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<blockquote data-quote="FrozenNorth" data-source="post: 8596720" data-attributes="member: 7020832">I want to address a hypothetical that has come up in the thread a couple of times: brand-new player rolls up this first character, whiffs on their first attack, gets crit to zero on the monster’s first attack.&nbsp; (For ease of reference, I will assume party of 4 against a CR 2 ogre).&nbsp; Wouldn’t transforming that crit into a simple hit be better for a newbie player?&nbsp; Avoid discouraging him and wasting the effort to lovingly create his first character?&nbsp; I disagree.Here is how I see the scene going.DM: “All right, Ragnar the fighter has walked up to the ogre, but the ogre’s club smashes into Ragner’s chest.&nbsp; Ragnar crumples to the ground. He’s breathing, but it doesn’t look good.&nbsp; What does the rest of the party do?”Sure, maybe the rest of the party flees leaving Ragnar to his fate.&nbsp; That teaches a lesson as well, but a rather bittersweet one.IME, you tend to see something more like this.Cleric:&nbsp; “Screw this, we don’t lesve a msn behind.&nbsp; I go up to Ragnar, load him on the back and attempt to retreat.”DM: “You are opening yourself up to an attack of opportunity.”Cleric: “I’ll try anyway.”Rogue: “$&amp;&amp;, the ogre’s going to go after the cleric.&nbsp; Can I somehow keep the ogre from pursuing?”DM: “I don’t know.&nbsp; What do have?/What do you try?”Rogue: “Well, I do/don’t have caltrops.&nbsp; I know, I’ll insult his intelligence to try and draw fire away from the cleric.&nbsp; Yo, Ogre, your mamma was a hill giant!”Maybe the game ends in a TPK anyway, but damn if the party didn’t learn a lesson about who has your back when things get rough.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="FrozenNorth, post: 8596720, member: 7020832"] I want to address a hypothetical that has come up in the thread a couple of times: brand-new player rolls up this first character, whiffs on their first attack, gets crit to zero on the monster’s first attack. (For ease of reference, I will assume party of 4 against a CR 2 ogre). Wouldn’t transforming that crit into a simple hit be better for a newbie player? Avoid discouraging him and wasting the effort to lovingly create his first character? I disagree. Here is how I see the scene going. DM: “All right, Ragnar the fighter has walked up to the ogre, but the ogre’s club smashes into Ragner’s chest. Ragnar crumples to the ground. He’s breathing, but it doesn’t look good. What does the rest of the party do?” Sure, maybe the rest of the party flees leaving Ragnar to his fate. That teaches a lesson as well, but a rather bittersweet one. IME, you tend to see something more like this. Cleric: “Screw this, we don’t lesve a msn behind. I go up to Ragnar, load him on the back and attempt to retreat.” DM: “You are opening yourself up to an attack of opportunity.” Cleric: “I’ll try anyway.” Rogue: “$&&, the ogre’s going to go after the cleric. Can I somehow keep the ogre from pursuing?” DM: “I don’t know. What do have?/What do you try?” Rogue: “Well, I do/don’t have caltrops. I know, I’ll insult his intelligence to try and draw fire away from the cleric. Yo, Ogre, your mamma was a hill giant!” Maybe the game ends in a TPK anyway, but damn if the party didn’t learn a lesson about who has your back when things get rough. [/QUOTE]

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