So, I may be odd in thinking this, but, even though I don't explicitly try to kill off PCs, I almost never rescue them. I expect the PCs to save each other, and I don't fudge damage rolls. Interestingly, at my table, this works. The PCs are very invested in keeping each other alive, and were able to pool their party resources: expending a significant fraction of their gold, selling items, and offering services, in order to resurrect a fellow party member at 4th level. This crippled them financially, and consigned them to service tasks which took away some of their vital time (the campaign is "on a clock"). But, because the PCs know that death is not something that I will either try to deal to them (except as an enemy) nor save them from (except as a friendly NPC, and this is uncommon), they are heavily invested in keeping each other alive, while pursuing their goals.
I have noticed that many DMs seem to think of letting PCs die as a sort of OSR-style attitude of gaming, but this is not the case at my table.
For example, PCs are meant to be durable, long-lasting characters who mature throughout the game, but I rarely "pull the punches".
In my game, three out of five players are on their second character, and two are on their first.
This has resulted in a table where the players can have as much fun as they want with their characters, but also encourages them to be careful. My players know that I am not antagonistic toward them, and actually (secretly) root for them to conquer the cults of Norgu Balok and Atropus in the end, but they are keenly aware that I won't fudge rolls to help them survive. At my table, at least, this has led to a sense of verisimilitude (in terms of being careful) that strikes the correct balance between OSR ridiculousness and hero-style 4e games.
So, my question is this, how do you handle PCs dying? Do you prevent PCs from dying?, do you have them come back as ghosts? Or does something else happen when PCs are on the brink of death?
I have noticed that many DMs seem to think of letting PCs die as a sort of OSR-style attitude of gaming, but this is not the case at my table.
For example, PCs are meant to be durable, long-lasting characters who mature throughout the game, but I rarely "pull the punches".
In my game, three out of five players are on their second character, and two are on their first.
This has resulted in a table where the players can have as much fun as they want with their characters, but also encourages them to be careful. My players know that I am not antagonistic toward them, and actually (secretly) root for them to conquer the cults of Norgu Balok and Atropus in the end, but they are keenly aware that I won't fudge rolls to help them survive. At my table, at least, this has led to a sense of verisimilitude (in terms of being careful) that strikes the correct balance between OSR ridiculousness and hero-style 4e games.
So, my question is this, how do you handle PCs dying? Do you prevent PCs from dying?, do you have them come back as ghosts? Or does something else happen when PCs are on the brink of death?
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