I have been playing for 30 years. I am mainly experienced with AD&D, Classic D&D, and 2nd Edition, but have considerable experience with 3rd Edition. I have very briefly experienced 4th and 5th Edition, but the latter I studied carefully as it was developed, and gave feedback regularly at wizards.com. I'd say I have seen a lot of the playstyles out there, having been to several conventions, where I actually found a niche as a host and tournament player.
D&D 5E How do you kill a 10th level character?
- Thread starter Schmoe
- Start date
I have been playing for 30 years. I am mainly experienced with AD&D, Classic D&D, and 2nd Edition, but have considerable experience with 3rd Edition. I have very briefly experienced 4th and 5th Edition, but the latter I studied carefully as it was developed, and gave feedback regularly at wizards.com. I'd say I have seen a lot of the playstyles out there, having been to several conventions, where I actually found a niche as a host and tournament player.
Crothian
First Post
I've been running this for a lot of new players and killing their characters does not discourage any of them. In fact they take it as a challenge to create a new character (and they all love making characters and have so many awesome ideas from the PHB) and to play better from learning from their mistakes. I have seen players like what you seem to play with that would leave the game if their character died and I say good riddance. I want the players who like a challenge and are not afraid of failure.
You should be grateful to have players, Crothian, not say good riddance to any. I have had players of different types always, playing together. Some wanted more challenge, and others wanted "No more!" you might say. It's your job as DM to make sure everyone feels the game is fair and a lot of fun. I understand it may be admirable for a player to know how to accept failure and move on, but it's not all about how tough you are. There is also feeling to it, and the game isn't all about outgunning the monsters or they you.
I am DM-ing for a group of seven players. One of those players would get really upset if his character died. The other players would handle it well, and if it was a *fair encounter, even enjoy the situation. It would probably make it feel less like I am holding their hand.
*When I say fair, I mean that I haven't cheated at the dice, failed to describe a situation well enough or just put them in the losing situation. If there was some level of choice/bad luck, they would deem it fair. Nothing like a near-TPK to get your blood going. I haven't staged anything like that in 5e yet, I need some more DM-ing sessions to pull it off. I do think that most of the encounters should be pretty easy, only some rare ones should be nasty. Like the one they have coming. They are going to go back into Cragmaw castle from the starter set after doing a really lucky SWAT-team assault/withdrawal, but they need to get back in, and this time, the monsters will be ready for them.
Jaelommiss
First Post
I'd like you to stop, please. You're giving the wrong impression of what is a wrong impression for new players*, and you'll ruin the game for some if you don't stop it.
*I'm one of the new players you seem to think you are protecting, and I utterly disagree with every single one of your outlandish statements.
When I DM I play the monsters accoridng to what they are, how they think, and the means they possess. Any humanoid creature with a decent Int score would be aware of magical healing, and start finishing off their foes after healing magic is seen. My players do the exact same thing. Creatures looking for food may try to pull fallen creatures away during the fight. More devious foes, such as dragons or wizards, might even assume healing magic will be present and automatically finish fallen foes. Combat is and should be cruel and ruthless, especially considering adventurers' tendancy to kill (not subdue, but outright kill) anything that moves.
My players have indicated that they enjoy this style of play over the nannying you have described. The one time I had an enemy making death saves, they finished him with a coup-de-grace (and then took his head as a trophy) rather than risk him getting back up. The fully expect to be treated equally.
How is evil attacking dying PCs bringing good down to any level (besides six feet under)?
Okay. I didn't mean to get in anyone's hair. I just was concerned that maybe some new players could think the game is about "how hard they can make it", like it's what they called "DM vs. player" back in the old days. I am perhaps very out of touch with today's audience, and I apologize for throwing you or anyone else with outlandish remarks. I am very receptive to what my players want when I run the game, and if they want a tough as nails, gritty game I can give them that without failure. I have seen total opposite players, though, and I am very much someone who looks out for everyone.
Remathilis
Legend
If you still need a way to kill a 10th level PC, might I suggest this? (Its for an older edition, but it should work with a little conversion)
http://www.scratchfactory.com/Resources/LavaBanners/LavaRules.pdf
http://www.scratchfactory.com/Resources/LavaBanners/LavaRules.pdf
This remark doesn't apply literally to anything in the game. I'm sorry for the lack of clarity. It was meant to be facetious.
With respect to the rest of your question, it's a question of fairness. When the monsters can do it, the question is outside the game. It's do we want the game to be that hard? When the PC's can do it, the question is inside. "Do you give quarter to your enemy?" Or something along those lines. It would not seem chivalrous, but again with respect to the monsters doing it, it is a question of the game's hardness, not what they would be inclined to do "in-character".
With respect to the rest of your question, it's a question of fairness. When the monsters can do it, the question is outside the game. It's do we want the game to be that hard? When the PC's can do it, the question is inside. "Do you give quarter to your enemy?" Or something along those lines. It would not seem chivalrous, but again with respect to the monsters doing it, it is a question of the game's hardness, not what they would be inclined to do "in-character".
