How many PC deaths do you see per session?

[JayDarkson]

This is a current discussion in our game group. One player insists that playing D&D, one player death per session is the norm. Having played D&D for almost 12 years now (he's played longer than me), I don't see this being normal. He insists that it has nothing to do with being a killer GM, it's just the norm for the system. Any comments? How many deaths occur in your game per session?

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Two deaths last session (luckily the party has access to reincarnate), but a fair amount of time before that with no deaths.

 

[Deadguy]

Generally, because of a prepferred narrativist style (GNS-theory) deaths are few and far between, so probably less than a death in every ten sessions or so. When it happens it's because a player has accepted a character's death as part of the narrative.

 

[kolikeos]

i keep character death to a minimum. if the players don't do stupid things then they have a good chance to stay alive.

 

[Li Shenron]

It happens to us as well, to have only occasional deaths, probably one every 10-12 sessions. We rarely plan it beforehands however they're mostly the result of bad luck.

 

[ErickArnell]

I've been gaming for a while off and on, and so far NO PC deaths. I've killed off their NPC friends, but that was just the roll of the dice. My players are cautious about survival, and I don't throw them against anything TOO outrageous (and they can always run if I do).

 

[Keeper of Secrets]

As a GM I want deaths to be few and far between. As far as the guy who says one death per session is the norm, he needs to stop playing Paranoia.

As a GM lots of death is a hassle. You really cannot develop much of a story if the characters constantly get written out and new ones come in. I guess as a GM I want to create a great story with my players instead of prop up the undertakers' industry.

 

[Darklone]

My PCs learned soon to retreat in time. So far, in three years of gaming at least twice per month for 10+ hours less than 5 PCs died.

 

[diaglo]

Two deaths last session (luckily the party has access to reincarnate), but a fair amount of time before that with no deaths.

just wait until i coup de grace the party in their sleep.

 

[Blue]

If someone's norm is one death a session, it sounds more like poor tactics more then anything else. My players know when to retreat, when to parlay instea dof attack, adn when they attack they are smart about it and work as a team.

In the past several years my 3.x campaign is running, we've only had one PC death, though over a dozen deaths if you include NPCs who are travelling with the heroes. One of the causes of the low death count is one combat healer who very much makes sure the others don't die.

Cheers,
=Blue