Dungeon Masters: failure ≠ player punishment.

A critical failure is an excellent opportunity for epic storytelling! It can be as enjoyable—if not MORE than—a critical success.

— Justice Ramin Arman (@justicearman) August 27, 2021

This is one of the reasons why I like asking my players, “So…how does this go wrong?” whenever they roll a crit fail.

Giving folks the agency to describe how their character fails in a way that aligns with the story they want to tell is SO REWARDING. Absolutely this! It gives players the freedom to adjust what happens depending on their feelings in that moment.

And more often then not, they express some character moment that is beautiful.

— Lauren (Oboe) (@OboeLauren) August 27, 2021