DMs only: Stop me from killing off all my players

[the Jester]

Sounds like a tpk opportunity.

Seriously, if they get in over their heads, let 'em die. Maybe some will escape; who knows. I'd do the same for a good party, too, but I'm one of those dms who likes to run a fairly lethal game.

 

[Mallus]

But if a heroic party got so full of themselves that they needed to be taught a lesson, I would give them the lesson of temporary imprisonment and losing some stuff.

But an evil party? If they don't need anyone else when they are on top, they don't have anyone else when they are out of luck.

Why treat good and evil parties differently? From a metagame standpoint, both groups want exactly the same thing: to have fun. The only differences are the in-game tools the DM uses to facilitate that end.

If "good and stupid" gets a second chance, why not "evil and stupid"? Its not hard to make that plausible in in-game terms.

Evil groups can have allies and benefactors [and stupid play mitigators] just as easily as good ones. Of course, an evil groups allies will be out to exploit the party, use them for some nefarious purpose, but hey, the PC's can burn that bridge when they come to it...

The parties' alignment isn't really a factor. The PC's problem is they see all challenges as immediately winnable. And the DM is presenting a world where that isn't the case...

 

[Eye Tyrant]

You could a) use non-lethal damage and capture them, making them the NPCs "beeyotches"... "Clean the middens you arrogant $@#!**!"

b) kill them and have the NPC animate them to do his bidding

 

[italianranma]

Thanks for all your advice and encouragement, I like the idea of the Villain turning them into skeletons...hehe. But seriously here's what I'm looking for: they're going to get killed if they do one or the other, but I don't want the game to stop. If and when I enslave them, what are some items/spells I can use to keep them in check. my BBG doesn't have access to Geas. I guess I could make some kind of slave crown (remember Tina from FF6) or a necklace of fireballs that will explode if they don't do a task or something...hmm...Yeah, I like that.

 

[Artoomis]

Ah, the heck with it. Kill 'em all if they are stupid enough for it! If you are lucky, one or more will escape to form the core of the new group. You could even try and run the battle in such a way that one or more could run away to fight another day.

Then have them roll up new characters, and the players will be wiser knowing that death is a real possibility. After this, your players will use discretion.

As an aside, I dislike evil parties due to the tendency for the inherent self-interest involved in being evil tends to tear groups apart at the seams.

Thanks for all your advice and encouragement, I like the idea of the Villain turning them into skeletons...hehe. But seriously here's what I'm looking for: they're going to get killed if they do one or the other, but I don't want the game to stop. If and when I enslave them, what are some items/spells I can use to keep them in check. my BBG doesn't have access to Geas. I guess I could make some kind of slave crown (remember Tina from FF6) or a necklace of fireballs that will explode if they don't do a task or something...hmm...Yeah, I like that.

 

[Epametheus]

Kill them all, and reanimate them as the undead minions of their boss (just make them all undead, and keep on going).

 

[andargor]

Have your NPC get the Subdual Substitution feat (or the cohorts), and blast them with damaging spells until they are unconscious.

Low chance of mortality and great plot hooks for them to find a way to free themselves from enslavement. RP galore, too, in addition to a good dose of humility.

Andargor

 

[Sejs]

Kill them, but let them escape if they decide to retreat in time and it's at all possible they could flee.

Thirded.

Just handle the encounters true to form for the NPCs in question. If the thayvian undead-animating guy is in the practice of smiting his assailants hard and asking questions of the corpse, then by all means that's what he should do to the PCs. Infighting amongst thayvians is pretty much the norm, so the prospect of the PCs jumping him when they think they may have a shot shouldn't come as too much of a shock to the guy.

May I humbly suggest undead in platemail with tower shields? Maybe an ogre zombie or two in plate with a glaive?

 

[ph34r]

Just flat out tell them they shouldn't go ahead with their plan or they will pay the consequences. If they ignore you, have their heads. TPKs are fun and they get the point across!

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Thanks for all your advice and encouragement, I like the idea of the Villain turning them into skeletons...hehe. But seriously here's what I'm looking for: they're going to get killed if they do one or the other, but I don't want the game to stop. If and when I enslave them, what are some items/spells I can use to keep them in check. my BBG doesn't have access to Geas. I guess I could make some kind of slave crown (remember Tina from FF6) or a necklace of fireballs that will explode if they don't do a task or something...hmm...Yeah, I like that.

BoVD has slave rings and a master ring. Slave rings can't be taken off except by the master ring holder (don't know if that precludes chopping off the finger) and the owner of the master ring can exchange messages three times a day and inflict 3d6 damage once a round as a free action an unlimited number of times per day...

A lingering poison that they need to be cured of or a forced addiction are other options for enslavement. Just turning them into undead and rebuking them would be fun, and there's always the emancipated spawn PrC from SS if they ever get free.

Kahuna Burger