Ryltar
First Post
If you run a fantasy simulation, then yes.
If it is about a good story, then no - because it cheapens the effect a well-placed resurrected villain can have upon the heroes. Suspension of disbelief is required here, as well
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The big boss guy runs away, how do I make this not feel like cheating?
- Thread starter Locutus Zero
- Start date
If you run a fantasy simulation, then yes.
If it is about a good story, then no - because it cheapens the effect a well-placed resurrected villain can have upon the heroes. Suspension of disbelief is required here, as well
.
Lendro_Furioso
First Post
You should never just let the BBEG escape: it cheapens the story. There are, however, ways to accomplish this. First and foremost, I think you need to give something of a reward to the PC's for winning the encounter. Maybe a potent magical item of the BBEG, or a limb, as mentioned. Depending on the adventure you're running, perhaps killing (or capturing, as you mentioned) his Captain is enough, provided the PC's know of his importance in the scheme of things.
Another possibility mentioned was letting them kill the BBEG, and have it not be him. Now, if it's a large battle, the BBEG might have summoned someone to command his forces. Maybe he isn't that much of a battle strategist, and has a demon summoned to deploy his minions more effectily than he would be able to. In this case, it is entirely possible for this double to be polymorphed into the leader, but as soon as he is dead, he returns to his normal form.
Yet another approach would be to create a situation wherein the PC's have to make a choice: either they get the BBEG now, or they rescue someone. Without more details from the adventure I can't give you a realistic scenario, but if the PC's have allies there could be another fight going on nearby (even one that had allowed them access to the BBEG in the first place), and a simple Whispering Wing or Message could convey the need for help. At the same time, the BBEG should probably receive reinforcements of some kind, so as to make it a choice between staying there or going to save others. If the PC's choose to slay the BBEG, I'd say let them have it. They will lose one or more allies, and the adventure can probably still be finished if someone else steps into his shoes (a good opportunity to twist the adventure around, and bring an auxiliary character into the limelight: maybe he/she even planned the event to reach power, and it's even better if the PC's met him/her before and it hid its true identity, skill and power). If your PC's are heroic, however, they will probably rescue their allies, and win a bittersweet victory over the BBEG.
Another possibility mentioned was letting them kill the BBEG, and have it not be him. Now, if it's a large battle, the BBEG might have summoned someone to command his forces. Maybe he isn't that much of a battle strategist, and has a demon summoned to deploy his minions more effectily than he would be able to. In this case, it is entirely possible for this double to be polymorphed into the leader, but as soon as he is dead, he returns to his normal form.
Yet another approach would be to create a situation wherein the PC's have to make a choice: either they get the BBEG now, or they rescue someone. Without more details from the adventure I can't give you a realistic scenario, but if the PC's have allies there could be another fight going on nearby (even one that had allowed them access to the BBEG in the first place), and a simple Whispering Wing or Message could convey the need for help. At the same time, the BBEG should probably receive reinforcements of some kind, so as to make it a choice between staying there or going to save others. If the PC's choose to slay the BBEG, I'd say let them have it. They will lose one or more allies, and the adventure can probably still be finished if someone else steps into his shoes (a good opportunity to twist the adventure around, and bring an auxiliary character into the limelight: maybe he/she even planned the event to reach power, and it's even better if the PC's met him/her before and it hid its true identity, skill and power). If your PC's are heroic, however, they will probably rescue their allies, and win a bittersweet victory over the BBEG.
Alternatively, you could let the BBEG die, but the killing blow comes from his most trusted son or officer who is secretly plotting to wrest power from him. Naturally, he takes over (maybe with his own agenda), but not before pinning the blame on the PCs.
However, I feel this is most effective if the BBEG has already had some screen time, so he doesn't feel like a placeholder for the "real" villian of the story.
However, I feel this is most effective if the BBEG has already had some screen time, so he doesn't feel like a placeholder for the "real" villian of the story.
Celebrim
Legend
Simple. It won't feel like cheating if you don't cheat.
One of the hardest lessons a moderately mature DM has to learn is that they can't plan plots the way you are trying to plan them. You can't decide ahead of time who will live and who will die. You can't decide ahead of time how a battle is going to turn out. You don't have that much power, and so the stories you plan can't depend on anything that is going to happen in the future. It's great when an NPC becomes a reoccuring villain, but its not something you can force to happen.
That said, isn't driving the BBEG away and saving the town sufficient narrative award if that is the outcome of the battle?
One of the hardest lessons a moderately mature DM has to learn is that they can't plan plots the way you are trying to plan them. You can't decide ahead of time who will live and who will die. You can't decide ahead of time how a battle is going to turn out. You don't have that much power, and so the stories you plan can't depend on anything that is going to happen in the future. It's great when an NPC becomes a reoccuring villain, but its not something you can force to happen.
That said, isn't driving the BBEG away and saving the town sufficient narrative award if that is the outcome of the battle?
TwinBahamut
First Post
A good way to handle this is to stop thinking about the BBEG for a moment and start thinking about the subordinates who are protecting him.
If they are disloyal or ambitious, then perhaps they will let him die, save their own hides, and rise up as the new BBEGs in his place (of course, it always turns out that the former lieutenant is more capable and evil than his dead former superior).
If they are loyal, then instead of wondering how the BBEG will run away, try to imagine how his subordintes will try to save him. Let them have contingency plans, up to and including grabbing their leader and carrying him away (even against his will) while they sacrifice themselves to keep him alive. Leave open the possibility that these plans get foiled, but make the PCs fight for their defeated BBEG. With this approach, the PCs will at least get the satisfaction for forcing ther foes to retreat and defeating a number of key officers, knowing that they must do better next time.
If they are disloyal or ambitious, then perhaps they will let him die, save their own hides, and rise up as the new BBEGs in his place (of course, it always turns out that the former lieutenant is more capable and evil than his dead former superior).
If they are loyal, then instead of wondering how the BBEG will run away, try to imagine how his subordintes will try to save him. Let them have contingency plans, up to and including grabbing their leader and carrying him away (even against his will) while they sacrifice themselves to keep him alive. Leave open the possibility that these plans get foiled, but make the PCs fight for their defeated BBEG. With this approach, the PCs will at least get the satisfaction for forcing ther foes to retreat and defeating a number of key officers, knowing that they must do better next time.
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