Here’s how to best run chase scenes as a DM in Dungeons & Dragons.
Doing so before your campaign begins will allow you toget into the mindset of consequences that aren’t death.
Talk to your playersabout their character’s hopes and fears before your next campaign.
Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide by Tyler Jacobson
you’re free to evenrender the NPC as effectively dead to the party by removing them from play.
Collateral damage doesn’t need to be limited to individuals.
A failure on your player’s end might result in a beloved family home burning to the ground.
Artwork from Mordenkaiden’s Tome of Foes, via WotC
Or, in more extreme situations, there may be a risk of an entire town becoming uninhabitable.
Tension relies on knowing that these consequences will happen if the party is to fail.
A guide to gracefully booting a player from your D&D campaign.
Artwork from Mordenkaiden’s Tome of Foes, via WotC
Because the BBEG has been in that castle a little too long.
Consider who your players are facing and if they mighthave some reason to keep the characters alive.
Wild animals are suddenly chased off by the guard of a local town that seeks the party.
Bandits think they might benefit from some indentured servants.
One thing to consider, especially if any player characters die, is how the party is healed.
Faustian Bargain
Perhaps it makes no sense for the enemy your party is facing to imprison them.
Art by Craig J Spearing
you could leave the player’s decision during the interim between sessions.
You will have to step into the eldritch shoes of a patron.
Brawl at the Yawning Portal Tavern, by Scott Murphy
