I had to rewrite a decent chunk of my home game with my kids because instead of killing one of the big bad’s lackeys they made a really lucid and cogent argument and convinced her that they could help her instead. I had already made a big deal out of how smart and logical she was, so once they presented facts and reason to her, she had to change her mind. So I had to turn her bodyguard into an insane zealot, just so they could have someone to fight for the rest of the session (and so that I could take the next few days to rewrite).
A few sessions later, they crit-succeeded in their attempt to convince a drake to stop fighting them (we’re playing PF2e, so crit successes on skill checks are possible). Coupled with an errant blow from the drake’s handler which enraged him into attacking the handler, and now the kids think they can diplomacy every situation into a new friend.
I had to rewrite a decent chunk of my home game with my kids because instead of killing one of the big bad’s lackeys they made a really lucid and cogent argument and convinced her that they could help her instead. I had already made a big deal out of how smart and logical she was, so once they presented facts and reason to her, she had to change her mind. So I had to turn her bodyguard into an insane zealot, just so they could have someone to fight for the rest of the session (and so that I could take the next few days to rewrite).
A few sessions later, they crit-succeeded in their attempt to convince a drake to stop fighting them (we’re playing PF2e, so crit successes on skill checks are possible). Coupled with an errant blow from the drake’s handler which enraged him into attacking the handler, and now the kids think they can diplomacy every situation into a new friend.
They’re not completely wrong, though… Just, don’t let them grow up to be bards, ya know?
Mammas, don’t let your babies grow up to be bards
Don’t let 'em pick guitars or drive them old wagons
Let 'em be healers and wizards and such
See? This is what’s wrong with kids these days. Way too much reasonable discourse and not nearly enough unchecked violence.