Some of the other posts got me thinking on this issue...
I DM a role-playing heavy campaign that has led to some very emotional moments. I try to have a strong atmosphere in my games, so the players feel immersed in the characters and story. From small props (letters, etc) to music and sound, and anything else I can think of that helps to get emotionally involved in their own characters and the NPCs. Most of these situations are really impossible to do justice to without having been through the entire campaign, but maybe I can try to give some samples.
• A number of times I've had players shed tears at the deaths of PCs and NPCs. The loss of these characters is felt acutely at the gaming table because the players always role-play their PCs to the hilt, bringing out an emotional deep and complex characters. I try to do the same thing with the NPCs, making them as realistic and emotionally complex as I can.
• At one game, one of the PCs had cruelly whipped an evil NPC to get information from him, information that would save lives. Most of the other players stood there in stunned silence as the event happened. The fact that the PC would do such a thing shocked them deeply. Only one of the PC's spoke out against it, leaving the scene in a fury. The others stood mutely as the prisoner was whipped relentlessly. The shock of the situation was palpable at the gaming table. Later, one of the characters, a very young elf, and my character spoke (we do round-robin DM from time to time, but I'm the main DM). Their character's feelings of guilt over the situation were overwhelming. Each spoke of their own lives, of the wrongs they've done. Did they deserve that whip any less themselves? Why had they not spoken out, why had they not done something...
• I've had tears shed for an NPC who went from a mercenary-warrior working for the villains of the campaign, to being the leader of the good army of those that opposed them. This NPC gave a powerful speech on how he had found redemption and a new home among the party. He spoke of the lives lost to achieve a chance at a better world. He spoke of his sadness that at the upcoming battle he will have to fight, and slay, those he once called brother. At the end of the speech to the troops, there were many misty eyes.
• Lastly, I've had a tears shed at the death of a villain. Simply because they are on the opposing side of the players does not make them any emotionally less complicated than anyone else in the campaign. This villain started out as an ally of the PC's. and to one, a lover. His actions and ambitions led him to become a monster, though his humanity was still in there, hidden beneath the layers of sins he had committed. The PC who had been romantic involvement with him was the one who volunteered to see justice carried out. It was a heart wrenching moment for her, for all of us. She wanted to let him go, she wanted to forgive all... but he had done so much and hurt so many. Tears were in the player's eyes, as her character raised the executioner’s blade.
Has anyone else had experiences like this at their gaming table? I don't know how common this is or not, maybe it's just me, or the onions I insist on cutting at the gaming table...
I DM a role-playing heavy campaign that has led to some very emotional moments. I try to have a strong atmosphere in my games, so the players feel immersed in the characters and story. From small props (letters, etc) to music and sound, and anything else I can think of that helps to get emotionally involved in their own characters and the NPCs. Most of these situations are really impossible to do justice to without having been through the entire campaign, but maybe I can try to give some samples.
• A number of times I've had players shed tears at the deaths of PCs and NPCs. The loss of these characters is felt acutely at the gaming table because the players always role-play their PCs to the hilt, bringing out an emotional deep and complex characters. I try to do the same thing with the NPCs, making them as realistic and emotionally complex as I can.
• At one game, one of the PCs had cruelly whipped an evil NPC to get information from him, information that would save lives. Most of the other players stood there in stunned silence as the event happened. The fact that the PC would do such a thing shocked them deeply. Only one of the PC's spoke out against it, leaving the scene in a fury. The others stood mutely as the prisoner was whipped relentlessly. The shock of the situation was palpable at the gaming table. Later, one of the characters, a very young elf, and my character spoke (we do round-robin DM from time to time, but I'm the main DM). Their character's feelings of guilt over the situation were overwhelming. Each spoke of their own lives, of the wrongs they've done. Did they deserve that whip any less themselves? Why had they not spoken out, why had they not done something...
• I've had tears shed for an NPC who went from a mercenary-warrior working for the villains of the campaign, to being the leader of the good army of those that opposed them. This NPC gave a powerful speech on how he had found redemption and a new home among the party. He spoke of the lives lost to achieve a chance at a better world. He spoke of his sadness that at the upcoming battle he will have to fight, and slay, those he once called brother. At the end of the speech to the troops, there were many misty eyes.
• Lastly, I've had a tears shed at the death of a villain. Simply because they are on the opposing side of the players does not make them any emotionally less complicated than anyone else in the campaign. This villain started out as an ally of the PC's. and to one, a lover. His actions and ambitions led him to become a monster, though his humanity was still in there, hidden beneath the layers of sins he had committed. The PC who had been romantic involvement with him was the one who volunteered to see justice carried out. It was a heart wrenching moment for her, for all of us. She wanted to let him go, she wanted to forgive all... but he had done so much and hurt so many. Tears were in the player's eyes, as her character raised the executioner’s blade.
Has anyone else had experiences like this at their gaming table? I don't know how common this is or not, maybe it's just me, or the onions I insist on cutting at the gaming table...
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