D&D 5E Super Deadly 5E?

[Rabbitbait]

Love this idea. If nothing else, I will probably go this route when I DM. Removes the metagaming from it all. Thanks!



Sure, they can, but a lot depends on the DM, etc. My question to you would be: how many of those deaths stayed dead? Part of the problem as I see it is also the ease of access to spells such as Revivify and even Raise Dead in many games, and in the presumed concept of the design of 5E that access to such powers should likely be available.

We've had many "deaths" since I've played--but as yet, short of the potential TPK I mentioned above, none of those characters have stayed dead. Most were revivified, and a couple with either raised or reincarnated. Now, as we reach higher levels, despite greater threats, those already rare deaths are becoming even rarer.

AS @Big Bucky mentions, it seems like more often than not everything will be fine, or you are facing a TPK--there seems little middle ground.

They all stayed dead. In every case the other characters have escaped but got no chance to get the body, or did not have the resources or access to get such powerful magic.

 

[aco175]

I never attack the PCs when down, sane as the PCs never attack (barring trolls) monsters when they drop. I guess some of the monsters could stabilize and wake up at some point, but they just die and get taken off the board. Just as monsters concentrate firepower on those still standing, the PCs do the same.

As a DM I do not gang up on the PCs or have the monsters attack them when they are down, unless the monsters is just trying to grab one and get away. I tend to have smarter monsters gang up or attack the cleric and mage. Undead tend to just swarm the first PCs they come to.

 

[dave2008]

There are lots of ways to make the game more dangerous with just the ideas in the DMG and lost of ways beyond that.
However, our rule is 0 = death. No one wants to get close to 0, so things get tense when a PC goes below 10 HP. Of course, my PCs have very little healing magic too.

 

[Minigiant]

So, when you DM do you actually do this or are you just offering it as a non-solution?

Last session

Fighter player: I hate you. I hate you and your sneaky goblin throatslitting sons of ...

 

[Oofta]

Animal intelligence monsters will drag the body off depending on why they attack. Whether I double tap or not depends on the players. It's something we discuss at our session 0.

Targeting the cleric first just makes sense for intelligent enemies.

 

[DND_Reborn]

They all stayed dead. In every case the other characters have escaped but got no chance to get the body, or did not have the resources or access to get such powerful magic.

So, in other words the character either win or left their dead behind or couldn't afford it.What levels are you taking about? I see that in tier 1, but by tier2 not so much and hardly at all in tier3.

There are lots of ways to make the game more dangerous with just the ideas in the DMG and lost of ways beyond that.
However, our rule is 0 = death. No one wants to get close to 0, so things get tense when a PC goes below 10 HP. Of course, my PCs have very little healing magic too.

Brutal return to 1E, etc. Love it.

Last session

Fighter player: I hate you. I hate you and your sneaky goblin throatslitting sons of ...

And as I have asked the others: do they stay dead?

Animal intelligence monsters will drag the body off depending on why they attack. Whether I double tap or not depends on the players. It's something we discuss at our session 0.

Targeting the cleric first just makes sense for intelligent enemies.

Session 0 discussion are good of course, but as with the others: do they stay dead?

Finally, for those who mention targeting casters, particularly clerics, unless they see the cleric casting a divine spell and recognize it as such, how do they know? Or are you meta-DMing?

 

[Minigiant]

And as I have asked the others: do they stay dead?

Fighter player is playing a monk now.

D&D 5e has clear tier. Below level 5 you stay dead. 5-9, you might come back. 10-15 you will come back. 16+, death isn't what scares you.

 

[DND_Reborn]

Fighter player is playing a monk now.

D&D 5e has clear tier. Below level 5 you stay dead. 5-9, you might come back. 10-15 you will come back. 16+, death isn't what scares you.

So, what level was said fighter? Given the goblin reference I am guessing in tier 1 or maybe 2?

Otherwise, I think that is a fairly accurate summary.

I might label 5-9 as "you should come back" because by then you have revivify and unless funds are insanely low (no component) or battle last longer than the 10 rounds you have to cast it, or the death occurs in such a way that there is no corpse, pretty much coming back is a cinch.

 

[Minigiant]

So, what level was said fighter? Given the goblin reference I am guessing in tier 1 or maybe 2?

Otherwise, I think that is a fairly accurate summary.

I might label 5-9 as "you should come back" because by then you have revivify and unless funds are insanely low (no component) or battle last longer than the 10 rounds you have to cast it, or the death occurs in such a way that there is no corpse, pretty much coming back is a cinch.

7th

Goblins slit throat then their boss told them to take the head. Due to party's actions, the head fell in a river.

The boss and fighter have been resurrected before. Boss Goblin knows you need the head.

 

[DND_Reborn]

7th

Goblins slit throat then their boss told them to take the head. Due to party's actions, the head fell in a river.

The boss and fighter have been resurrected before. Boss Goblin knows you need the head.

I am assuming you don't mean actual "resurrection" since for that you don't need the head. I am guessing you mean either revivify or raise dead?