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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Boarstorm" data-source="post: 4361846" data-attributes="member: 63913">I noticed recently while listening to (and watching, in one instance) the podcasts WotC has put out in recent months, and something caught my ear -- one of the DMs was characterized as being a "killer" because he commonly had his monsters coup de grace fallen PCs.Now, in past games I've had no problem finishing off a downed PC, but with the advent of 4E and the swingy-ness of combat at lower levels (Hobgoblin soldiers reliably do 2d6+4 damage per hit, enough to take down an equal level defender in 3 or 4 average hits, for example), I've been presented with a LOT of opportunities to have the NPC warlord yell "Finish him" and squash some brains.... but I've refrained, having them move on to engage active PCs and give the party healers a chance to save their buddy's bacon.Partly, I've done this because this particular group was dragged kicking and screaming into the game from 1&2E, and while they seem to be enjoying 4E, I don't want them to get frustrated and I'd much rather save character death for a dramatically appropriate moment.But darn, is it tempting!Is a DM who regularly takes those opportunities that present themselves to squish fallen PCs being mean?  Is he falling into a me-versus-them mindset?Or is that just the way the world works?  Monsters are nasty evil critters who dish out death to the champions of light, after all.  This isn't a Bond villain, it's a cutthroat who wants you dead, end of story.  Or is it?So what do you guys think?</blockquote>

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