I am listening back to the recorded gameplay to get the podcast uploaded. Not being used to hearing my gameplay, I hear I made some mistakes in rulings and also in allowing Dan to do things the characters shouldn’t have done. For example, I had thought that the scythe trap would only trigger if a creature was 100 pounds or greater. When Glade (88 pounds) was running back after fleeing the goblins, I said it went off again, requiring a dex check. Well first dex checks are really not a thing in 1E, at least not early on. The trap should have went off or not, which clearly it shouldn’t have. Glade made her role but still it was not a right ruling. How many more of these are there floating around during a session?
The question is are they important and if so when? We slowed the game down when we thought the characters could be killed in combat but this could have ended the session. When do you go back and fix mistakes?
For me, I try to always give an out incase I make a catastrophic mistake. The challenge is making the out plausible to the players. Assuming Glade didn’t die outright, they could have been captured and then perhaps John, who was going to follow them if asked (but they didn’t), catches up and defeats the remaining monsters (because he is of course a 4th level retired fighter who sends 1st level characters to save his daughter). I am not sure this would feel great.
Another option they could have lived and watched Elissa die, then given a chance to escape and deal with their setback.
My advice is give yourself a few moments to think of something and then read the room, do they feel the game is over, or are they looking for something to keep it moving forward. If you can live with the scenario, then you have done well.
Rulings you’re not happy with can always be fixed by saying that going forward this is how it will be. You need players who are going to help you stick with the “correct” ruling.
What other mistakes the Dan or I make during the last two sessions? Listen to episodes 3 and 4.