+3 Downtime, Decembor 2009: Character Deaths

[Shane]

Shane, Dave and humbug together explore the graveyard where character sheets go, and talk about the myriad of topics relating to role-playing game character death.

[Stonewolf]

I prefer a game where ideally you shouldn't die but if you screw up or the dice just aren't with you then it should definitely be on the plate.

As for character backgrounds, I tend to go with a simple concept and basic background until I've played a few sessions and can get a feel for the character.

One thing I feel can be constructive is to take a session or two out after a character you were attached to dies or maybe go play in another game and let someone else take your place.

[Stu]

As for character backgrounds, I tend to go with a simple concept and basic background until I've played a few sessions and can get a feel for the character.

I agree, I did find with one character, he rapidly evolved beyond what I had on paper (which was good but annoying).


I do love at least the threat of fatality. When I played without emergency dice safety net, it was much more exciting (and fatal as it happened)

[Cy_Revenant]

The first time I died in an RPG it was during a Dungeon crawl at a con. It took me completely by surprise. I'd never seen someone die in an RPG, it just didn't occur to me that such a thing was possible. I was one of the protagonists! How could I possibly die? You can imagine my surprise when I the GM said "Thanks for playing, goodbye."

It left me with a bit of a soft touch when it comes to GMing myself. When a PC does something monumentally stupid, I can't bring myself to properly punish them for it. So I fudge the rolls to leave them alive, barely.

[Stu]

It left me with a bit of a soft touch when it comes to GMing myself. When a PC does something monumentally stupid, I can't bring myself to properly punish them for it. So I fudge the rolls to leave them alive, barely.

I know what you mean, I've more than once had a monster take it easy on the party (usually because I bumbed up the encounter level a bit too much).

Having died 3 time in two game in the last 5 or 6 sessions, I've deceided it's great, mortality really makes it more enjoyable

[Stonewolf]

Sean: Waste of a good opportunity for a weakest link quote.

I tend to go with the dice, I nearly had a PC killed in session 1 once because the rolls went daft but it worked out in the end, no intervention needed. I've killed characters in the past for doing stupid things (you know who you are LIAM and you get no consolation from it being a friendly fire incident) and I think the possibility has to be there in order to force the PCs to have some care for their own lives furthermore I don't think resurrection should be on the cards, death should be death.

Actually this touches on party size which is a whole different kettle of fish but outside of the con game if a party goes above 6 people it's survival of the fittest time, party composition becomes a matter of sudden death. You are the weakest link, goodbye.