Character Death - what do you do?

[Olaf the Stout]

Same level as the lowest level PC. Gear as per the table for standard wealth in the DMG. The player can choose the items but GM has veto rights. No item can be worth more than 25% of the player's wealth although exceptions have been made.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Mark CMG]

So a character has died in a game that's already underway, what do you do now?

I allow a new PC at the same level and adjust the next bits of treasure to make up for whatever the group keeps from the old PC (often they will bury stuff with a PC or send it back to their family).

 

[ThirdWizard]

They get raised.

Hmmm... in the past 5 years I think I've seen a total of 1 dead character not get raised. That time was because we were out in the wilderness at the time (I was playing a PC at the time) and it wasn't an option. Usually we play very urban games with ties to organizations who have a vested interest in us being alive and have plenty of money in order to buy our own ressurection if need be.

In the game I'm running right now (12th level) there is a death roughly once every other session, though the number might actually be a bit higher. With the massive damage, saves versus death, and other effects that are going on even at that mid level, I can't imagine not playing with easy ressurection. In just three or four levels, I expect at least one PC death a session.

I also instituted an XP Debt system into the game because book keeping would be a nightmare. When a PC dies and is brought back, he or she has to gain extra XP to level, which poofs away as soon as it's earned (can't be used to make magical items or cast spells). Only after this is paid off will the PC start to earn XP normally again. This penalty is usually higher than the normal XP penalty to make up for the fact that the PC isn't losing a level, though they will fall behind eventually.

 

[Roadkill101]

IMC, all players have a pool of characters. If one players character dies, I try to work in a replacement taken from that players pool (their choice as to which) during that session. Character deaths are not all that uncommon, as i don't pull any punches and let the dice fall as they may. Oddly, my players seem to like it that I don't pull any punches on their behalf.

For the record, I don't run a D&D/D20 or level based system. Instead I use a point buy system skill based system where there is little power creep to differentiate between an inexperienced character and a seasoned veteran except for the number of skills known. Advancement is very slow while character creation takes from five to ten minutes at most.

 

[Oryan77]

He starts out 1 level behind and I get to pick his magical equipment (but I let them pick scrolls, potions, or wands).

If the PC dies and can be brought back to life, he loses 2 Con points permanently instead of losing a level.

 

[Michael Silverbane]

In my games (where I don't use XP), the new character comes in at the same level as the other members of the party, but gains no action points at the start of the session (they still gain action points for daring deeds).

The same thing happens to characters that are restored to life in some fashion.

As far as equipment, I use the 'wealth by level guidelines' as a sort of mystical limit to how much magic a character can use, so it doesn't matter how much treasure the party accumulates, they can only use so much of it.

Later
silver

 

[howandwhy99]

Hey! diaglo listed the ability scores in a different order from that presented in The Holy Book (1974)!!!!!

You're thinking 1E AD&D. The order is correct for OD&D. Never understood the big hoohaa about it myself. It's 6 digits.

 

[STARP_Social_Officer]

If a PC dies, which doesn't happen with our group often, the player usually just shrugs and rolls a new one up again. The attrition rate for PCs in my campaigns is pretty low, since I try to avoid killing characters if I can, though sometimes they just die. When they do, I rule that if the player wants to make a new PC, I will find a way to introduce that PC ASAP - they never just 'show up'. I always allow them to start at the 'average' level of the party; the PCs are usually all the same level anyway. I NEVER allow players to take the same PC again and say it's his twin brother - that's a cop-out.
Also, just as an aside, I've never had a PC raised or ressurected. I don't actually ban the spells (usually), bnut my players don't seem to want to use them. Suits me.

 

[Quartz]

Has anyone tried bringing in new characters at the same level as the party but with added negative levels? E.g. if your party is all 12th level, the new character would be 12th level but with 1 or 2 negative levels, which need to be worked off with XP.

 

[Bagpuss]

In my game, they wouldn't die.

I let PCs use action pts to survive a killing blow/effect and be dropped to -9 hp and stable.

What if they are out of action points or they choose not to spend one?