Search results

Mangling a character rather than cleanly killing it is a cruel thing for a DM to do. Death is recoverable pretty simply and quick even when not recovered from. Having your levels stripped and replaced by others is not. Presenting the sequence of "Here's a way out. Oh, you took it? The cost...

The wounded NPC is very likely to die BEFORE the paladin loses. Breath weapons are like that.

Yeah, I started reading at the bottom and worked up! Once I realised what was going on, I edited my post -- too late!

Nevermind, I finally caught up.

This wasn't a party situation. It was a PC against an adult dragon -- none of whom have a CR as low as the PC's level. Killing a character is quick and by 7th level, recoverable. Forcing a fall is neither. It sets up the player to make a choice to retire or live with something he didn't...

Jump is a touch spell. Having someone in the party jump 60' is certainly quite within the realm of possibility. I've also seen Wizards with 20 Str.

You can jump 60' with the Jump spell if you have Str 20.

It's not an act of mercy if the party taking it is punished for taking. It's an act of cruelty then.

That certainly used to be the case in early editions. Now, pretty much all the classes are moderately well balanced combat-wise and while paladin has some abilities in other areas, it is by no means the leader in them like the bard. Now it more like "You want these specific abilities that are...

Depends on what advice is sought, doesn't it? The DM in the OP seeking mechanical advice on handling a fall. and some general advice on punishment level.

The player learned not to take a class the DM can screw with.

So if the PC would surely die, but the player did or did not think that that changes things, but if the player merely thought the situation presented would surely kill the PC it doesn't change things?

In what way did I change your question?

Beacause although you say you agree you also say: "Honestly I really like the idea of challenging the hungry dragon to a fasting contest. See if you or him can go without food. After praising him for his self restraint in not outright killing both you and the NPC of course" and "Is your...

Unstated. Random encounter? Thought it's be a great scene to showcase the paladin's resolve? Imposisble to say.

Do dragons go for that sort of thing in your experience? In mine they eat people who dare such things and don't look like they can back it up. And if the people look like they can back it up, they don't try to mug them in the street in the first place. This isn't a dragon secure in its power...

I completely agree with you. The player should have turned and confronted the dragon. Yet. Because even though we've heard just the DM's side of the story, there very little mitigating circumstance presented that would allow a player to think the situation is survivable let alone winnable...

As I typed at Hussar, I agree talking first would be better. It comes down to how much blame is warranted for the player missing a stratagem?

Everyone wants to win a discussion: it's the Internet! I'll tone it down.

Absolutely not ideal. But in many ways potentially understandable. If you don't think to negotiate right off the bat, you're done. If you are used to the DM (or previous DM) being more...story oriented you go along with it waiting to see where it leads because dragon wants man, obvious plot...