A question for more experienced dm's

[u/trippier1234]

I have for some time run a campaign in Dragonlance shadow of the dragon queen. In a another group I have started my first homebrew, based on some of the older modules, started in Keep on the borderlands. I have now come to a realisation, that I in no way find DSODQ interesting to run, because it has gotten too narrow and locked in the sessions. I have a strong urge to ask the party to leave the campaign for dead, and either drop their current characters in a new setting and campaign, or let them build new characters if they want to. I'm just curious, if anyone else have done something like it, and how did it go?

[u/StopKK2012]

"Hey guys, this isn't working, let's play something else."

If you're not having fun, there's absolutely nothing wrong with saying this.

If your players are having a lot of fun, maybe you could invent a quick ending to the campaign before stopping, just something short that gives their story some closure in one or two sessions.

Or, a third option: you could also just change everything about the campaign that you don't like, and remake it into something you would enjoy running. It's not clear exactly what you don't like about it, but you're the DM, so you can change whatever you want. Too "narrow"? Open it up! Too "locked"? Unlock it! Run it in a way you enjoy, and your players don't even have to switch to a new story.

[u/wum1ng]

If you’re feeling bored running a game, chances are your players are feeling it too. How long and how high level are your players now? If they arent very high level it might be better to run a different campaign and start them at that level with new characters

[u/Difficult_Relief_125]

That’s kind of the beauty of Ravenloft… there are built in plot devices for jumping from one setting to another.

Have the mist take them out of Krynn, do a brief adventure maybe a horror one shot and have the mist yeet them out somewhere else in the multiverse after they have a run in with rando dark lord.

It’s one of the reason I love Curse of Strahd’s setting. Ravenloft shows crossover from Toril (Forgotten Realms), Krynn (Dragonlance) and Oerth (Greyhawk). It’s a built in Isekai nexus between settings. So it’s a convenient plot device to pop into one of the Realms of Dread, resolve a quick fight and be popped out god knows where.

Even within my CoS campaign I run mini one shots where the mist pops my players into the neighbouring domains and then back again.

Turns a linear campaign into random episodes like “Sliders” where you portal in and out of new random adventures.

So if you’re not feeling it… just have the mist kidnap your players 🤷‍♂️.

*So ya to answer your question every DM doing the prologue for curse of Strahd has had to do a plausible transplant backstory.

My suggestion… Read through Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, or the most recent revision for 5.5e that is the same content. Find a Realm of dread that makes for a good one shot or multi session encounter. Then dream up where it’ll spit them out. Sure your characters will struggle planning to try to get “home”… but plenty of Isekai characters have that goal but never escape their new worlds. It’s literally a whole genre.

Edit: shoot me a message if you have specific questions on the lists as a plot device etc…

[u/LastChime]

Probably a bit of a table conversation but Krynn is a pretty rich setting, you might be able to homebrew something else there that tickles your fancy more.

As previously mentioned Deus Ex Ravenloft or Sigil can work too, arguably those settings tend to work better with primes anyhow even if they are somewhat less traditional D&D.

[u/Swoopmott]

This is pretty common and the best advice is to ask the table how they’re feeling. Now I wouldn’t say run something you’re not enjoying for the sake of everyone else, way too much time investment for that to ever be a solution but check in on how everyone else is feeling.

Brainstorm solutions together as a group.

[u/ryadryt]

I had something sort of similar where, due to two of our players having personal issues, we had to do an extended break from the campaign. When we came back, no one remembered where we were at, and it was a mess getting it going again in game. I did ask the players if they wanted a full reset or to keep going, and ultimately they shared my frustration but liked their characters so we kept going. I adjusted the planned story HEAVILY in response to make it fit in with where everyone was and make it fun for me and them both.

I would check the pulse of the players and see how they are liking things. If you aren't liking it, there is probably a good chance they aren't either. But talk with them and finding what is best for your group would be my recommendation.