As a DM, What do you do when your party doesn't kill the bad guy?
- Thread starter hennebeck
- Start date
Festivus
First Post
Depends on who it is.
In this particular case, I might have made the goblin so grateful for sparing his life that he feels obliged to return the favor, and cannot leave until he saves a party members life in return.
I have had a bad guy get away and I used it as a plot device later (you see a familiar looking acolyte whispering into the ear of the head of the guard) not much later the group is arrested.
I have had them become supervillains later in the story, perhaps the underboss for the big bad evil guy.
Other times I might just have it fade into obscurity.
I do with them what feels right at the time. Having some in the bank is always nice when you are short on ideas.
In this particular case, I might have made the goblin so grateful for sparing his life that he feels obliged to return the favor, and cannot leave until he saves a party members life in return.
I have had a bad guy get away and I used it as a plot device later (you see a familiar looking acolyte whispering into the ear of the head of the guard) not much later the group is arrested.
I have had them become supervillains later in the story, perhaps the underboss for the big bad evil guy.
Other times I might just have it fade into obscurity.
I do with them what feels right at the time. Having some in the bank is always nice when you are short on ideas.
Exquisite Dead Guy
First Post
I've had lone remaining enemies surrender to the party paladin (3.5e LG paladin) multiple times in my Shackled City campaign. The paladin always grants quarter and turns the foe over to the town guard when in town. It realllly pisses off a few of the other party memebers, but hey, they still get XP! 
BlackMoria
First Post
Depends on the role of the NPC.
It the goblin is just one of the rank and file of a group of goblins the party has fought, then the gobllin doesn't factor in any further. Justification is, what can he really do? If he was one of 15 goblins who attacked a party of 4-5 characters and he is the only goblin left standing after the battle, the reality is that he is going to consider himself lucky to be alive and is going to get as far away from this group of adventurers as possible.
If he is the goblin leader, then the situation is different. The goblin leader has power by being a leader and can therefore recruit or sway other goblins into interfering with the adventurers in the future.
It the goblin is just one of the rank and file of a group of goblins the party has fought, then the gobllin doesn't factor in any further. Justification is, what can he really do? If he was one of 15 goblins who attacked a party of 4-5 characters and he is the only goblin left standing after the battle, the reality is that he is going to consider himself lucky to be alive and is going to get as far away from this group of adventurers as possible.
If he is the goblin leader, then the situation is different. The goblin leader has power by being a leader and can therefore recruit or sway other goblins into interfering with the adventurers in the future.
Family
First Post
Sometimes they just fade away.
Mal: Sorry 'bout the throat. Expect you'd wanna say your famous last words now. Just one trouble... I ain't gonna kill you.
Mal: They take you down, I don't expect to grieve overmuch. Like to kill you myself, I see you again.
The Operative: You won't... there is nothing left to see.
Mal: Sorry 'bout the throat. Expect you'd wanna say your famous last words now. Just one trouble... I ain't gonna kill you.
Mal: They take you down, I don't expect to grieve overmuch. Like to kill you myself, I see you again.
The Operative: You won't... there is nothing left to see.
Family
First Post
Recently the paladin made a promise to a kolbold that if he led them to Irontooth's lair, drew them a map of it, and explained their defences, he would be allowed to take irontooths place.
The kolbold did, his name was Rackle. He even lured the slinger out of earshot and to the group for good measure. The paladin kept his word, even though I was ready to hand him the "dragonborn fighter" sheet I had made up.
On the way back to town they were too busy celebrating to notice that the cartographer *cough*rogue*cough* took awhile to catch up.
Good times.
The kolbold did, his name was Rackle. He even lured the slinger out of earshot and to the group for good measure. The paladin kept his word, even though I was ready to hand him the "dragonborn fighter" sheet I had made up.
On the way back to town they were too busy celebrating to notice that the cartographer *cough*rogue*cough* took awhile to catch up.
Good times.
Celebrim
Legend
hennebeck said:
Depends on the goblin. They have personalities too you know.
Some examples:
Lawful Evil + Courageous : Goblin returns to its schemes, but feels he now owes a big favor to the party which he will honorably redeem.
Lawful Evil + Cowardly: Goblin volunteers to be a party members faithful (if somewhat despicable) retainer.
Chaotic Evil + Courageous: Goblin plots revenge.
Chaotic Evil + Cowardly: Goblin flees as far away from the party as possible before returning to his former ways.
Chaotic Evil + Cunning: Goblin volunteers to be a party members faithful retainer - but plans on stealing some good stuff and fleeing at the first good oppurtunity.
Depends on the group. Does the group tend to good, neutrality, or evil? In general, I'd say 'Yes'. If a particular goblin is not known to have committed a particular crime, then the fact that the goblin is capable of committing a crime is no warrant of a death sentence.
Do you already have a reoccuring villain? How compelling is the goblin in that role? If the goblin has a compelling personality and is viewed with a certain measure of respect, then he can be a reoccuring villain or foil.
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