Too wrapped up in my characters...

[crazy_monkey1956]

So, I'm sitting here prepping a few sessions ahead for the 20th level climax to the campaign, writing a speech given by an ogre NPC to a convening of the true giants in an attempt to get the giants to lend their might to the coming war. I realized that this poor little (in comparison to the folks she's talking to) ogre is coming to the culmination of everything important in her life and her big moment is happening "off screen" as far as the PCs are concerned (they're not present for her speech) and it still brings a tear to my eye.

I think I'm way too wrapped up in my plots and NPCs. Am I just out there and take my games way too seriously, or do other DMs out there find themselves moved by their own creations, especially as campaigns near their end?

 

[Odhanan]

So, I'm sitting here prepping a few sessions ahead for the 20th level climax to the campaign, writing a speech given by an ogre NPC to a convening of the true giants in an attempt to get the giants to lend their might to the coming war. I realized that this poor little (in comparison to the folks she's talking to) ogre is coming to the culmination of everything important in her life and her big moment is happening "off screen" as far as the PCs are concerned (they're not present for her speech) and it still brings a tear to my eye.

I think I'm way too wrapped up in my plots and NPCs. Am I just out there and take my games way too seriously, or do other DMs out there find themselves moved by their own creations, especially as campaigns near their end?

Pixie: if it doesn't impede your abilities as a DM, doesn't take away from the actual adventuring the players do around the table, and it adds a "little something" to them in terms of pleasure they share during the game, nobody can seriously tell you what you're doing is "wrong".

If you find yourself lacking time to prep, or you think some other areas of the actual adventuring are severely handicaped while you spend a lot of time on stuff happening off-screen, then I could suggest that you reevaluate your priorities as a DM.

Does it answer your question?

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

As long as you don't put how you scripted your plot above the players actions then its all cool.

 

[Henry]

Someone once posted a tidbit of wisdom on these forums: Campaign building is a form of personal expression, as surely as writing short stories, or painting in watercolors, or making student films are. Whether it's ever seen by anyone else, it's something you find the need to get off of YOUR chest, or as Rocky put it in the last film, "you've still got a little something in your gut." As long as you're not confusing fantasy and story telling with reality, or anything like that, you feel free to write about NPC ogre speeches, or the price of tea in Cormyr, to your heart's content.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

You're just out there and take your games way too seriously. Not that there's anything wrong with that if you and your players are having fun.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Just don't be surprised if this happens when your NPC is delivering his beautifully scripted speech.

 

[Odhanan]

Just don't be surprised if this happens when your NPC is delivering his beautifully scripted speech.

LOL! Didn't know that. This is totally brilliant!

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

Just to clarify a little bit, I wasn't fishing for condolences or "It's ok, you're not insane" type posts, I was just wondering if any other DMs out there get a little emotional when their campaigns are nearing their ends or a favorite NPC of both the DM and the PCs fulfills their story purpose.