Bonus tip for GMs: how to make failure fun

Written by Andruid

2 min read

Published Jan 31, 2023

Updated Jan 9, 2026

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What if failure didn't have to suck? Learn how to turn failed rolls into fun opportunities for players.


What if failure didn’t have to suck? In this short post, I share one of my favorite GM tips: how to make failed actions feel like part of the fun instead of a dead end.

Learn how to:

  • Add surprising twists to failed checks
  • Reward creativity even when the dice say no
  • Keep the story moving while raising the stakes

Perfect for GMs who want to build player trust without pulling punches.

As a thank you to Supporters (and to celebrate Storytelling Week!), I wanted to share one more tip from my bag of tricks on how to be a better GM:

Inevitably, players will fail important rolls/checks. 

Not a supporter, yet? Learn more. Already a supporter? Log in to access your extras.

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