Flukes!

[XO]

That Which We Remember...

Having run campaigns for a long time (going on 30 years) and still having some of the original players, my observations tend to show the protracted epic battles are long forgotten, but we remember the "flukes" since they often combined a moment of great tension or apprehension with a moment of great relief (or disbelief) at the quick and decisive death of the opponent.

 

[WhimsyTheFae]

I've gone both ways on this sort of event. Years ago, I was of the "fudge for the drama" mindset. After a while, I felt guilty that I was robbing the player for my own agenda. I then moved into a "fudge for the party, but not against them" mindset (guilty conscience overcompensating).

I am now in the "where they drop" mindset, with very few exceptions (a TPK may turn into enslavement to keep a fun campaign going).

 

[diaglo]

let it happen.

ditto.

i don't fudge for or against the PCs.

 

[Kafkonia]

Let them fall where they may. In fact, almost this exact situation just happened two sessions ago -- except it was against the BBEG in the very first fight of the campaign! I think they'll remember the time they smoked the bad guy in one round at the start of the first session for quite some time...

 

[Mercule]

Depends on the luck the players have been having. If they've mowed through everything else in the adventure, then I fudge. The game has to be fun, and I know my players won't enjoy an adventure that's 100% cakewalk. If it's already been challenging, then they get their quick victory -- likely with a dash of scenery chewing.

 

[Particle_Man]

There will always be other BBEGs out there. Give the players this one victory.

On the other side, my Hexblade died to a full Power Attacking Hill Giant's critcal hit. *Ouch*. I am rolling up a new character. So it works both ways. Death can sometimes be sudden, in D&D.

 

[AFGNCAAP]

Well, let the Disintegration stand. However, have the PCs pay for it a bit later; the BBEG had some important MacGuffin on him when he was Disintegrated, and now the PCs have to find a workaround solution for the problem which would have used the MacGuffin to solve it. Or, conversely, the BBEG had information that only he could've provided (maybe the identity of the person who was in charge of him, for example).

It's the boon & bane of Disintegration: they get rid of the bad guy, but don't get any of the nifty/needed stuff he had on him, or the info they could've gotten out of him through interrogation. It's not always wise to kill off every bad guy...

 

[TracerBullet42]

For the most part, let the dice fall where they may...it's usually more fun that way.

I remember a Baleful Polymorph was cast on my big, bad assassain type villain in a game. I pulled out my giant d20 (you know...big, important rolls require big, important dice.) I rolled it out to the middle of the table and everyone was ecstatic to see the "1" come up.

Was I a little peeved that my BBEG became a fluffy bunny? Sure, but it's worth it for the players.

 

[Whimsical]

I believe in scenario over story.

But I also believe that "the story" is created by the actions and choices of the players. And the results of the dice.

I despise playing under DMs who negate player cleverness or luck to "keep it exciting".

 

[Pbartender]

I'd let the disnitegration happen; but the BBEG is so B and so E that he's able to hang on long enough to deliver some dramatic last words as his body separates into small glowing dust motes around him.

That's pretty much how I play it.

Let him die... But die with style.