Honestly, I don't think that matters. The rules just characterize it as an attack, not a melee attack.
"When an attacker reduces a creature to 0 hit points with a melee attack, the attacker can knock the creature out."
Honestly, I don't think that matters. The rules just characterize it as an attack, not a melee attack.
I doubt debating this further will yield much fruit.Maybe, maybe not:
I doubt debating this further will yield much fruit.
I’ve had it happen three times now in my current campaign. Once the character was at 1st level, and both of the others were at 4th, though one had their max HP significantly reduced first by a succubus’ kiss attack, and the other failed their save against a young black dragon’s breath weapon, and I rolled very high on the damage.I can't remember a character ever dying in 5e from massive damage rule. Not even at 1st. I guess we usually level them up REAL fast to 2nd, but even then I don't recall it.
Anyway, things I regret...Well, letting someone into my game when my instinct told me that person should not be at my table, that's a big one.
I’ve had it happen three times now in my current campaign. Once the character was at 1st level, and both of the others were at 4th, though one had their max HP significantly reduced first by a succubus’ kiss attack, and the other failed their save against a young black dragon’s breath weapon, and I rolled very high on the damage.
Seriously, from a 5e table of 7 new-to-gaming players, retaining 3 /and one of them taking up DMing/ is a huge win. Each new DM is a victory, as it means another 4-7 new players accommodated at the venue.Just commenting broadly on various replies, I appreciate the analyses. Unfortunately, ya, there's not much more information I can provide. I talked a couple more times with the guys who kept playing, but the girl never came up. The guy who stepped up to DM for his friends said I had inspired him, so that softened the sting of my regret quite a lot.
Y'all have plot armor: they're called hit points.I had actually forgotten the incident until a new player joined my table recently. She's an adult, but has expressed in no uncertain terms she's not cool with her PC dying. She doesn't care whether the other PCs have plot armor, but she doesn't want to invest time and energy into a thing just to have it vanish.
If said new person has read the relevant bits of the book (or better yet has had said bits pointed out by the DM or a veteran player) that someone kindly quoted upthread, you're almost free and clear. If they're told bad things can and will happen to their characters now and then it's on them to deal with it when those things happen.But do you really expect someone without prior experience to even have the capacity and context to have a well thought-through position when it comes to this?
Yes that is a great track record. I've run D&D for tons of new players. Maybe about less than a third of them continued in the hobby. Many played once and gave it up. Nothing you can do about that. If you bring in some new players and some join on and it becomes a thing for them, you have done an amazing service for the hobby.Seriously, from a 5e table of 7 new-to-gaming players, retaining 3 /and one of them taking up DMing/ is a huge win. Each new DM is a victory, as it means another 4-7 new players accommodated at the venue.
Whether because you kill off their first character, or because that character doesn't meet expectations, or because playing an RPG just makes about as much sense as keeping paint wet instead of watching it dry to a lot of people, you're likely going to lose most genuinely-new-to-the-hobby players, anyway.
I still like starting at 1st, but 3rd does make a lot of sense. You are pretty tough without having too much added complexity.Y'all have plot armor: they're called hit points.
I've tried it before, but here it is again: starting at 3rd gives everyone a somewhat-realized PC (ie with their sub-class), and enough hp that they shouldn't just be randomly critted to death by a CR<1 monster. 3rd also lets anyone start with a traditional multi-class combo, either w/o MCing via things like the EK, or by expressly MCing a 1/1/1 combo.
"3rd is the new 1st" - it never caught on, but it's still a good idea.![]()
I can't remember a character ever dying in 5e from massive damage rule. Not even at 1st. I guess we usually level them up REAL fast to 2nd, but even then I don't recall it.
Anyway, things I regret...Well, letting someone into my game when my instinct told me that person should not be at my table, that's a big one.
Y'all have plot armor: they're called hit points.
I've tried it before, but here it is again: starting at 3rd gives everyone a somewhat-realized PC (ie with their sub-class), and enough hp that they shouldn't just be randomly critted to death by a CR<1 monster. 3rd also lets anyone start with a traditional multi-class combo, either w/o MCing via things like the EK, or by expressly MCing a 1/1/1 combo.
"3rd is the new 1st" - it never caught on, but it's still a good idea.![]()
Biggest regret: Not playing 5e RAW for a while before introducing some (major) homebrew modifications. Oops.
With respect to the OP situation: it is legal in AL to use average damage for monsters? (I don't know much about AL.) The MM says it is an option, but the PH doesn't mention it. Anyway, doing that at least at 1st level would greatly reduce the chances of instadeath due to a crit.
I did that with 4e. Not my biggest regret, but we were madmen. Brand new to the system and we made it even more complicated.
The average damage suggestion is brilliant, and one I wish I had thought of before I let the damage dice leave my hand! Still would've been a KO, but survivable.
I had actually forgotten the incident until a new player joined my table recently. She's an adult, but has expressed in no uncertain terms she's not cool with her PC dying. She doesn't care whether the other PCs have plot armor, but she doesn't want to invest time and energy into a thing just to have it vanish. Point of relevance, there's no rez magic in my homebrew setting. I'm cool with it, my resident grognard was a little grumbly, but that's what grognards do.