What would you do if someone died?

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Did your friend enjoy the game? Continuing it is a good way to honor his memory. Keep a spare seat at the table open and have his PC as a returning character.

When one of the players in my last campaign died (Angelsboi, as diaglo mentioned), I'd have considered it an affront to his memory to pack up the campaign -- not to mention a real bummer for the survivors.

 

[Thunderfoot]

I'm sorry for you loss and you have my condolences.

I would play one last time to his memory (Knights of the Dinner Table kind of covered this in the strip where Gary Jackson died, there was a touching poem about losing a gamer friend that if you can find I would recommend reading.) and shelve the campaign, but whatever you decide will be right. You know your friend and what he would REALLY want, that would be what I would follow.

 

[Shadowslayer]

Hey man, that's a shame. I too send a prayer and my condolences to you. Don't know that I have much to add really.

One thing that you could base your decision on is how "nuts about D&D" your friend was. If it was a major deal for him, then honoring him somehow "in game" and continuing the game might be OK. If it was just a small diversion for him then maybe not. Whichever way your heart tells you to go is that way you should go.

I personally don't think I could continue the campaign. I'd get the guys together, do something else for a while. See how everyone feels, then maybe start playing again (different campaign) once everyone has had the time to deal with the loss in their own way. It'll be different for every member of your table.

Me, I'd start a new campaign eventually and hope that everyone wanted to join up....but I wouldn't be surprised if some of the players just weren't into it anymore. And I wouldn't hold that against anyone.

And I'd probably do something like carve his name onto my game table.

 

[Aus_Snow]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I would suggest doing one or more things in honour of he who has passed on. Something he would appreciate, that he would be moved by.

In terms of gaming, I would only very tentatively suggest continuing. Not the same campaign, probably, but in general.

I know it can be difficult thing to cope with. Sincere condolences to all those grieving.

 

[Darklone]

Sorry for your loss. I'd say: Talk with the others, keep on gaming but stop the campaign.

 

[green slime]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I know how hard it is to be "normal" again after the death of someone you love.

If it were me, I'd shelve that particular campaign. If everyone really wanted to start back Age of Worms, I'd re-start it, let the DM make some changes to throw curveballs, etc. but continue. Alternately, we'd just save all the campaign notes in a special storage, and start something else. (War of the Burning Sky comes to mind, and it's a brand-new mega-campaign, as is Savage Tide.)

Only your group can decide the "right" thing to do. And again, sorry for the loss.

QFT. Every word.

 

[Goblyns Hoard]

My deepest condolences for your loss mate - I hope that you are dealing with it well. It's hard at first to lose someone but know that with time the pain will ease and the memories sweeten.

As to the game - I don't think I'd want to continue myself, at the very least not straight away. I'd say put it on hold at least temporarily, but keep everything from it. If you're up for gaming start up something else short and easy - not another long campaign. Give yourself some room to breathe.

Then in a couple of months time have another look at it all. See if you want to finish the game and think about whether Jessie would truly have wanted you to. Remember that when he said those words he had never considered your current situation.

If you (and everyone else in the game) feel that he would actually have wanted you to go on then do so. DMPC his character, bring someone else in to run him, have him ascend in some way, even have the character die in a suitable blaze of glory, they're all options - that's got to come from your group.

If not then start a new campaign - new characters all round.

And whether you do or don't continue - frame the character sheet (make a copy to continue with) and bring it to every game, then hang it somewhere suitable. I don't believe in an afterlife but a loved one is never truly gone as long as we remember them.

 

[Numion]

Quitting gaming altogether because somebody died (unless that somebody is yourself) makes no sense to me. Life goes on.