So, For a long time I’ve been contemplating bad endings for D&D campaigns while also making it a satisfying story. Until recently I knew it was possible, it has been done before after all, but I was unsure how modern audiences would receive it and how it would translate into a tabletop. The first question has been answered, but I want to know how you would feel if a situation unfolded where your party loses. Would you be okay with that? What would need to happen for you to be okay with that? Is there a way of making it satisfying or does completely ruining the power fantasy sap the fun from the experience. Please vote and discuss below
Ending With Defeat (Poll and Discussion)
DustMonkey 05/02/18
6
11
63 votes · Voting has ended
Likes (6)
Comments (11)
Likes (6)
Like 6
2
0
From DustMonkey
Story Time: Curse of Strahd Part 3
131
9
Featured post
Comments (11)
As long as its not a Railroaded Death. If it's a Fair Loss,No fudged rolls, I'm good.
I am DM'ing the full Tyranny of Dragons campaign and it is very possible for the players to lose it all in the final battle against Tiamat. She is incredibly powerful and has many allies backing her up. The same can be said of the players if they do things well leading up to it, however in the end even if they manage to weaken Tiamat enough she is still quite a challenge. The campaign being: Hoard of the Dragon Queen and Rise of Tiamat
Just always keep in mind that the core to a fun campaign is challenge and reward, the harder the challenge without being insane and the bigger the end reward the better. Don't progress the players to quickly though by giving them OP stuff for everything completed.
Ending with defeat is best done either with a minor loss (and you find out youll be trappes here for eternity) or a major loss (all of you instantly die without a save for 1264 damage by the god of evil)
I’d be ok with my party losing as long as it was an epic way to lose like being killed by a powerful lich after an epic fight and then being turned into its undead minions or being unable to escape a city that’s being ravaged by a Demon Army. If it was some lazy cheap end like being caught in a storm on a boat and being lost at sea forever or everyone getting killed by an avalanche then I’d be pissed.
Reply to: Eagle
Similarly I enjoy stories where the characters do everything right and still end up losing
Reply to: DustMonkey
I enjoy those kinds of stories as well mainly cause it’s more realistic. You can do everything correct in life but still end up getting screwed over. It’s just how life is, it’s very unfortunate but it’s the truth
I completely agree with you. If it's an epic death where the players can say "At least we gave it our all," then I'd totally be okay with a defeat. ^^