Death (or TPK) & failure in 4E

[jaw6]

I was heavily impressed with the way the DMG suggests dealing with failed skill challenges. Without any explicit mention of theory terms like "whiff factor", the book not-so-subtly points DMs in a really good direction.

Maybe I just haven't read it yet (and would appreciate a pointer, if someone found it already), but I haven't seen similar advice on dealing with character death, or even TPKs in 4E. Clearly some things have changed (mechanically, at least, we're looking for rituals instead of cleric spells), and the "points of light" setting implies some thematic changes. But, especially given the "practical advice" perspective of the new DMG, I was hoping for some specific advice on moving on from failure.

So, I'm curious about how those who are currently playing 4E have dealt with the big failure: character, or party, death. We've all heard about Irontooth wipeouts, for instance, how did the after-math play out? (Roll new PCs? Reboot from some point before the fight? Send in the calvary?)

 

[hong]

I was heavily impressed with the way the DMG suggests dealing with failed skill challenges. Without any explicit mention of theory terms like "whiff factor", the book not-so-subtly points DMs in a really good direction.

Maybe I just haven't read it yet (and would appreciate a pointer, if someone found it already), but I haven't seen similar advice on dealing with character death, or even TPKs in 4E. Clearly some things have changed (mechanically, at least, we're looking for rituals instead of cleric spells), and the "points of light" setting implies some thematic changes. But, especially given the "practical advice" perspective of the new DMG, I was hoping for some specific advice on moving on from failure.

So, I'm curious about how those who are currently playing 4E have dealt with the big failure: character, or party, death. We've all heard about Irontooth wipeouts, for instance, how did the after-math play out? (Roll new PCs? Reboot from some point before the fight? Send in the calvary?)

We smacked Irontooth down but good. Rolling a critical hit with my daily power, followed by everyone else also hitting and critting, will do that. Mind you, I went to -ve hp twice in the fight, as did the paladin, but who's counting.

Then we got TPKed by the goblins on level 1 of the keep proper. Rather than rolling up new PCs, the DM gave us the option of waking up in the cells, sans all our equipment. We died in a very convenient spot, actually.

 

[Jack99]

When my players die, they roll new characters. I have told them up front that until they get out of the heroic tier, raise dead will be non-existing. In fact, I am strongly considering changing the raise dead ritual, so that it doesn't work at all on characters of the heroic tier.

 

[med stud]

TPK = new character + some reason why they continue the same adventure as the ones who died.

Death = new character.

Same as always, really.