Dragon 368 - Death Matters, Design & Developments

[Shroomy]

The newest Design & Development article is up and it covers the evolution of 4e's death and dying rules.

Design & Development: Death Matters

 

[justanobody]

At the lowest levels of the game, we figured, death could very well mean making a new character. When you've only played a character for a couple of levels, you're not that attached to it yet. Making a new one isn't that terrible a price to pay for an encounter gone terribly wrong.

Boy that is a terrible thing to say or think. I get attached to my character from the moment I start playing, otherwise I wouldn't try to play.

Losing a character is always a big thing, but not something that should make anyone depressed. You should strive to keep your characters alive, but it doesn't mean you will always succeed. I hope people ARE attached to their character even at the lowest levels.

With characters of any level, and a the saying goes, you win some, you lose some.

 

[FireLance]

Boy that is a terrible thing to say or think. I get attached to my character from the moment I start playing, otherwise I wouldn't try to play.

Certainly, but would you be as attached to a 3rd-level character that you've played for a couple of months compared to a 25th-level character that you've played for almost two years? If not, you aren't that attached to the lower-level character.

 

[Hussar]

Boy that is a terrible thing to say or think. I get attached to my character from the moment I start playing, otherwise I wouldn't try to play.

Losing a character is always a big thing, but not something that should make anyone depressed. You should strive to keep your characters alive, but it doesn't mean you will always succeed. I hope people ARE attached to their character even at the lowest levels.

With characters of any level, and a the saying goes, you win some, you lose some.

Really? I always find it takes me two or three levels to really flesh out a character. I find the same with most of my players as well. There are a few that spring out fully fleshed, but, by and large, I find I have to grow into the role.

So, yeah, when my 2nd level fighter buys it, I'm not exactly chuffed. I may not be happy, but, I'm not as bothered as losing my 15th level character that's been around for a while.

Being attached =/= trying to keep alive.

 

[FireLance]

Being attached =/= trying to keep alive.

Shouldn't that be "not being as attached" =/= "not trying to keep alive"?

 

[Stalker0]

The death rules were something I was unsure about until I tried them, and in general I really like them.

The 3 saves throws towards death happen quicker than you think, and the fact they stick around comes up much more often than I thought it would.

Losing negative hitpoints after you heal is quick and elegant, I really like it a lot.

And after having one character roll 3 20's and get back into a fight, that 1 in 20 saving throw rule never felt corny, it felt awesome.

 

[Vael]

Huh. We misunderstood the rules, I thought you started death saves from scratch each time you fell into negatives. What kind of rest resets them?

 

[Dausuul]

Huh. We misunderstood the rules, I thought you started death saves from scratch each time you fell into negatives. What kind of rest resets them?

A short rest will do it.

 

[Cadfan]

Huh. We misunderstood the rules, I thought you started death saves from scratch each time you fell into negatives. What kind of rest resets them?

Don't feel bad, I got that wrong too for the longest time.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

Huh. We misunderstood the rules, I thought you started death saves from scratch each time you fell into negatives. What kind of rest resets them?

Join the club! It was only fairly recently that I learned that failed death saves last the entire encounter, and don't start from scratch when you get back up.

At least a short rest will do the trick to reset the track.