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character death?
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<blockquote data-quote="EzekielRaiden" data-source="post: 9257024" data-attributes="member: 6790260"><p>Okay. So what about where it isn't contrivance? Even if it isn't explicitly prepared for in advance, if room is left to make it a reasonable adaptation, is that somehow a problem? E.g. the next bit (clipped out), about the hostage-taking thing. There is almost always a reason to take hostages. Information, at the very least. Unless the enemy has a standing policy <em>against</em> hostage-taking (which would be an odd thing for a DM who wants to avoid random, permanent, irrevocable character deaths), most places would see the value of squeezing intel out of someone.</p><p></p><p>But what about, for example, a situation the character actually does die--and the DM works toward a reasonable justification for a resurrection/revival? Is that still "contrivance" if they work to provide such an option to you when your character has died?</p><p></p><p></p><p>Except that the DM can never be an impartial judge. They must always be partial to some degree, because they want the players to enjoy the experience. To be <em>totally</em> impartial would mean being uncaring about the players' experience. And "as necessary to respond to what the PCs do"--that's precisely what I'm referring to above. A character dies. The DM responds by doing the work--not just "handwaving"--so that a return or revival is plausible, not just fiat declared.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Believe me, I hate fudging of all forms--I've been quite clear on that.</p><p></p><p>My problem is, the complaints I always see boil down to--well, what you've described here. "Handwaves away." "Contrivance." They characterize things as ALWAYS being maximally intrusive. Is it still a problem when one works to make it completely unintrusive? Is it a problem if the DM tells you that's what they do--build actual justifications for bringing the character back, not just "because I said so"? Assuming you're interested, of course. (Originally I hadn't mentioned that, but it occurred to me that someone might insinuate "oh so now it's being forced down my throat?!" I would normally assume that, in this context, "only if the player is cool with bringing the character back" is presumed, but...well. I've been on ENWorld long enough to know better, sadly.)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="EzekielRaiden, post: 9257024, member: 6790260"] Okay. So what about where it isn't contrivance? Even if it isn't explicitly prepared for in advance, if room is left to make it a reasonable adaptation, is that somehow a problem? E.g. the next bit (clipped out), about the hostage-taking thing. There is almost always a reason to take hostages. Information, at the very least. Unless the enemy has a standing policy [I]against[/I] hostage-taking (which would be an odd thing for a DM who wants to avoid random, permanent, irrevocable character deaths), most places would see the value of squeezing intel out of someone. But what about, for example, a situation the character actually does die--and the DM works toward a reasonable justification for a resurrection/revival? Is that still "contrivance" if they work to provide such an option to you when your character has died? Except that the DM can never be an impartial judge. They must always be partial to some degree, because they want the players to enjoy the experience. To be [I]totally[/I] impartial would mean being uncaring about the players' experience. And "as necessary to respond to what the PCs do"--that's precisely what I'm referring to above. A character dies. The DM responds by doing the work--not just "handwaving"--so that a return or revival is plausible, not just fiat declared. Believe me, I hate fudging of all forms--I've been quite clear on that. My problem is, the complaints I always see boil down to--well, what you've described here. "Handwaves away." "Contrivance." They characterize things as ALWAYS being maximally intrusive. Is it still a problem when one works to make it completely unintrusive? Is it a problem if the DM tells you that's what they do--build actual justifications for bringing the character back, not just "because I said so"? Assuming you're interested, of course. (Originally I hadn't mentioned that, but it occurred to me that someone might insinuate "oh so now it's being forced down my throat?!" I would normally assume that, in this context, "only if the player is cool with bringing the character back" is presumed, but...well. I've been on ENWorld long enough to know better, sadly.) [/QUOTE]
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