Ending A Campaign

Last week, we finished a level 1-20 campaign (more below). This is always a great achievement, but it can also leave a slightly bittersweet and hollow feeling. To help wrap things up, I asked the following questions:

• What is your character doing in one year's time?

• What are one or two highlights from the campaign for you?

• Do you have any unanswered questions from the campaign?

• What is one thing you would like to do differently in the next campaign?

This worked marvelously. The first question gave the players a chance to "tie a bow" around their characters, while hinting at future adventures. The second question brought back fond memories and much laughter. The third question, where I really "drew back the curtain," helped tie up a few loose threads and also answered some "what ifs." The final question was mostly for my information as DM. Perhaps surprisingly, it also got the players enthusiastic for their next campaign. One of the players later told me he had been thinking about taking a break, but that the wrap-up session re-invigorated him. In every ending lies a new beginning.