How have you handled TPKs?

[d4]

here's a thought: how about not having a TPK?

if you're worried that a TPK will destroy your campaign, then avoid them.

seems pretty simple to me.

 

[Blue_Kryptonite]

Happened just once. It was a Superhero game in my college game club. The players lost the planet.

The following RL year, I had their player's new characters discover the old ones while plane hopping. It turns out that they had never actually exited the Nightmare Realm from Champions in 3D. The old team became NPCs that are still hanging around out there somewhere.

 

[Elf Witch]

I have had the pleasure of being in two TPKs and both campagns came to a screeching halt. It was not fun. Ruined the game.

 

[Lela]

I have had the pleasure of being in two TPKs and both campagns came to a screeching halt. It was not fun. Ruined the game.

Did you have to restart?

 

[DiFier]

If the hero's were hero's of great renown, what if someone needed heros and knew where the party was buried and had them raised. They would have to deal with their world changed, probablly for the worse, cause thy died. And they would have to deal with the legend about them. (which may or may not be 100% true) plus dealing with what ever they were brought back for.

 

[tarchon]

If it's a clean TPK, roll up new characters. C'est la guerre.
Adult gamers can usually accept the fact that killing dragons and such isn't a low risk business. You kind of need that knowledge that your characters really could all die horribly to keep the edge on it.
If the DM feels like she screwed up somehow or was unfair, then it's usually a good idea to patch it up somehow, though that's best done in a way that appears to be an organic part of the plot or at least has some nice twist to it.

 

[frankthedm]

here's a thought: how about not having a TPK?

if you're worried that a TPK will destroy your campaign, then avoid them.

seems pretty simple to me.

Problem is players somtimes have bad luck or do really stupid things,and the only belivable thing is they all die [or at least most of them]. Sometimes wher this happens the DM wants to pick up the peices of the campaign. This thread is asking how to do that.



Offer players fiscal benefits if their new characters fit into the campaign. Or simply require this if they expect the 'higher level starting treasure' for thier new characters.



They wake up as undead. Now that the afterlife is lost to them [3e Manual of the planes], they must find a way to have thier spirits restored [ ressurection is the lowest level spell that can do this ] so they can rest properly or face black oblivion upon destruction in the mortal world. Or just eat people if thats what they would rather do.


Let the players play the monsters that killed them, D&D seems to be more about the items than the characters, so this could prove amusing as the critters 'suit up' and strike back against the [demi]human settlements that sent the 'assasins' after them. Plus this lets the players tear into that annoying NPC you keep using. Either that or it will be another TPK if that was your 'pet npc'.

 

[Lela]

Well, I'm also hoping to get some true stories of what sent others into TPK and what they did about it.

I love the idea of having the PCs take over the monsters/NPCs who killed them. They could even have "friends" if another PC or two is needed.

DiFier, brilliant. They may have to deal with a whole new world and their enimies would no doubt know the legends about them. And overestimate them. They'd also come after them with various Soul Jar type attacks to prevent them from rising again.

 

[Buttercup]

They wake up as undead. Now that the afterlife is lost to them [3e Manual of the planes], they must find a way to have thier spirits restored [ ressurection is the lowest level spell that can do this ] so they can rest properly or face black oblivion upon destruction in the mortal world. Or just eat people if thats what they would rather do.

Let the players play the monsters that killed them, D&D seems to be more about the items than the characters, so this could prove amusing as the critters 'suit up' and strike back against the [demi]human settlements that sent the 'assasins' after them.

Both of these are excellent ideas. Consider them stolen, should I ever need them.

 

[frankthedm]

Both of these are excellent ideas. Consider them stolen, should I ever need them.

Glad you like them.

Most times a player dies [ kinda often for me] they get offers from a few compeating entities.

Rage spirits entralled by Yenoghuu will usually offer barbarians the ability to keep going untill thier bodies are torn apart...of course determining friend or foe after that point is impossible..... [These incorperal fey follow barbarians after they locate those who can rage]

Orcus offers undeath to many, though no PC has yet to take the offer