D&D 4E death and 4E

[Orryn Emrys]

Secondly, make it a difficult spell to cast in terms of resources; this needn't be immediate recourses. Perhaps the Raise comes at the cost of a Geas/Quest imposed by the deity granting it. This Quest could be imposed upon both the raised soul and the cleric casting it, and the allies who beseeched the god to intercede on their allies behalf (ie, the whole party ). This would make Raise Dead a much more dramatic and tension filled story event, rather than just another form of healing.

You know... although I'd be unlikely to appreciate this idea as a "rule" of the game... I think this is one of the coolest reactions to the OP's question by far. I'm imagining future gaming scenarios in which, on the rare occasion that someone important dies in my game (a PC or an important NPC) and is raised, then just such a quest will be imparted by the deity in question in the hours following the event. It's very dramatic, and I think my players would be taken unawares, but they're fantastic roleplayers and would certainly revel in such a development.

 

[LostSoul]

As long as there is some kind of penalty for failure, I would be okay with a "no death" rule.

It might be interesting if they said, "This is what happens when you hit 0 hp. Note that we've only described it mechanically. Maybe it means that your character is dead, maybe not. Decide for yourselves!"

 

[Cadfan]

I would actually prefer it if death were less likely. I would want it replaced with some kind of KO rules though. The current system of going to -10 hp is an ok start, but its a moot point by high level where, if you're going to go to negative hit points, you may very well go to -50 or so in one round. Strengthen the KO rules, and make death less likely. I think that's a good way to do things all around.

 

[szilard]

Death might not be fun, but awareness that you cannot die is even less fun. Therefore, death's in.

I dispute that awareness you cannot die is necessarily less fun than death.

If the character runs out of hit points then he or she is dead. If there is no consequence then there is no fun.

That doesn't even make sense.

1) Even in the current system, running out of hp doesn't kill you.
2) A denial of 0 hp=death is not equal to no consequence.
3) There can be consequences other than death, and they can occur for things other than reaching 0 hp (see #2).

-Stuart

 

[Masquerade]

In our games, the only time characters die is when the player and GM *choose* for it to happen for dramatic purposes.

Exactly how I run my games, and I will likely keep playing this way regardless of what 4e does with the death mechanics.

I would like to see the DMG offer various alternatives to whatever the core approach is.

 

[WhatGravitas]

I've prefered the method used in psionics, with psionic revivify (also used by Complete Divine's Spirit Shaman). If a hero dies, you have one round to bring them back, which seems to me to be more of a "medical miracle" or desperate attempt to heal someone who is really fading fast than a way to make death completely powerless in a world. It makes death something to still worry about ("What if I die and can't get revivified quickly enough?") and keeps it from ruining the game world (no more "Aw... an assassin got King Tom again. I'll go get Greg the Cleric. Again.") Death has real power, but the PCs can avoid an inglamorous death to Random Orc #11... if they're quick.

I also think that's a good, very D&Dish solution... While I like the SWSE-idea, I think this one is a better fit for D&D, though it would mean that everybody would carry around two or three oils of revivification.

Cheers, LT.

 

[Visceris]

That doesn't even make sense.

1) Even in the current system, running out of hp doesn't kill you.
2) A denial of 0 hp=death is not equal to no consequence.
3) There can be consequences other than death, and they can occur for things other than reaching 0 hp (see #2).

-Stuart

I count -1 to -10 as part of the character's hit points. At -10 you are dead. Now it seems that people want immortal characters who neve3r die! lets go and take away the hit die and just give every PC infinite hit points! Sounds good doesn't it?

If the character dies, then he or she dies. What is with today's gamers? When did this hobby get so infused with a bunch of pansies?

 

[Shadeydm]

I count -1 to -10 as part of the character's hit points. At -10 you are dead. Now it seems that people want immortal characters who neve3r die! lets go and take away the hit die and just give every PC infinite hit points! Sounds good doesn't it?

If the character dies, then he or she dies. What is with today's gamers? When did this hobby get so infused with a bunch of pansies?

I agree with much of your position, but I fail to see what the name calling does to enhance it.

 

[Reynard]

If the character dies, then he or she dies. What is with today's gamers? When did this hobby get so infused with a bunch of pansies?

No kidding. I guess anything that doesn't let the player have whatever he/she wants, or forces them to have things they don't want, is "unfun" and therefore verboten. I mean, when was the last time you saw a cursed item used? When was the last time you saw a +3 military pick in a treasure hoard when no PC had used such a weapon before? When was the last time you saw a party actually run away, because it was simply the smartest and best option?

Hell, when was the last time you saw someone map?

 

[Visceris]

In my group we draw maps but we also have character death *GASP!*

As for the name calling, I call them as I see them. The more I read abou the changes going to be made and the reactions of some people makes me think that today's gamers have no cojones. I grew up on adventures such as the Temple of Elemental Evil, Tome of Horrors, and Dragon Mountain. If these adventures were released today much of their bite, their fun, would have been cut out and discarded.

It makes me sick that I am even part of this hobby.