barsoomcore
Unattainable Ideal
As DM, I know I always have to kill my darlings.
The NPCs I love the most are the ones that HAVE to go, because I love them so much I'd rather tell stories about THEM than the PCs. And that's not fair, nor is it fun for my players.
The object lesson in this is Yuek Man Chong. She's an NPC villain/hero/plot point (the distinctions on Barsoom are largely moot) that I absolutely fell in love with. Once she showed up she sort of took over the whole campaign and sudenly everything was revolving around her and her story.
Had to kill her.
I gave her a big, massive, heroic death, made it the climax of the season, made sure the party knew they'd been in a bad fight (they were actually sorta on her side, but, well, some of them were, while others were secretly plotting to take her out and it got very confusing very quickly), but I knew she had to go.
I still love her more than any of the PCs. If I ever write the Barsoom novel (MIGHT need a name change, there), it'll be about her. Cause she ROCKS.
Which is why she's dead.
The NPCs I love the most are the ones that HAVE to go, because I love them so much I'd rather tell stories about THEM than the PCs. And that's not fair, nor is it fun for my players.
The object lesson in this is Yuek Man Chong. She's an NPC villain/hero/plot point (the distinctions on Barsoom are largely moot) that I absolutely fell in love with. Once she showed up she sort of took over the whole campaign and sudenly everything was revolving around her and her story.
Had to kill her.
I gave her a big, massive, heroic death, made it the climax of the season, made sure the party knew they'd been in a bad fight (they were actually sorta on her side, but, well, some of them were, while others were secretly plotting to take her out and it got very confusing very quickly), but I knew she had to go.
I still love her more than any of the PCs. If I ever write the Barsoom novel (MIGHT need a name change, there), it'll be about her. Cause she ROCKS.
Which is why she's dead.
