Layer all the wonders of nature into your Owlbear, for maximum terror and delight!
Owlbears can be a fun threat, a D&D roadside encounter classic, but as new DM's we had no idea how to effectively use them. Our encounters were barely a step up from Winnie the Pooh stumbling onto the road with a beak taped to his face, yelling for the party to treat him like a pincushion. In this episode we want to explore all kinds of ways to use owlbears, from a tool to menace your party with, to a dangerous part of nature, even as a friendly pet. Join us, and hopefully by the end you'll have all the fuel you need for your next Owlbear.
In The Strategy Stateroom, we consider the two sides of an owlbear. If they are stronger than your party, then you can use them as a terrifying natural treat. As such we build out a horror themed encounter inspired by the natural aspects of owls and bears. If the party could easily slap an owlbear around, however, they simply represent a part of the natural world. That's why we talk about different ways to incorporate them into your stories rather than simply as a monster.
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We wrap things up with Grandma B's Schoolhouse, where we talk about the universal law of owlbears. Which is, of course, that somebody wants one as a pet. We discuss the taming of wild animals, and behavioral quirks to blend into these terrible, yet wonderful party pals.