How Dragonbane Pointed out the Clashing Desires of My Gaming Group

[Retreater]

@Retreater so they lost the NPC that accompanied them and 1 PC if I read that correctly? If so, is the 1 PC ok with rerolling?

That's correct.
The one PC that did die was a player who just showed up for one session as a guest-shot and had no problems being permanently killed.
I think the feeling is just the "we were completely outclassed in every way that this was impossible." They didn't land a hit on the villain.
If I'm being honest, I don't know if it could have gone differently.

 

[Mannahnin]

That's correct.
The one PC that did die was a player who just showed up for one session as a guest-shot and had no problems being permanently killed.
I think the feeling is just the "we were completely outclassed in every way that this was impossible." They didn't land a hit on the villain.
If I'm being honest, I don't know if it could have gone differently.

It sounded like a combination of the bad guy drawing well and getting four actions before everyone else, and rolling well to take away the McGuffin before it could be used. Which is hopefully neither a guaranteed or a high-probability series of events. If there is a high probability for that to happen, then it sounds like a badly designed encounter.

 

[billd91]

It sounded like a combination of the bad guy drawing well and getting four actions before everyone else, and rolling well to take away the McGuffin before it could be used. Which is hopefully neither a guaranteed or a high-probability series of events. If there is a high probability for that to happen, then it sounds like a badly designed encounter.

The BBEG trying to take the McGuffin looks like it has a pretty decent chance of coming up every round. While it's not a sure thing, the character holding it is probably rolling against one of the better combat skills, it is rolled with bane to resist the grab, so the BBEG has a decent chance to wrest it away at least once during a fight. And it sounds like the dice weren't particularly in the PCs' favor either.

I think, more than anything, the initiative draw put them into a world of hurt. That many unanswered actions is going to be extremely painful, particularly from a BBEG.

Sometimes you live by the random generator, sometimes you die from the random generator. And sometimes you get royally effed by the random generator.

 

[Wolfpack48]

A chance to catch Koth unawares could make for some sweet revenge.

 

[Wolfpack48]

That's correct.
The one PC that did die was a player who just showed up for one session as a guest-shot and had no problems being permanently killed.
I think the feeling is just the "we were completely outclassed in every way that this was impossible." They didn't land a hit on the villain.
If I'm being honest, I don't know if it could have gone differently.

I am reminded of A3 and A4.

 

[mamba]

The one PC that did die was a player who just showed up for one session as a guest-shot and had no problems being permanently killed.

even better, so the additional Star Trek crew member who came along on the mission, the team is still intact

 

[Retreater]

even better, so the additional Star Trek crew member who came along on the mission, the team is still intact

Total red shirt.

 

[thullgrim]

A little vision of the BBEG floating over his victory might motivate them?

Or maybe a cut scene showing his vile deeds somewhere in the vale?

I agree with the previous commenter. That’s sounds like a great place to pick up the next chapter.

 

[Lurker McGurker]

Retreater, I really appreciate your analysis throughout your posts and comments, and I can also say that I’ve now suffered vicariously through this saga of living hell that has been your local RPG group!

I thought I’d add these thoughts after 31 pages (and bits from other threads) and counting:

(1) I’m really glad to read that your group’s behavior has improved

(2) … but they could have hardly gotten much worse! I don’t know how you’ve had the patience for them. You are either a truly self-giving individual or don’t stick up for yourself enough. Likely both. But please don’t read that as if my own strengths aren’t also my weaknesses; I’ve often thought our most pronounced attributes are always double edged.

(3) From your recent write up of the exciting and tragic conclusion to the first chapter of your Dragonbane session, I can tell that you’re a naturally gifted DM and have the heart of a role playing storyteller. These players don’t know the opportunity they’ve been shamefully squandering; you throw these pearls before swine.

(4) You are the master of the table. You buy the books, you read the rules, you plan the sessions, you referee the game, maybe you even provide the snacks. YOU should be the one who has greatest authority at this table, period. Not only is everyone else putting zero effort in (well, to their credit at least they show up), but they don’t seem to know the ass end of one game from another anyway.

Just decide for them! Say “I really appreciate this time we get to spend together, and I want everyone to continue to have a good time. But I need you to trust me as TableMaster to host the experience. From now on all you have to do is show up, and I’ll provide a game to play. It may not be what you expect, but I’ll do my best to put things on the table for good reason and at least there will always be snacks!”

Put HeroQuest out one night, run a one shot another, if you don’t want to prep an RPG session one week then just make it a boardgame night and they can just accept it! You’ve mentioned dozens of board and roleplaying games you’ve wanted to run or confirm their tastes on. Just do it.

If they are happy to show up, eat socialize and TikTok and get some turns in then they’ll take what you give them and they’ll return for the social time regardless.

And if not: fokkem!

(5) I don’t mean to be rude or overstep boundaries (I’ll edit/delete this out if you want) but since you brought it up and it’s clearly affected the course of your campaigns:

I hope the relationship is improving and if you haven’t checked this resource out then I highly recommend Dr John Gottman. Look up his stuff, read it with your spouse, it helped my marriage and unlike some schmarmy guru he’s a peer reviewed academic researcher who backs his advice up with the results of his extensive, decades long studies.

The Four Horsemen: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling

is a start. Also the concept of “bids!”

(6) All is not lost: the heroes were clearly outmatched, the warlock is going to ravage the land, but maybe there is a quest they can go on to find an object, a power that will give them the edge they need to take down this bass turd. Maybe if they can pass the challenges, brave ancient ordeals, they will each receive a boon, a heightening, a Dragon’s Bane!

 

[Starfox]

Well, the campaign ended with a TPK in the BBEG fight...

Dragonbane was originally inspired by Basic Role Playing (the root system of Rune Quest) and like all those games luck is a big factor, much larger than in D&D. This is not conducive to long campaigns, a few unlucky rolls can easily end a character and many unlucky rolls can end a campaign.

Some people like this kind of RPG, I don't but I respect those who do.