Page 1380 — A Necessary Recap
21st May 2020, 6:00 AM
Dialing in difficulty is where the storytelling and game design of a tabletop campaign collides. By and large, everyone wants to feel like they worked for and earned their victory, but they also don't want to be kept away from the things they want to do. And it's pretty much akin to hitting a bullseye from orbit without feedback from and rapport with the players.
Transcript:DM: PREVIOUSLY, IN EQUESTRIA… Well, actually, last time it was more like "Far forward, in Equestria…"
Fluttershy: Because the last "Previously" for us is still… Discord. But… I think we're ready to face it this time.
DM: I'm seriously glad to hear that.
Shining Armor: We got the gist of it. Some kind of godlike spirit of chaos, right?
DM: Played by my… D&D mentor, yes.
Twilight Sparkle: And you two are having a wedding in the middle of all this?
Princess Cadance: Can't stop love, haha!
Applejack: What did we eventually decide "happened" at the end of our previous in-story session? Because it was up in the air for a bit.
DM: Okay, so, the actual recap. <ahem> PREVIOUSLY, IN EQUESTRIA… The world started going topsy-turvy due to the release of the imprisoned god of chaos, Discord. He led the party through a series of trials designed, unfortunately, for one thing: Sowing the seeds of confrontation between the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Luckily, your friendship held together despite his… our efforts, but not before he managed to at least claim Ponyville as the chaos capital of the world. Thankfully, the Elements of Harmony have contained his influence somewhat. Even though there's a warp-field around the town, with some quick thinking you've managed to turn it into a pocket-dimension prison without him realizing yet. So it's mainly a matter of deciding when you're going to gather your strength and confront him. The world keeps turning, if a bit more chaotically.
Rainbow Dash: Wait, so, we don't have to jump through any more hoops to fight him? We can just go when we're ready?
DM: With ample warning that it's not going to be an easy battle, yes.
Rainbow Dash: I mean, I'll take it!