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Watching Matt Colville's latest Running the Game video. It might be controversial, but I agree DMs should say "no" (or at least "wait, really?") to preserve tone and keep the characters grounded.
A short thread from our current #dnd thread about choices as an example.
A short thread from our current #dnd thread about choices as an example.
We're currently playing Descent into Avernus.
Major themes of this campaign—specifically with our characters—are redemption, sacrifice, temptation, and family.
Spoilers ahead.
Major themes of this campaign—specifically with our characters—are redemption, sacrifice, temptation, and family.
Spoilers ahead.
There's a part in the campaign where Duke Ulder Ravengard, the leader of the Flaming Fist, dons a helmet to commune with the god Torm. Because he's in Avernus when he does so, he becomes trapped in an epic mental struggle between Torm and the demon lord Baphomet.
Two of our characters, Luri and Alex, are members of the Flaming Fist and former Hellriders. They're also a pair of half-elf monster hunter siblings—very Sam and Dean if you've ever watched Supernatural.
Luri is played by my wife, Sammy.
Luri is played by my wife, Sammy.
These are two characters who had a bit of a fall from grace due to their dark secret. They turned in their Hellrider badges 2 years ago, moved to Baldur's Gate, and sought a new life as Flaming Fists.
Luri is a bruiser with a good heart. Alex is harsh but self-sacrificing.
Luri is a bruiser with a good heart. Alex is harsh but self-sacrificing.
Alex actually had already made a pretty sizeable deal with a devil before they came upon Ulder Ravengard, so it wasn't a complete surprise when Tone, who plays Alex, recommended beheading Ravengard to put him out of his misery. Alex had already given way to some darkness.
It WAS surprising, however, when Luri (Sam) agreed with this course of action.
I stopped. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What?"
Ravengard, for better or for worse, symbolizes a bit of light left in their characters. Their pledge to protect, to be a force of good in Baldur's Gate.
I stopped. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. What?"
Ravengard, for better or for worse, symbolizes a bit of light left in their characters. Their pledge to protect, to be a force of good in Baldur's Gate.
This was a decision point. I saw this as a crossroads. To kill Ravengard—in my eyes, at least—was to snuff one of the few remaining candles of hope in hell.
It felt reckless! "This doesn't seem like something Luri would do. Can you tell me why?," I asked.
It felt reckless! "This doesn't seem like something Luri would do. Can you tell me why?," I asked.
What followed was a great conversation about how their characters had changed, and the philosophy of death as an act of kindness and respect.
To Luri and Alex, hell was a hopeless place. They'd tried to remove the helm to no avail, and their commander and mentor was in pain.
To Luri and Alex, hell was a hopeless place. They'd tried to remove the helm to no avail, and their commander and mentor was in pain.
They didn't HAVE to justify the action, but it helped me and the other players to understand their characters' perspectives. It reinforced the tone and gave me an opportunity to clarify that there was, in fact, a way to end Ravengard's misery w/o death, albeit a difficult one.
It also gave both players a chance to think about their characters at a pivotal moment, rather than them feeling like they were rushed to make an immediate call.
So yeah. It's okay to push back as a DM sometimes. In fact, your table might just be better for it! I know ours is.
So yeah. It's okay to push back as a DM sometimes. In fact, your table might just be better for it! I know ours is.
