D&D 5E How do you kill a 10th level character?

[Crothian]

You should be grateful to have players, Crothian, not say good riddance to any.

I don't have players, I have friends. I don't want to play with anyone I would not be a friend with and I find by giving them the respect that one does friends keeps my players around a lot longer then DMs who treat them like players. There are plenty of bad players in the world that I am happy to have said good riddance to. My game is better for it.

I have had players of different types always, playing together. Some wanted more challenge, and others wanted "No more!" you might say. It's your job as DM to make sure everyone feels the game is fair and a lot of fun.

I focus on the fun part. I tell them upfront the game is not always fair. Sometimes it is unfair towards them and sometimes it is unfair for them. In any game that uses random chance things can go for or against the players. It is part of our fun.

I understand it may be admirable for a player to know how to accept failure and move on, but it's not all about how tough you are. There is also feeling to it, and the game isn't all about outgunning the monsters or they you.

They don't always move on. Before the Christmas break we had a near TPK against Venger, from the D&D cartoon. The two survivors got back to the city and plan on recruiting more characters and avenge their fallen comrades. They used some of their money to build a monument to their fallen friends and plan to go back to the cave they died in to retrieve the bodies for proper burial. They are not moving on they are reacting to the situation and playing accordingly. It has nothing to do with being tough I'm not reading to them from Ulysses*. It is about the right mindset. It's a game and we all have fun playing it as a group and enjoy the successes and comradery of everyone at the table.

*reference to an old Allan Sherman song from 1963

 

[Rhenny]

Traps, mobs attacking from different directions (with ranged missile fire too) and area of effect spells. Ranged weapons/attacks are really very powerful especially if monsters/pcs can fire and then take cover. The concept of a "kill zone" is a very real concept that can become dangerous in 5e - set up lots of archers and have PCs travel a great distance to get to a necessary location. Add traps to that and ground troops and it becomes a very difficult set piece.

By and large, I like most combats to be 2-3 round really quick skirmishes, but if I really want to make a doozy, I pull out all that I learned designing encounters for 4e. The set piece encounters still work.

 

[SirAntoine]

edited out

 

[the Jester]

*Quote removed on request*

I found Crothian's reply to you to be respectful and informative. No need to assume motivation.

But you're on a discussion board; you should expect discussion, including by some that disagree with you.

 

[SirAntoine]

I found Crothian's reply to you to be respectful and informative. No need to assume motivation.

But you're on a discussion board; you should expect discussion, including by some that disagree with you.

I am not one to start arguments. I would appreciate if you edited out the post, as I edited it out. I just hope he hasn't ruined the game for anyone. I am not in a position to understand what he is talking about, not really.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

If you still need a way to kill a 10th level PC, might I suggest this? (Its for an older edition, but it should work with a little conversion)

I also encourage the investigation of the insides of bas relief green devils' mouths.

 

[Crothian]

I just hope he hasn't ruined the game for anyone. I am not in a position to understand what he is talking about, not really.

If there is something about my gaming or thoughts on it that need explained more please ask about them. This is not an argument it is a discussion. I don't feel my way is the right way for everyone, it is what works for me and my group. Like your self I have gamed for over three decades and I learned a lot about gaming and what works for me. Discussion like this I find helpful.

If I have ruined the game for anyone then that is something I will have to live with.

 

[Nebulous]

This was a trap from Pyramid of Shadows for 4e. It killed a full strength 9th level barbarian in two rounds. His comrades didn't even see him die. He just....vanished.

 

[SirAntoine]

If there is something about my gaming or thoughts on it that need explained more please ask about them. This is not an argument it is a discussion. I don't feel my way is the right way for everyone, it is what works for me and my group. Like your self I have gamed for over three decades and I learned a lot about gaming and what works for me. Discussion like this I find helpful.

If I have ruined the game for anyone then that is something I will have to live with.

The Jester says your words were very informative, and his word is good enough for me so there is no need.

 

[the Jester]

I just hope he hasn't ruined the game for anyone.

See, every time you imply that anyone might be ruining the game for someone else without even playing the game with them, I become 85% less inclined to go along with you.

EDIT: Nonetheless, I edited out the quote of the post that you removed, while leaving my reply in place. I'll meet you half-way.

Perhaps you could explain how, exactly, he or I have ruined the game for anyone simply by discussing how we play? Your earlier claim that we might be somehow misrepresenting it is exactly backward, IMHO, because I'm representing it honestly and as I play it, and if anyone is getting into my game, they need to have a clue about my playstyle and whether they are compatible with it.

For instance: [MENTION=20995]Brain[/MENTION] was considering joining our group back in the 3e days. He sat in on one of our epic sessions to see what he thought. It just so happened that, during that session, the party- the 3.5 epic-level party- suffered a TPK.

He jumped right in next session in our halfling-themed campaign.

If he wasn't interested in a game where that kind of thing- TPK- was a real possibility, he would have had the information he needed to make that determination. I don't hide it. I advertise it, so that people who feel cheated when their character dies don't bother with my game. So that, in other words, I don't ruin their experience.