Bad ending for an interesting beginning

DMBoognish
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Bad ending for an interesting beginning Aug 1, 2016 19:41:26 GMT via mobile

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Post by DMBoognish on Aug 1, 2016 19:41:26 GMT

I'm debating with myself on an idea for an ending to my campaign. So my story line has two possible roads for my PCs to go down: a) build an army to overthrow the corrupt monarchy (a means to an end thought of by the PCs) or b) have the chronomancer they revived send them back to kill the current king at a younger age. Basically the, "would you kill Hitler as a baby" scenario (my initial ending).
It will take some real planning for them to get away with it, If they choose to kill him, but there is a part of me that hopes they are caught. If they are caught, I plan to end the session at their capture. By this point, their next characters will be ready to play by then, and the next session will start with the new characters attending the execution of their PCs.
If they are not caught, I'll start the next campaign the same way, but those being executed will be mirror their party to convey the point that innocent people are being killed in place of the party.
While these are my PCs first characters, I did pre-gen them so we could start playing (not my best idea). so they may not be as connected/attached to them, which I'm ok with.

So my questions:
1. If they are caught, Is this too abrupt of a closing on their first character?
2. If they aren't caught, should I make them live out the rest of the PCs life in that timeline, allow them to return home to see the effects, or fade to white and have their backstory wiped because of the change to history?
3. If they don't go back in time (I hope they do), does anyone have advice regarding recruiting forces,, and also what a dwarven royal army might consist of?

Thanks for any time given to this, and I look forward to any and all answers!

Deleted
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Bad ending for an interesting beginning Aug 1, 2016 22:30:47 GMT DMBoognish likes this

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Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 22:30:47 GMT

1) Even if they are caught, you can invent a means to escape so it need not be the end of the character. I guess it just depends on what you and the players think of this being the resolution to the campaign. Do you think it would feel like a satisfying conclusion if you were a player? The fact that it's a first character is irrelevant, IMO.

2) Personally, I'd return them to the present to see the effects - and that effect is that whoever replaced the evil king is so, so much worse than his predecessor. Also, eliminate any possibility of them ever time travelling again. Biggest problem this presents is a loose end which the players might want their old characters to resolve. Easiest solution IMO is to have the events of the new campaign take place several years before the old characters are scheduled to return to the "present."

3) "Advice regarding recruiting forces" is really vague. What sort of trouble are you having? Do you mean how they should go about recruiting? What forces should be made available? As for a dwarven army, it really depends on the setting. My dwarves would have siege weapons including gunpowder artillery, crossbow men, and heavy and medium infantry. Shock troops/bersekers might be fun, too, though maybe not appropriate for a "royal army."

You said you hope they take the time travel option, but it was their idea to raise an army. Be careful that you aren't suggesting time travel, only offering it as an option. Let the players decide how to resolve the situation, and give them a shot at success (however that's defined), even if it's a slim one.

DMBoognish
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Posts: 10

Bad ending for an interesting beginning Aug 2, 2016 5:00:18 GMT via mobile

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Post by DMBoognish on Aug 2, 2016 5:00:18 GMT

Thanks for taking the time to answer!

Now That you mention it, If they went back (and I'm definitely trying to prep for either decision) they would be told by the NPC leading the resistance (his name is Farenth) to seek him out because his past job under the monarchy allowed him access that would help. They would garner trust from him through referencing a past event that he doesn't share with anyone without being a close friend/confidant.
Farenth could also be the one to rescue them if they need it.
And perhaps I can still use the execution of the framed as an opener for the next campaign, if I stick with them being at that point in time.

I like the idea of their next characters existing shortly before their current PCs return to the present. And You read my mind with them returning to a situation much worse. The only reason they are able to go back in time is because the person who is capable of the magic was driven by his want to rid the world of the the present King. No king, no time magic! Perfect!!!

I have put thought towards making the result being much worse. I was thinking of having the nation to the north taking over. A trade agreement wouldn't have been garnered, so they invade. They have drained their natural resources to quickly develop new magic, leaving their home a barren waste land. the PCs return to their home having been ravaged in the same way.

Fair on being vague about getting an army. I guess I'm really asking what would be the most concise way of providing the opportunity to actually recruit an army capable of combating something like a dwarven army, which I dug on your recommendations.

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Bad ending for an interesting beginning

Post by DMBoognish on Aug 1, 2016 19:41:26 GMT

Post by Deleted on Aug 1, 2016 22:30:47 GMT

Post by DMBoognish on Aug 2, 2016 5:00:18 GMT

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