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<blockquote data-quote="Schmoe" data-source="post: 6485605" data-attributes="member: 913">Thanks for all the replies!&nbsp; I had forgotten about Power Word Kill, and hadn't read about Magic Jar, but other than that straight death effects are remarkably absent from the game.&nbsp; I suppose I can agree with Anth that petrification could also be considered death, but those have less of a penalty for recovery.&nbsp; The failed death saves for additional damage is another factor that makes combat more deadly, but as people have pointed out it can be controversial if used intentionally to kill characters.I actually like the 0 HP and Death Saves mechanic quite a bit, but I guess I have two problems with it.&nbsp; First, the negative HP threshold for instant death is so high for high level characters that it may as well not even exist.&nbsp; Second, the lack of death effects leads to ludicrous situations where an assassin NPC who sneaks up and assassinates a paralyzed PC has basically zero chance of killing him, at least according to RAW.&nbsp; I realize that RAW is not the final word in the matter, but to many, including myself when I was a younger DM, it takes a big leap of confidence to move away from the RAW and make a different ruling, especially if that ruling hurts the PCs.I like to play games where death is a real threat that carries a real penalty.&nbsp; I guess I'd have to see it in play, but I feel like lowering the negative HP threshold for instant death would help restore some of what has been lost.&nbsp; If death effects have largely been replaced by large amounts of damage, those large amounts of damage should have the potential to actually kill someone.&nbsp; As far as the penalty for dying goes, I actually really like the 5E solution of a -4 penalty that is lessened with each long rest.&nbsp; That is a significant penalty that can hinder the character's immediate plans in a big way, but it's not a huge yoke that cripples the character for the rest of a campaign, like a level loss could be in previous editions.&nbsp; I'm sure others have different comfort points, but to me the 5E solution is a great compromise.&nbsp; I'm not happy about Revivify, however, because as long as that spell's around there's practically no reason that anyone would ever have to face the penalty.&nbsp; LOL, I guess I'm never happy.&nbsp; At least Revivivy is an easy solution.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Schmoe, post: 6485605, member: 913"] Thanks for all the replies! I had forgotten about Power Word Kill, and hadn't read about Magic Jar, but other than that straight death effects are remarkably absent from the game. I suppose I can agree with Anth that petrification could also be considered death, but those have less of a penalty for recovery. The failed death saves for additional damage is another factor that makes combat more deadly, but as people have pointed out it can be controversial if used intentionally to kill characters. I actually like the 0 HP and Death Saves mechanic quite a bit, but I guess I have two problems with it. First, the negative HP threshold for instant death is so high for high level characters that it may as well not even exist. Second, the lack of death effects leads to ludicrous situations where an assassin NPC who sneaks up and assassinates a paralyzed PC has basically zero chance of killing him, at least according to RAW. I realize that RAW is not the final word in the matter, but to many, including myself when I was a younger DM, it takes a big leap of confidence to move away from the RAW and make a different ruling, especially if that ruling hurts the PCs. I like to play games where death is a real threat that carries a real penalty. I guess I'd have to see it in play, but I feel like lowering the negative HP threshold for instant death would help restore some of what has been lost. If death effects have largely been replaced by large amounts of damage, those large amounts of damage should have the potential to actually kill someone. As far as the penalty for dying goes, I actually really like the 5E solution of a -4 penalty that is lessened with each long rest. That is a significant penalty that can hinder the character's immediate plans in a big way, but it's not a huge yoke that cripples the character for the rest of a campaign, like a level loss could be in previous editions. I'm sure others have different comfort points, but to me the 5E solution is a great compromise. I'm not happy about Revivify, however, because as long as that spell's around there's practically no reason that anyone would ever have to face the penalty. LOL, I guess I'm never happy. At least Revivivy is an easy solution. [/QUOTE]

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