Dying monologues

[Kanachi]

Hiya all,

It’s a bit of a random question, but how do you as DMs/Players normally handle a story telling classic (or even cliché) tool… an NPC’s (or even PCs) dying monologue or last words.

If the NPC can talk they can generally be healed… but if they can be healed there is never (except for exceptional circumstances) a way of them giving a final farewell or passing on that dying request. As far as I can see (by the rules) the NPC must die outright, refuse resurrection for whatever reason and come back as an obi-wan style spirit just to pass on their final words... it seems very clunky and there is surely more emotion in holding someone in your arms as they slip away than in talking to a human glow bug talking after the fact "well... sucks to be you guys, i'm off to enjoy the afterlife!"

Anyway, I was thinking of implementing a simple system of:

If you’re hit points are reduced to a point where you are killed, your wounds are so grievous that they can’t be healed by conventional “healing” spells. As you lay their slipping out of the mortal world you may depart your final words to the world before death.

Do you think something like this would be an ok house rule to work in? Would it piss you off to know you cant heal someone who is talking to you (is that maybe the point?).

Anyway, I guess I’ve kind of made my mind up but I thought it was an interesting thing to throw out there and see what you all think. How would you handle an NPCs death (both mechanically and in RP)?

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I invented a cantrip for the purpose.

http://www.enworld.org/forum/d-d-le...or-new-spells-filibuster-true-filibuster.html

 

[Halivar]

"My share of the loot is buried... *cough* *cough* ...my loot is... *HACK* *wheeze* *cough* ...is in the most interesting place... *cough* ...right by the old... *cough* ...what's it called again... UGGGGGGHHHHH"
/die
/close-eyes

And then a single drop of blood drips out of the mouth, a clear 1980's movie sign that the person has finally expired.

 

[Sekhmet]

Drop them to -1, have them start their monologue, make it last 60 seconds (not terribly uncommon for the BBEG). At the end of the monologue, when your heroes are running to heal him because he finally shut up, he is already dead.

 

[LiL KiNG]

Drop them to -1, have them start their monologue, make it last 60 seconds (not terribly uncommon for the BBEG). At the end of the monologue, when your heroes are running to heal him because he finally shut up, he is already dead.

Except for that pesky being unconscious thing when in negative hitpoints...
Other than that I like this idea, sometimes you have to circumvent the rules a little if it will make the game that much more fun or impart an important plot point.

Talking is a free action so when my NPC's drop negative they usually impart some final farewell (or curse, or expletive) with the blow that drops them negative...

 

[Michael Silverbane]

Yes. I often allow characters to make a final pronouncement upon (the round after) their death. In a few cases, this has been a curse. In even fewer cases, it has been a prophetic curse.

Sometimes the players dig it, sometimes not so much.

 

[Halivar]

Except for that pesky being unconscious thing when in negative hitpoints...

Eh, easy enough to house rule that negative hitpoints can also be "incapacitated" as opposed to unconscious. Gives both players and DM's a bit more narrative control over the event. As a melodramatic player, I especially love the catharsis you can bring into it.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Sounds like a case where Role beats Roll. Rule of Cool says a dying monologue should be allowed, even if it doesn't fit into the mechanics, if it will add entertainment to the game.

 

[kitcik]

Some wise-ass caster is going to have a Material Eschewed, Stilled "dying monologue" spell to lob at your altruistic self and ruin the whole idea.

 

[Grogg of the North]

When a PC dies, I ask the player if they have any final words before I describe their journey to the afterlife. Some players have a lot to say. Others don't have anything.

As for NPCs, I'm the GM. If they have anything to say, it gets said before they die. Unless someone spends fate points to "Interrupt GM Box Text".