Catastrophic Failure | Running the Game

Episode 13: Everything falls apart...

Here's links to all the stuff that lead up to the Death of Skoros the Wizard.

#RunningTheGame #MattColville #MCDM

[XyphileousLF]

"I expected the players to..." Famous last words.

[latieraeve]

"Im human" he says
as he talk at inhuman speeds while juggling simultaneously

[tress]

DM "Everyone in the village is terrified of the Dragon that lives on the mountain."
LVL2 "I wanna go climb that mountain..."

[divinkitty]

"He reaches back and pulls out a leather thong"
Me: nearly spits out drink and eyes widen. "Well this took a weird turn- oh there's a key on the end."

[jonothanthrace]

"No one visits the privy while waiting for the regent!" is hilarious and perfect.

[rogersy]

Imagine how much exp matt gained after he killed his real boss lol

[Jalynfein]

"Place your soldiers in a position from which there is no hope of survival, and they will fight like demons with no regard for their lives."

-Sun Tzu, Pre-D&D.

[vpct]

Sometimes, the most important thing the DM can say is . . . "Are you Sure you wanna do that?"

[KCdoesVOXMetalVocalist]

Matthew, I asked you on Twitter if you'd consider narrating your books, for Audible or something like it. You shyly said you weren't really good at acting. I just want to point something out: I run a small computer repair shop and like listening to stuff over my ceiling speaker while I build / repair / smash computers. I work 7-days-a-week and never have to time to read a book (the life of a business owner I guess). So I've been putting on videos (such as this very one) and get lost in listening to you tell the stories of your adventurers. Even when you synopsize previous games I find your verbiage and cadence incredibly fun and engaging to listen to! Please consider narrating your books. Until then, your YouTube videos will do me fine :)

[cludbear]

"What a great way to introduce some bad guys. Maybe there's a way to do it without sacrificing a player, though."

*laughs in Chain Episode 1*

[StarWindEnergin]

The way Phil handled it was really mature. It would've been easy to just stay angry, keep his version of events to himself and just brood over it. Instead, he came back and sat down to hear your side of it and give his and you guys got a resolution. Way harder if he doesn't make that most important step of coming to talk.

[Jackolantirn]

A Catastrophic Failure where everyone learns is a Critical Success.

[dylanmcla]

People keep forgetting that THESE ARE NEW PLAYERS. Matt says it like 20 times and people are judging them as if they've all been playing for years.

[banban]

Matthew: Don't take away players agency!
Me in my mind: Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

[daracaex]

I've done this twice. The first time, I knew that my players would end up getting killed if they continued deeper into the dungeon, so I threw endless reinforcements at them until they got the message and retreated to rest. I was brand new to DMing and regret that decision.

The second time, it actually worked out and became one of the greatest moments I've ever had DMing. The party was caught infiltrating a keep (this was The Shadow Rift of Umbraforge, adventure 3 of the Scales of War in 4e) and surrounded by enemies. This time, they actually recognized that they were outmatched and surrendered. Then, I had the main villain give his villain speech. And, knowing full-well it was cheesy as all get out, I had the villain make the offer: "Join me, and you might be spared from the coming chaos." And one of my players, a Dragonborn barbarian, ACTUALLY TOOK THE OFFER. He mentioned that it might actually be in-character for him to defect, so I and other players told him that, if he wanted to, he should feel free to do so. The barbarian was given to me to use as an NPC and the player rolled up a Kenku rogue to join the party. I had the barbarian keep a recurring role, actually helping the PCs at one point when he learned that his new boss was a bit too destructive for his tastes after all, but also fighting them when ordered. I, at least, thought it was super cool, and I think my players enjoyed that plot twist as well.

[Nerdarchy]

There was a multitude of poor player decisions that led to their being captured- they ignored all the tells that you built into the narrative and the battle not to be captured was the natural consequence of the player's inaction. That's the height of player agency and just because they didn't like the outcomes they allowed to happen doesn't mean it's your fault. A good DM presents problems and adjudicates the players solutions.

[martixy]

Failing like this is important.
It teaches players how to deal with their own biases towards game vs real life. This is experience. This is what it looks like when the players level up, not the characters.
Also, boy have I been repeating the importance of setting expectations every time you start a new campaign like broken record. So much so I might as well stamp it on my forehead by this point.

[alalalala]

You have to admit tho, having such passionate players, regardless of the mistakes made, is awesome.

[dyykaacovers]

Anyone else just rewatch this every couple of months cos its such a freaking good story?

[guilmon]

No matter how the adventure actually panned out, I think we can all agree that's it makes for a fantastic story.