bloodymage
House Ruler
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Are you a killer DM?
- Thread starter fenzer
- Start date
I'm hoping the high body count in this thread is because the title attracts the killer DM's.
For myself, I think playing in a campaign where I get to write up a new character every couple of sessions would get real old real fast. I like developing my PC's, get to know them, get a feel for how they work with the other personalities in the party.
PS: Jurgen... I don't buy that "GURPS is lethal" crap either. ACtually, you're much less likely to from standing to dead in one hit in GURPS.
For myself, I think playing in a campaign where I get to write up a new character every couple of sessions would get real old real fast. I like developing my PC's, get to know them, get a feel for how they work with the other personalities in the party.
PS: Jurgen... I don't buy that "GURPS is lethal" crap either. ACtually, you're much less likely to from standing to dead in one hit in GURPS.
gunter uxbridge
First Post
In the last two and a half years of DMing 3E, I have killed a total of two PCs, and their deaths were spread only two weeks apart. One of them was an oopsie on my part and the other was a PC halfling thief trying to do too much while in the range of a half dozen longbows. Stupid on his part.
I had two cases where players left the game and their PCs turned into NPCs. From then on their days were numbered. I used one of them as an example of what happens to people that cross the Zhentarim (Forgotten Realms...he was caught, beheaded and the head dropped on the PC camp with something....disturbing shoved in its mouth.)
I don't go out of the way to slaughter PCs, but NPCs are another thing entirely. I have come within one or two hit points of wiping out entire parties, but lucky dice rolls have saved the day more than once. My PCs got smart after I started rolling everythig in public view.
I had two cases where players left the game and their PCs turned into NPCs. From then on their days were numbered. I used one of them as an example of what happens to people that cross the Zhentarim (Forgotten Realms...he was caught, beheaded and the head dropped on the PC camp with something....disturbing shoved in its mouth.)
I don't go out of the way to slaughter PCs, but NPCs are another thing entirely. I have come within one or two hit points of wiping out entire parties, but lucky dice rolls have saved the day more than once. My PCs got smart after I started rolling everythig in public view.
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
Yes! But my PCs refuse to die! 
Actually, I don't intentionally pull any punches (I screw up a rule now and then that helps them out), but I have found that it's really hard to kill a PC outright at mid levels, since typically the damage done in a fight drops them into the negatives, and someone gets over and stabilizes them (my group makes this a priority). I expect when we get to the levels that have save-or-die effects, or more massive damage effects, this might change. I do do a few things that make life less lethal:
1 -- 1 hero point per level, can be spent to guarantee success on one roll, or to auto-stabilize if dying.
2 -- Death occurs at -Con, not -10.
3 -- I rarely have an opponent CDG a PC if there are still live PCs up.
4 -- No insta kill -- a 20 on a threat roll adds another die of damage, and roll again
In short, I give the PCs a better-than-even break, since they're attached to their characters, but enough so that I don't have to pull punches. And they know that. Almost killed three of them, last session (Two got stabilized in the low negatives; the last passes his second poison save before the real nasty effects hit). I've had four of five down and dying at one point or another, but each time the last man standing pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
Actually, I don't intentionally pull any punches (I screw up a rule now and then that helps them out), but I have found that it's really hard to kill a PC outright at mid levels, since typically the damage done in a fight drops them into the negatives, and someone gets over and stabilizes them (my group makes this a priority). I expect when we get to the levels that have save-or-die effects, or more massive damage effects, this might change. I do do a few things that make life less lethal:
1 -- 1 hero point per level, can be spent to guarantee success on one roll, or to auto-stabilize if dying.
2 -- Death occurs at -Con, not -10.
3 -- I rarely have an opponent CDG a PC if there are still live PCs up.
4 -- No insta kill -- a 20 on a threat roll adds another die of damage, and roll again
In short, I give the PCs a better-than-even break, since they're attached to their characters, but enough so that I don't have to pull punches. And they know that. Almost killed three of them, last session (Two got stabilized in the low negatives; the last passes his second poison save before the real nasty effects hit). I've had four of five down and dying at one point or another, but each time the last man standing pulled victory from the jaws of defeat.
We have, on average, one death every other week. The players are nearing epic levels and many of the creatures that they face have some type of 'save or die' effect. They don't always make the saves.
I roll all combat dice in the open, but obscure the reasons and results for all other die rolls that I make.
I don't artificially restrict life restoring magic in any way. If you are in an area with enough population to support a temple, and you have the resources to pay for life restoring magic, you will receive it.
I roll all combat dice in the open, but obscure the reasons and results for all other die rolls that I make.
I don't artificially restrict life restoring magic in any way. If you are in an area with enough population to support a temple, and you have the resources to pay for life restoring magic, you will receive it.
nopantsyet
First Post
I have killed four or five over the past year, so I think that places me in the "killer-but-not-completely-evil" category.
I like it that way. My players like it that way. I had one of them refuse resurrection because he thought it would be out of character. Hmmmm...and the only PC I've played in the past year was a suicidal ronin who I was thrilled to have disembowel himself while being carried 80' in the air in the claws of a demon. So I guess as a group we embrace death fully.
I think death is an important part of a character. Sure it's always unfortunate when you've put alot of time and TLC into it, but if you add another paragraph to your character's story, you've got the biography of a hero. (Or villain or whatever....) I think that kind of completeness is cool.
I like it that way. My players like it that way. I had one of them refuse resurrection because he thought it would be out of character. Hmmmm...and the only PC I've played in the past year was a suicidal ronin who I was thrilled to have disembowel himself while being carried 80' in the air in the claws of a demon. So I guess as a group we embrace death fully.
I think death is an important part of a character. Sure it's always unfortunate when you've put alot of time and TLC into it, but if you add another paragraph to your character's story, you've got the biography of a hero. (Or villain or whatever....) I think that kind of completeness is cool.
I don't consider myself a "killer" DM, but the joke among my players is that new PC's aren't full-fledged members until they "join the ranks of the dead". The current campaign has been going on for about 2 years now, and 7 of the 8 players have had their PC die at least once.
Basically, I try to key my adventures so that it will be tough to survive if you do stupid things on a regular basis. I have had a couple encounters where a TPK was a distinct possibility, but the group has always managed to pull through. And if I key something overly tough, I try to ensure that the dead can be returned to life.
The most recent near TPK involved a 16th level Cleric BBEG, a 15th level Sorcerer BBEG, and 2 12th level fighter-type half-dragons mounted on greater drakes for cover and support. (The party rules-lawyer had an absolute fit, then decided I played them stupid when only 4 of 8 PC's died.) I feel that epic-type threads BEG to threaten complete havoc. Also, this particular group of PC's are an average of 14th level, and have a fair amount of renown in my campaign (due to aforementioned rules lawyer hiring several bard NPC's to publicise certain events invovling the party to promote a special tourney held by the local Duke - ALWAYS, as a DM, apply the Rule of Unintended Consequences. ) As a result, they have attracted the attention of some VERY powerful BBEG's. But they also have the services of a 17th level Cleric (NPC Ambassador) whom they have helped out a couple times.
I also try to take into account the experience level of the players (not the PC's). We have a core group of 6 who have been playing D&D since 1st Ed., NOT including me. Players like that are generally able to find ways to deal with much heavier challenges than new players would even dream of. Essentially, these guys prevent me from being a "killer" DM because they are too good as players. Some of the stuff they have pulled off with few deaths would have TPK'd most less experienced groups.
Basically, I try to key my adventures so that it will be tough to survive if you do stupid things on a regular basis. I have had a couple encounters where a TPK was a distinct possibility, but the group has always managed to pull through. And if I key something overly tough, I try to ensure that the dead can be returned to life.
The most recent near TPK involved a 16th level Cleric BBEG, a 15th level Sorcerer BBEG, and 2 12th level fighter-type half-dragons mounted on greater drakes for cover and support. (The party rules-lawyer had an absolute fit, then decided I played them stupid when only 4 of 8 PC's died.) I feel that epic-type threads BEG to threaten complete havoc. Also, this particular group of PC's are an average of 14th level, and have a fair amount of renown in my campaign (due to aforementioned rules lawyer hiring several bard NPC's to publicise certain events invovling the party to promote a special tourney held by the local Duke - ALWAYS, as a DM, apply the Rule of Unintended Consequences.
) As a result, they have attracted the attention of some VERY powerful BBEG's. But they also have the services of a 17th level Cleric (NPC Ambassador) whom they have helped out a couple times.I also try to take into account the experience level of the players (not the PC's). We have a core group of 6 who have been playing D&D since 1st Ed., NOT including me. Players like that are generally able to find ways to deal with much heavier challenges than new players would even dream of. Essentially, these guys prevent me from being a "killer" DM because they are too good as players. Some of the stuff they have pulled off with few deaths would have TPK'd most less experienced groups.
Gunslinger
First Post
fenzer said:
Ok, that is a little bit more reasonable. Here I was thinking that you were the type of DM that goes out of his way to keep the PCs alive, even when they deserve to die.
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