Originally Posted by Kneecap
Originally Posted by tarraxahum
Originally Posted by NomTheBurritos
I don't wanna half-ass something and live in a headcanon whilst everyone else gets their "live long and prosper" ending

As already discussed, there are other games that do the terminal patient tragedy, sometimes with your followers, sometimes with your own character, but usually people can somewhat stomach that enough to finish the overall story. Because it's painful, as it should be, not frustrating. The way for many players Karlach's situation becomes unbearable instead of poignant or whatever is... telling.


Those games are often very linear, games where you follow a set story. This is supposed to be DnD, a game where you carve your own story in the world's setting. And there is absolutely no reason not to have a good ending along with the bad ones. Just let the player make their decision on the matter, and call every possible ending canon to their respective player.


Apologies for double posting. I second this. I remembered Final Fantasy 16 that came out just before, and has a very linear set story. My favorite character there is Dion, by a mile.
He dies, but the way it was written, his death was meaningful and in the climax of one of the most intense battles we've seen. And his characters story builds towards it, he has his closure, and while it is sad af, it has meaning to the story itself. Without him, everything would've failed.
Karlach has none of this importance or build up that could potentially justify her ending being so bad. "Bad luck" usually doesn't work in d&d based narratives, unless you're rolling a die. In which case, we should get a dice roll too. Otherwise is just nonsensical.

Rawr.