My character achieved his goal, which was also his motivation for being an adventurer, relatively early in the campaign. I had assumed that the goal would be achieved at or very near the end of the campaign; the way it was achieved feels cheap and empty. By achieving the goal, the character was profoundly changed, and no longer has a reason to be in the campaign/be an adventurer and he is also now unsuitable for being an adventurer. I guess there's still loyalty to the rest of the party, but having the character continue on feels hollow and not true to who the character is now. I also just liked the character more and liked playing him more before he achieved their goal (changed). Achieving the goal pretty much changed his whole identity. I developed the version of the character who had not achieved the goal; I have not developed the version that has achieved the goal and I'm not even sure how to do that or that I even want to. I'm considering leaving the campaign because I'm so upset about it, and continuing on as the character as he is now doesn't feel right. I was very invested in the "before" version of the character and getting to tell that story over the course of the whole campaign. I think that might look bad to the DM and the other players, like I got what I wanted and now I'm quitting. Except I didn't get what I wanted (my character got what he wanted), I wanted to experience playing the version of the character that had not achieved his goal for the entire campaign. I'm not sure that switching characters would be an option; I think that would be like having to admit that a mistake was made in letting the character achieve his goal how and when he did. I suspect that it might have happened the way it did because of a roll of the dice, but I don't think this should have been something left us to the roll of dice, in the way it probably was.
It can really suck when a character doesn't go in the direction you're hoping for. I once had a character that I specifically gave a huge 100,000GP debt expecting to spend the campaign ducking debt collectors and bounty hunters and instead my DM just handwaved it away in session 3 by having a party patron "deal with it."
If you're not happy the best option before just leaving is always to speak to the DM. It's possible they're not aware how you feel and think they gave you a satisfying conclusion and made you happy. They might be able to retcon the solution or together you could come up with a further goal that will allow you to continue playing the character as you expected to. If you can't come to an agreement then together you can talk about options for your character leaving and a new one coming in. Just leaving without at least having the conversation won't leave you or anyone else any happier and will mean you can miss out on future fun times.
In life, we have a goal and motivation. Once we achieve that goal, if we achieve it, it doesn't mean we stop living our lives. We find a new goal. A new motivation. Id look at my character. Does he have a sense of duty or responsibility? If so, would he feel he must complete the campaign? why? Does he have a family, is the campaign a potential threat for his family? His life's work? his achievements? Yes? then use that. See if that works. There are multiple ways to deal with this. and If that doesn't satisfy you, talk with the DM about it. See if he can have it all taken away from him or it was an illusion. For example, did he have a cheese addiction? He relapsed. reverted back to old habits. The party finds him sobers him up and he tries even harder to cure himself. I hope this helps and hope you can find a way to continue with the character.
I look at this as a success. Earlier than anticipated, but a good thing. Characters so rarely get to cap off their personal storyline.
I will say, as a DM, I'd want to talk about where the character was headed at game start and where you hoped it'd go at the end so I can try to lay out a path to fun.
That said, it's cool because it's rare. Starting a new character isn't an admission of failure, it's an opportunity to tell new stories. You can apply the lesson and talk with the DM about the new characters hopeful arc to have it last longer too.
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My character achieved his goal, which was also his motivation for being an adventurer, relatively early in the campaign. I had assumed that the goal would be achieved at or very near the end of the campaign; the way it was achieved feels cheap and empty. By achieving the goal, the character was profoundly changed, and no longer has a reason to be in the campaign/be an adventurer and he is also now unsuitable for being an adventurer. I guess there's still loyalty to the rest of the party, but having the character continue on feels hollow and not true to who the character is now. I also just liked the character more and liked playing him more before he achieved their goal (changed). Achieving the goal pretty much changed his whole identity. I developed the version of the character who had not achieved the goal; I have not developed the version that has achieved the goal and I'm not even sure how to do that or that I even want to. I'm considering leaving the campaign because I'm so upset about it, and continuing on as the character as he is now doesn't feel right. I was very invested in the "before" version of the character and getting to tell that story over the course of the whole campaign. I think that might look bad to the DM and the other players, like I got what I wanted and now I'm quitting. Except I didn't get what I wanted (my character got what he wanted), I wanted to experience playing the version of the character that had not achieved his goal for the entire campaign. I'm not sure that switching characters would be an option; I think that would be like having to admit that a mistake was made in letting the character achieve his goal how and when he did. I suspect that it might have happened the way it did because of a roll of the dice, but I don't think this should have been something left us to the roll of dice, in the way it probably was.
It can really suck when a character doesn't go in the direction you're hoping for. I once had a character that I specifically gave a huge 100,000GP debt expecting to spend the campaign ducking debt collectors and bounty hunters and instead my DM just handwaved it away in session 3 by having a party patron "deal with it."
If you're not happy the best option before just leaving is always to speak to the DM. It's possible they're not aware how you feel and think they gave you a satisfying conclusion and made you happy. They might be able to retcon the solution or together you could come up with a further goal that will allow you to continue playing the character as you expected to. If you can't come to an agreement then together you can talk about options for your character leaving and a new one coming in. Just leaving without at least having the conversation won't leave you or anyone else any happier and will mean you can miss out on future fun times.
In life, we have a goal and motivation. Once we achieve that goal, if we achieve it, it doesn't mean we stop living our lives. We find a new goal. A new motivation. Id look at my character. Does he have a sense of duty or responsibility? If so, would he feel he must complete the campaign? why? Does he have a family, is the campaign a potential threat for his family? His life's work? his achievements? Yes? then use that. See if that works. There are multiple ways to deal with this. and If that doesn't satisfy you, talk with the DM about it. See if he can have it all taken away from him or it was an illusion. For example, did he have a cheese addiction? He relapsed. reverted back to old habits. The party finds him sobers him up and he tries even harder to cure himself. I hope this helps and hope you can find a way to continue with the character.
I look at this as a success. Earlier than anticipated, but a good thing. Characters so rarely get to cap off their personal storyline.
I will say, as a DM, I'd want to talk about where the character was headed at game start and where you hoped it'd go at the end so I can try to lay out a path to fun.
That said, it's cool because it's rare. Starting a new character isn't an admission of failure, it's an opportunity to tell new stories. You can apply the lesson and talk with the DM about the new characters hopeful arc to have it last longer too.