart’s Givin’ Out but Yer Hands Keep Preppin’
Dec 23, 2025
Dec 23, 2025
You're Not Matt Mercer, Lad — And That's a Bloody Good Thing
Dec 23, 2025
You're Not Matt Mercer, Lad — And That's a Bloody Good Thing
Dec 23, 2025
Dec 23, 2025
When You Can’t Tell If You’re Burnt Out or Just Tired of Them
Dec 16, 2025
When You Can’t Tell If You’re Burnt Out or Just Tired of Them
Dec 16, 2025
Dec 16, 2025
That Spell Worked Last Time And the Time Before That: How to Beat Tactical Stagnation
Dec 16, 2025
That Spell Worked Last Time And the Time Before That: How to Beat Tactical Stagnation
Dec 16, 2025
Dec 16, 2025
When the Table’s Full. But It Feels Empty
Dec 9, 2025
When the Table’s Full. But It Feels Empty
Dec 9, 2025
Dec 9, 2025
Why Yer Big Bad Just Felt Like a Mid-Boss: How to Build a Villain They’ll Fear
Dec 9, 2025
Why Yer Big Bad Just Felt Like a Mid-Boss: How to Build a Villain They’ll Fear
Dec 9, 2025
Dec 9, 2025
Featured
The Bubble & No Floor
Dec 31, 2025
The Bubble & No Floor
Dec 31, 2025
Dec 31, 2025
When Two Forges Burn Together: How Roll20 and Owlbear Rodeo Make Yer Game Better
Dec 24, 2025
When Two Forges Burn Together: How Roll20 and Owlbear Rodeo Make Yer Game Better
Dec 24, 2025
Dec 24, 2025
The Shrieking Outhouse
Dec 24, 2025
The Shrieking Outhouse
Dec 24, 2025
Dec 24, 2025
Moltrug’s Left Cheek
Dec 17, 2025
Moltrug’s Left Cheek
Dec 17, 2025
Dec 17, 2025
When Maps Collide: Owlbear Rodeo vs Roll20 vs 2-Minute Tabletop
Dec 10, 2025
When Maps Collide: Owlbear Rodeo vs Roll20 vs 2-Minute Tabletop
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
The Warthog’s Last Beer
Dec 10, 2025
The Warthog’s Last Beer
Dec 10, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
The Starfall Conclave
Dec 3, 2025
The Starfall Conclave
Dec 3, 2025
Dec 3, 2025
Observatory of the Folded Sky
Nov 27, 2025
Observatory of the Folded Sky
Nov 27, 2025
Nov 27, 2025
Free Forges for Broke Mapmakers: Build Yer Worlds Without Spendin’ a Single Coin
Nov 26, 2025
Free Forges for Broke Mapmakers: Build Yer Worlds Without Spendin’ a Single Coin
Nov 26, 2025
Nov 26, 2025
Chamber of the Chained Stars
Nov 19, 2025
Chamber of the Chained Stars
Nov 19, 2025
Nov 19, 2025
Featured
The Simple Moves That Make You Look Like a Genius at the Table
Feb 3, 2026
The Simple Moves That Make You Look Like a Genius at the Table
Feb 3, 2026
Feb 3, 2026
How to End a Fight Early Without Stealing Anyone’s Spotlight
Jan 10, 2026
How to End a Fight Early Without Stealing Anyone’s Spotlight
Jan 10, 2026
Jan 10, 2026
Why Your Party Keeps Falling Apart (And How to Stop Being the Reason)
Jan 6, 2026
Why Your Party Keeps Falling Apart (And How to Stop Being the Reason)
Jan 6, 2026
Jan 6, 2026
Every Party Has That One Player Who Brings Snacks and Trauma
Dec 26, 2025
Every Party Has That One Player Who Brings Snacks and Trauma
Dec 26, 2025
Dec 26, 2025
Learn to Lose Like a Legend. Why Death Ain’t the End of Yer Story
Dec 25, 2025
Learn to Lose Like a Legend. Why Death Ain’t the End of Yer Story
Dec 25, 2025
Dec 25, 2025
Let the Quiet Player Speak Before I Cast Silence on Ya
Dec 19, 2025
Let the Quiet Player Speak Before I Cast Silence on Ya
Dec 19, 2025
Dec 19, 2025
Ye Can’t Heal Stupid, Play Smarter So Yer Cleric Survives Too
Dec 18, 2025
Ye Can’t Heal Stupid, Play Smarter So Yer Cleric Survives Too
Dec 18, 2025
Dec 18, 2025
Stop Usin’ Meta Knowledge Like a Goblin With a Cheat Sheet
Dec 12, 2025
Stop Usin’ Meta Knowledge Like a Goblin With a Cheat Sheet
Dec 12, 2025
Dec 12, 2025
Stop Rollin’ for Everything. Think Before Ya Dice, Ya Pebble-Counter
Dec 11, 2025
Stop Rollin’ for Everything. Think Before Ya Dice, Ya Pebble-Counter
Dec 11, 2025
Dec 11, 2025
Top 3 Ways to Deal Stupid Damage at Level 1 Just by Usin’ the Environment
Dec 5, 2025
Top 3 Ways to Deal Stupid Damage at Level 1 Just by Usin’ the Environment
Dec 5, 2025
Dec 5, 2025
Featured
Oct 26, 2025
Ending a Campaign Gracefully to Save the Table
Oct 26, 2025
Oct 26, 2025
Oct 19, 2025
Helping a Quiet Player Shine
Oct 19, 2025
Oct 19, 2025
Oct 12, 2025
Turning Chaos Into a Chase
Oct 12, 2025
Oct 12, 2025
Oct 5, 2025
Cooling Off Player‑versus‑Player Conflicts
Oct 5, 2025
Oct 5, 2025
Sep 28, 2025
Raising the Stakes With Environmental Hazards
Sep 28, 2025
Sep 28, 2025
Sep 21, 2025
Balancing the Spotlight Without Singling Anyone Out
Sep 21, 2025
Sep 21, 2025
Sep 14, 2025
Mission‑Based Play for Rotating Groups
Sep 14, 2025
Sep 14, 2025
Sep 7, 2025
Standing Your Ground When a GM Plays Rules Lawyer
Sep 7, 2025
Sep 7, 2025
Aug 31, 2025
Turning a Quiet New Player Into an Engaged Roleplayer
Aug 31, 2025
Aug 31, 2025
Aug 24, 2025
Balancing Overpowered Combats Without Spoiling the Fun
Aug 24, 2025
Aug 24, 2025