I realized in my last session with a group that has been running for over a year now that the campaign arc I had been working on and the players were eagerly working towards had built a new, more compelling and possibly dramatic twist. It just blew me away that this thing they have been working towards with backstories and subquests and such could all be an illusion for a deeper, darker, more intriguing story. And all because of the roleplay of the characters oopening up in me a vision of a possible 'different' explanation for all that they have been working towards.
It made me realize how much I love this game and how important it is to be open, even as the DM, to letting the characters unlock the true direction of the story. They have masterfully, but unwittingly added a story below the surface that actually is even more plausible and of higher consequence then the envisioned plan that started with a single sentence premise 15 months ago...
I love being a DM.... now I just need to figure out how to stay sane running 4 games a week:P
I realized in my last session with a group that has been running for over a year now that the campaign arc I had been working on and the players were eagerly working towards had built a new, more compelling and possibly dramatic twist. It just blew me away that this thing they have been working towards with backstories and subquests and such could all be an illusion for a deeper, darker, more intriguing story. And all because of the roleplay of the characters oopening up in me a vision of a possible 'different' explanation for all that they have been working towards.
It made me realize how much I love this game and how important it is to be open, even as the DM, to letting the characters unlock the true direction of the story. They have masterfully, but unwittingly added a story below the surface that actually is even more plausible and of higher consequence then the envisioned plan that started with a single sentence premise 15 months ago...
I love being a DM.... now I just need to figure out how to stay sane running 4 games a week:P
Dang straight. The DM daring to never locking down _anything_ is the key, so to speak, to players unlocking the story. When I get peppered outside of game for an NPC's motivations or what might be in store for the party somewhere beyond the world's known map, I love being able to say "I don't know, I guess we'll have to find out" honestly.
(Except the Reborn UA. If you're a Tortle you're absolutely not keeping your natural armor, you're shell is now a baggy sack that sheds leather dandruff. I have spoken, about this one thing).
I realized in my last session with a group that has been running for over a year now that the campaign arc I had been working on and the players were eagerly working towards had built a new, more compelling and possibly dramatic twist. It just blew me away that this thing they have been working towards with backstories and subquests and such could all be an illusion for a deeper, darker, more intriguing story. And all because of the roleplay of the characters oopening up in me a vision of a possible 'different' explanation for all that they have been working towards.
It made me realize how much I love this game and how important it is to be open, even as the DM, to letting the characters unlock the true direction of the story. They have masterfully, but unwittingly added a story below the surface that actually is even more plausible and of higher consequence then the envisioned plan that started with a single sentence premise 15 months ago...
I love being a DM.... now I just need to figure out how to stay sane running 4 games a week:P
Dang straight. The DM daring to never locking down _anything_ is the key, so to speak, to players unlocking the story. When I get peppered outside of game for an NPC's motivations or what might be in store for the party somewhere beyond the world's known map, I love being able to say "I don't know, I guess we'll have to find out" honestly.
(Except the Reborn UA. If you're a Tortle you're absolutely not keeping your natural armor, you're shell is now a baggy sack that sheds leather dandruff. I have spoken, about this one thing).
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.