closure

Wrapping up a campaign comes with a lot of mixed emotions. I’m happy that it is over because I’m ready for something new, yet at the same time I am sad to see it go. My players feel the same way, so having a good closure for the campaign is important.

Now, let me start by saying a good closure does not necessarily mean a long combat (though it does happen often). Sure, you just beat the BBEG, but that is not closure…that’s victory. Closure comes with wrapping up what your characters are going to do from here. Asking your characters, “What are you going to do now?”

The answer to that question varies as much as the players sitting at the table. Some will go off and live the quiet life, while others will continue to adventure. I know one of my players almost always runs some kind of major organization for many years before retiring. Often, there are children from love interests or marriages within the group, or with an NPC.

The wrap up for the adventure is much like the last chapter of a book. You see a snapshot of the characters 1-10 years later. You learn where they are living, what they are doing, and if they have a family of their own now. It provides a nice bow to the box of plots, battles, and personal interactions that have been played out over the many sessions.