D&D General How Often Should a PC Die in D&D 5e?

[Oofta]

People in general don't. But friends do not put their own desires ahead of their friends. If a person quits your game because they would not play a non-evil PC, then you are better off without them. They are not a friend or a decent person.

People sometimes have different interpretations of the rules or want different things out of games than other people at the table. That does not make them a bad person.

Someone could be a close friend and I simply don't run the style of game they want to play, I'm not going to shut them out of my life because our preferences in a single hobby differ.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

People sometimes have different interpretations of the rules or want different things out of games than other people at the table. That does not make them a bad person.

It does if they put their demands ahead of the other people in the game.

Someone could be a close friend and I simply don't run the style of game they want to play, I'm not going to shut them out of my life because our preferences in a single hobby differ.

Lots of my friends don’t play D&D at all, but if they do they are going to play in such a way that it is fun for everyone, not making demands that everyone does it their way.

 

[Oofta]

It does if they put their demands ahead of the other people in the game.

Lots of my friends don’t play D&D at all, but if they do they are going to play in such a way that it is fun for everyone, not making demands that everyone does it their way.

So nobody ever disagrees on anything?

Or are you just arguing about my no evil PC policy? Because that's taken care of itself, I let people know before they join the game that I don't allow evil PCs. If they don't want to join the game, that's fine. The one time it was an issue the guy played for a while and when the campaign ended told us he wasn't interested in continuing unless they could play an evil PC. We all wished him well and we didn't think he was a bad person for wanting something else.

No evil PC or other restrictions is a small subset of the DM making the final call.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So nobody ever disagrees on anything

Not really, no. Certainly not if it’s an issue that is upsetting to someone.

Or are you just arguing about my no evil PC policy

No, I just wouldn’t consider it a rule.

 

[Oofta]

Not really, no. Certainly not if it’s an issue that is upsetting to someone.

No, I just wouldn’t consider it a rule.

You never, ever disagree on anything at all? Never have a discussion on how to implement a specific rule? Never once had someone misunderstand the text? Ever?

Some people seem to consider any restrictions on player choice bad DMing.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

You never, ever disagree on anything at all? Never have a discussion on how to implement a specific rule? Never once had someone misunderstand the text? Ever?

Not really, not that would be considered an argument. We either vote, roll with the DM, or consult the resident expert.

Some people seem to consider any restrictions on player choice bad DMing.

I think it’s more a matter of presentation. As a teacher, saying something like “Billy can’t hear with you distracting him” is more effective than saying “I demand silence, 3 house marks!”

But there are some people who will insist that what they want is more important than what the group wants. These are people to avoid, irrespective of if they are a player or the DM.

 

[Oofta]

Not really, not that would be considered an argument. We either vote, roll with the DM, or consult the resident expert.

I don't remember the last time I had an argument either. If something comes up in the middle of the game we chat about it briefly and I make a ruling that we can discuss after the game.

I think it’s more a matter of presentation. But there are some people who will insist that what they want is more important than what the group wants. These are people to avoid, irrespective of if they are a player or the DM.

The DM puts far, far more work into the game than anyone else at the table. So as far as "insisting what they want...", if I don't want the same things as the DM I'll either find a different game or DM myself. Which, again, doesn't mean the DM shouldn't listen to what the players want, I just acknowledge that no DM can be right for everyone.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The DM puts far, far more work into the game than anyone else at the table. So as far as "insisting what they want...", if I don't want the same things as the DM I'll either find a different game or DM myself. Which, again, doesn't mean the DM shouldn't listen to what the players want, I just acknowledge that no DM can be right for everyone

D&D is inherently an asymmetric game. These fairness comes from anyone who wants to can have a turn as DM. But presenting something as a rule inherently puts some people’s backs up, whereas most people are happy to go along with a polite suggestion.

 

[Oofta]

D&D is inherently an asymmetric game. These fairness comes from anyone who wants to can have a turn as DM. But presenting something as a rule inherently puts some people’s backs up, whereas most people are happy to go along with a polite suggestion.

Occasionally I've had to make a call someone disagrees with and I've had DMs make a call I disagree with. People are never going to agree 100% of the time. If a player can't accept or gets upset that they may not always get their way then it's likely not someone I want at the game table anyway. Fortunately that rarely happens.

I simply agree with the guidance we have, and have always had, in D&D. If there's a difference of opinion, the DM makes the final call.

 

[Chaosmancer]

This is why I didn't want to "sell you" on anything. You don't seem to want to look at other options particularly. Or at least, the effort you want from me is more than I feel like putting to the task.

And all of that's fine. There are plenty of things I don't want to do either.

If that is all fine, why try and shame me for my previous statement? Clearly it wasn't fine.

And, no, I might be willing to look at other options. But if I ask someone "why should I by a Ford instead of any other care brand" and their answer is "because it is a four-wheeled vehicle you can drive to work. And it comes in colors that are pleasing to look at"... you've just described ALL CARS. All of them do that. All of them come in colors. That tells me nothing at all. And if you follow up that revelation with "see, you are just determined to hate Ford no matter what." Well... no. You just literally failed to give me any reasons to even look at it. That is a failure on YOUR end, not me being unwilling to change my mind.