InzeladunMaster
First Post
I am just thinking a bit here - so don't take this as a hard-and-fast opinion, it is just me ruminating about character death - possibly the least fun aspect of a game.
Is part of the suspense of an RPG the uncertainty of character life & death?
In the movies, we know Indiana Jones will win... yet we watch, enthralled. We know Perry Mason will win the case... yet his cases are filled with suspense. We know the character from Die Hard will win, but it is a suspenseful movie.
The suspense comes from wondering what the hero will have to sacrifice or put at risk in order to win.
Should RPGs have that same sort of 'mechanic'? Should we presume at the outset that the characters will win if they choose to? That there is no character death unless a choice to die is made? (such as Ben Kenobi's death in Star Wars)
Should the game mechanics revolve around a "cost" or "sacrifice" or a "risk" instead of around hit points and skill points? That if you are willing to "pay" or "risk" more than the baddies, you will win? Thus the character who is more motivated, more determined to win will actually win - because that character is willing to risk more in order to achieve that victory.
Then, the RPG will have the same thing as a movie or book: The suspense comes from wondering what the character will have to sacrifice or put at risk in order to win.
Perhaps choosing to die will give another person "points" to win later - like Obi-wan's sacrifice, or Gandalf's.
Just a thought. Not sure how it would work or if it would even be possible - or desirable.
Is part of the suspense of an RPG the uncertainty of character life & death?
In the movies, we know Indiana Jones will win... yet we watch, enthralled. We know Perry Mason will win the case... yet his cases are filled with suspense. We know the character from Die Hard will win, but it is a suspenseful movie.
The suspense comes from wondering what the hero will have to sacrifice or put at risk in order to win.
Should RPGs have that same sort of 'mechanic'? Should we presume at the outset that the characters will win if they choose to? That there is no character death unless a choice to die is made? (such as Ben Kenobi's death in Star Wars)
Should the game mechanics revolve around a "cost" or "sacrifice" or a "risk" instead of around hit points and skill points? That if you are willing to "pay" or "risk" more than the baddies, you will win? Thus the character who is more motivated, more determined to win will actually win - because that character is willing to risk more in order to achieve that victory.
Then, the RPG will have the same thing as a movie or book: The suspense comes from wondering what the character will have to sacrifice or put at risk in order to win.
Perhaps choosing to die will give another person "points" to win later - like Obi-wan's sacrifice, or Gandalf's.
Just a thought. Not sure how it would work or if it would even be possible - or desirable.
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