D&D General As GM, do you have bad guys kill downed PCs?

[Reynard]

Just a question.

I answered "rarely" because I do it, but only if it is "in character" for the bad guys in question.

 

[aco175]

There was another thread about this not too long ago.

I do not keep attacking the PCs once they are down if there are other PCs that present a threat to the bad guys. Same with the PCs killing off bad guys. Some may be that the figure is removed from the table if the orc drops below 0hp, but could be bleeding out still. Once in a while a cleric may cast mass cure and a few figures appear back on the table or the PCs may ask if one of the orcs is still alive to question but that is rare.

Different monsters may have their own agenda. a giant toad may want to grab a meal while skeletons just want to slice whoever is closest.

 

[Stormonu]

Same, generally active targets that are fighting back are higher priority. Some creatures (such as ghouls) I might have go after a downed PC. However, haven't successfully had a monster deliberately take out a PC yet.

I have had a PC accidentally take down one of their own (with Arms of Hadar), then a bodak's aura finished the PC off.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Yeah, usually only if it's a monster that would eat you. Ghouls and the like, or very hungry beasts or monstrosities. Humanoids would only be likely to do it if they really really hate the PC for some reason.

 

[iserith]

Yes, but I telegraph it as a possibility up front so they can plan accordingly.

 

[Celebrim]

I try not to, but if the bad guy is a basically unintelligent creature that is motivated by hunger, then unless you go out of your way to distract that monster it's going to eat your friend on it's next action. Some of the most intense combat scenes we've had involve protecting a downed foe that is going to be killed if someone doesn't do something.

For intelligent foes whose motive is some sinister plan, they only bother to double tap PCs if they have the time to do it. Quite often their main motivation is to escape the scene because they know they've been outnumbered and outgunned, and taking a round to try to finish one single threat while being increasingly encircled and threatened by the rest of the party isn't logical. So it does happen, but it's a much rarer thing. I don't have the NPC play that way unless nothing else makes logical sense.

Basically I rely on the internal logic of the story.

 

[Celebrim]

Some creatures (such as ghouls)...

Yeah, usually only if it's a monster that would eat you. Ghouls and the like...

In nethack, the majority of player deaths tend to be from "team a": giant ants, soldier ants, and killer bees. These creatures appear in large swarms, are fast moving, hit hard, and show up at a relatively low level before you have many tools for dealing with them.

I am convinced that ghouls are the "team a" of D&D.

 

[Reynard]

Yeah, usually only if it's a monster that would eat you. Ghouls and the like, or very hungry beasts or monstrosities. Humanoids would only be likely to do it if they really really hate the PC for some reason.

Yeah, usually it is because they have really pissed someone off, although once a hill giant killed a downed PC by using the character as a club.

 

[overgeeked]

Just a question.

I answered "rarely" because I do it, but only if it is "in character" for the bad guys in question.

I answered “yes, fairly often” for the same reason. If characters are fighting and drawing blood, there’s a good chance they want you dead. Animals want to eat your corpse. Undead want to make you undead. Etc.

 

[Tonguez]

No, when a character or monster drops at 0 most attackers will move on to the next target, or opponent. Ghouls might choose to drag the corpses away to be eaten later, but generally I reason that most battles are too busy for combatants to go back and check downed enemies until after the fight is over.