I've been running a #dungeoncrawlclassics campaign for the last three years (slight pause here and there). I put together a string of Goodman Games' published modules and tied them all up with an over-arching metaplot. We've had a fantastic time and it's been a wild ride.
We're nearing the finale though and I'm getting nervous, worried that the campaign won't stick the landing...
Does anyone have any tips for a satisfying campaign ending?
@Mr_Stag Not system-specific, but the difficulty in a big campaign is balancing the contributions of the build-up and the final session.
If it comes down to dice in the final session, it can feel like the build-up didn't matter. If the build-up overshadows the threat in the final session, there's little tension.
A trick I use is to make those two factors matter for different things. e.g. the build-up determines whether you save the kingdom, the final session says whether you get out alive.
@Mr_Stag As somebody who never got to finish a campaign properly, I think that a) that's very dependant on your group's expectations and it's very hard to work off of general suggestions and b) I'm jelly, congratulations on finishing a campaign! That's a neat accomplishment!
If everyone was having fun up until this point then I'm sure you're gonna do fine :)
@Mr_Stag Oh, also I think giving the players a chance to have free reign over their characters' epilogue is sweet - so if that fits the campaign and it is appropriate to ask "What are your characters in five years", that might be something? It's also zero work for you
@Rianq yes good shout, might ask them in the run up what does their ride off into the sunset look like (assuming they survive)
@Mr_Stag Nope, never done it myself.
But what I can say is: You'll stick the landing
The players are still showing up, and as a player myself, what matters to me is that decisions matter, and what we went through as a table.
Maybe don't try too hard, but let the players fill the final moments. Make it about them.
As a bonus and what I've been planning:
Then right at the end, no matter what they do, end with a "post credit scene" teasing an loose end they missed...
@ursidae yes, I do have a post-credits scene planned! Think like you say, make it about the characters and tie up most of the loose ends.