This ends a long-form campaign, Zen and the Art of Caravan Maintenance. I’m actually writing this in 2025, but leaving it dated when the campaign finished.
I finally got burnt out running this campaign, and the players and I decided we’d stop. We had a closing session and discussed what the characters would go on to do:
- Joshua wants to operate the island and travel onward
- Emmett wants to improve relations between the PPs and Lime Nomads, and the last serai criminal gang
- He says he’s a pragmatist
- Joshua would resurrect Lateria too if possible
Lessons learned
This campaign became more about trading favours not actual goods or gold. The players weren’t too fussed about finding good trade routes, or combat particularly.
The buggalo were cute, the baby one cutest, naturally.
The little vignettes I asked of each player when travelling were enjoyed by everyone. It was a nice way to show time passing in an interesting way.
I think if I were to run something as explictly like a travelogue like this, I’d use an RPG with more social skills. I don’t know how to do one, off the top of my head though!