Depends. We are currently suffering from the aforementioned 'Item Bloat', as we have had SEVEN (7) characters die so far. We are only level 4. A large majority of those have come from the Forge of Fury mission. Sometimes, we loss the stuff the character had. For example, my paladin was killed the roper, and dropped his magical sword when he was strength drained. Lost to the river. The DM also threw some sort of ooze at us, and it melted away a few weapons and somebody's Mithril Chain Shirt. Still, we have quite a bit of treasure, much more than usual. But, it's not our fault that the DM keeps throwing encounters at us that are between 1-6 CR's above our party.
How do you handle Dead Players Equipment
- Thread starter EOL
- Start date
EOL
First Post
Re: Dead players...
As to the rest of the points I guess in large part it depends on how often characters are dying off, and how often the players choose to bring in new characters rather than be ressurected or similiar.
So I should probably start by making my campaign less lethal...
There I am being very careful with my words in the actual post, but wouldn't you know I'd completely screw up on the title....Conaill said:We typically split up their dice bag more or less equally. The DM has dibs on any books, the ones nobody wants are sold on ebay. And any snacks he brought are of course eaten during the rest of the game.
Oh, you meant dead characters!
[Sorry, someone had to do it...]
As to the rest of the points I guess in large part it depends on how often characters are dying off, and how often the players choose to bring in new characters rather than be ressurected or similiar.
So I should probably start by making my campaign less lethal...
Does nobody give their fallen comrades an honorable warrior's burial, sending them to the next world fully armed and prepared for the journey? It seems kind of ignoble to loot your fallen comrades. At the very least their possessions should pass to the next of kin. This is a friend and ally we're talking about here.
Darkness
Hand and Eye of Piratecat [Moderator]
I agree with kenjib and Fenris that looting a fallen friend is not appropriate in many cases.
However, what to do if the deceased didn't have family and the PCs are his best friends? In that case - and it happens often enough - the "loot" is going to be divided between the remaining PCs. (Burying the stuff with the dead PC - or NPC, for that matter - works fine, though.)
Also, it depends on the PCs' alignments.
However, what to do if the deceased didn't have family and the PCs are his best friends? In that case - and it happens often enough - the "loot" is going to be divided between the remaining PCs. (Burying the stuff with the dead PC - or NPC, for that matter - works fine, though.)
Also, it depends on the PCs' alignments.
My paladin usually buries the dead with his weapon and armor (where applicable), or at least donates them to a church of their deity (if a particularly pious character). However, our group shares a lot of items, and very few items that a character has are actually his, or he has a connection to. For example, if my paladin bit it, he would want to be put to rest with his sword, his armor, and his shield. The amulet that he has on is not particuarly significant to him, he has it simply because he is the only one who can use it. The bag of holding he has isn't entirely significant to him, he just has it because no one else wants to lug it around. The potions of healing in his belt pouch don't really matter to him, they were given to him because he was getting hit more than anyone else.
In that case, I think it would be entirely appropriate for the paladin to be buried with his armor, weapon, and shield, but not the bag of holding, amulet, or potions.
In that case, I think it would be entirely appropriate for the paladin to be buried with his armor, weapon, and shield, but not the bag of holding, amulet, or potions.
Do you all start new characters as fully equipped? I typically have new chars. start at a lower wealth level than their level would indicate. The overall party wealth will still go up, of course, but not dramatically. And slowing the accumulation of magic items for a few sessions usually bring everything back to normal.
Cullain
Cullain
Deadguy
First Post
Trouble is: what do the PCs themselves then normally do? Yep, that's right, they go straight back to looting tombs! So it seems that whilst they know that burying the dead with their possessions is the norm, apparently many years later some bastards come along and nick it all!kenjib said:
So with that being the case: might as well take it all now! it saves time.
Elder-Basilisk
First Post
That's a lot of good suggestions. I think the role-playing ones are the best, but those depend upon your players and their characters. I know that a number of my characters would want some of their equipment to go to their friends. ("May this shield defend you in battle as I will now be unable to. . . take the fight to the enemies of Pholtus for me. . . . ")
If item bloat becomes a problem, here are a few suggestions:
1. Sunder (and great sunder) for magic weapons. It's often a good tactic for bad guys and you can feel a little freer with using it when the party has extra wealth.
2. Exotic locations: Disarm a fighter on a rope bridge over a chasm and watch that sword dissappear. It's not sunder but adds a little more variety and spice to the combat--something that makes the rope bridge different from your standard 5' passage.
3. For consumable items, consider the following:
Alchemist's fire, acid, holy water. These pretty much have to be kept in brittle glass containers because otherwise they don't break on contact with the target (which is to say they don't work). A shatter spell will destroy all of these containers in a reasonably large area of effect unless the bearer makes a will save. Potions may be kept in metal vials which would be immune to this effect (but by default, they probably come in glass vials).
4. Scrolls would be highly susceptible to the shatter trick listed earlier if the character is carrying alchemist's fire
5. Scrolls will often also be vulnerable to water hazards. Dump a character in the drink and the scrolls he keeps ready to use at all times are probably toast.
6. Wands are a bit trickier but canny opponents will find that it's much easier to disarm or sunder a wand than it is to injure a well-prepared wizard with a sword. (Wizards often have ACs in the low 30's with Shield, Mage Armor, Cat's Grace, Protection from Evil, etc. but their attack bonusses are almost universally pathetic).
7. Warp wood can be a devastating spell against bows, spears, arrows, axes, and wands.
8. Black dragons of a certain age get an aura of pollution which ruins any potions that come near them.
Alternately, you could switch your death dealing tactics. Disintegrate leaves little wealth since most adventurers tend to wear their wealth. Death by fire elemental, the imprisonment spell, Remhorrazzes swallowing whole, etc. also stand a good chance of destroying items along with characters.
If item bloat becomes a problem, here are a few suggestions:
1. Sunder (and great sunder) for magic weapons. It's often a good tactic for bad guys and you can feel a little freer with using it when the party has extra wealth.
2. Exotic locations: Disarm a fighter on a rope bridge over a chasm and watch that sword dissappear. It's not sunder but adds a little more variety and spice to the combat--something that makes the rope bridge different from your standard 5' passage.
3. For consumable items, consider the following:
Alchemist's fire, acid, holy water. These pretty much have to be kept in brittle glass containers because otherwise they don't break on contact with the target (which is to say they don't work). A shatter spell will destroy all of these containers in a reasonably large area of effect unless the bearer makes a will save. Potions may be kept in metal vials which would be immune to this effect (but by default, they probably come in glass vials).
4. Scrolls would be highly susceptible to the shatter trick listed earlier if the character is carrying alchemist's fire
5. Scrolls will often also be vulnerable to water hazards. Dump a character in the drink and the scrolls he keeps ready to use at all times are probably toast.
6. Wands are a bit trickier but canny opponents will find that it's much easier to disarm or sunder a wand than it is to injure a well-prepared wizard with a sword. (Wizards often have ACs in the low 30's with Shield, Mage Armor, Cat's Grace, Protection from Evil, etc. but their attack bonusses are almost universally pathetic).
7. Warp wood can be a devastating spell against bows, spears, arrows, axes, and wands.
8. Black dragons of a certain age get an aura of pollution which ruins any potions that come near them.
Alternately, you could switch your death dealing tactics. Disintegrate leaves little wealth since most adventurers tend to wear their wealth. Death by fire elemental, the imprisonment spell, Remhorrazzes swallowing whole, etc. also stand a good chance of destroying items along with characters.
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