How much concern do you have with PC death?

[TerraDave]

I'm usually most concerned that the player will get discouraged by the character death. Occasionally I hang a subplot or two on a specific PC, but only rarely a major plot hook.

Right. Plots can always be adjusted, new charecters made...in practice its mostly a question of morale. But that is important, the game is supposed to be fun...

 

[BvS]

A lot of my plots and hooks depend on the PCs themselves, either completing a quest in a certain amount of time, talking to a NPC or even being specifically tasked to do something important. PC deaths are sometimes a headache because of this. But on the other hand, the rest of the group can still go on, or the plot can be changed and modified, or the results could still play out with the consideration that the PC in question failed

So, I guess PC death doesn't really bother me that much.

 

[DrNilesCrane]

My players tend to like in depth histories, so in that respect a new character is usually quite a bit of additional work for me to take on helping with the history, finding ways to weave them into existing plots or come up with new ones, etc. I don't make adventures / plots completely dependent on a single character as I won't fudge dice rolls (all out in the open).

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I voted for some concern... It's not the fact that PCs might die, it's the volume in which they do so.


In the games I run, I don't try to kill characters and I do expect some to die from time to time. They don't particularly like the stratospheric bodycount type of games, if one seems to be taking that sort of turn then I'll sit back and have a long look at what I'm doing. Possibly tone things down or try to encourage some new tactics from them.

As a player it doesn't particularly bother me - although a character or two per week average is about the most I can happily deal with. Much more comfortable with a lower rate of death.

 

[IronWolf]

I went with 'Some Concern'. I think some PC death is acceptable, it adds a certain element to the game. PC's dying every game would probably make me re-think either the scaling of the encounter or if the PCs just weren't playing the game carefully.

In the most recent campaign I DM we have been playing since January, every other week. We've had two character deaths so far.

 

[Ryltar]

I voted "much concern". While I try to challenge my PCs, at the same time the group is participating in the telling of a story. Every PC is at least connected to one plot hook, and having him/her die is like a chapter in a book that's open-ended: frustrates the "author" (DM), frustrates the "reader" (player), and makes for a generally difficult session. Now, sometimes, a PC death might work for everyone (especially heroic deeds, or the player is tired of the PC) - but in general, I try to avoid killing characters as much as possible without taking out the risk for the players.

 

[sniffles]

My DMs don't post on here, but I know that PC death is of great concern for them because in 10 years of roleplaying with the same DMs I've only lost one character, and then only temporarily. The DMs I play with really don't want PCs to die if they can possibly help it. One DM actually does fudge the rules/dice to keep PCs alive, I'm pretty positive. He hates introducing new characters and would probably be happy to have us play the same PCs forever. Another DM also bends the rules a bit but not so dramatically; he usually has an overarching plot working that would be hard to adjust for a new PC. All of the players in the group are very invested in their characters, and PC death would hit any of us hard. We'd adjust and go on if we had to, but I think our DMs generally don't want to have to deal with that moment if they can help it.

 

[S'mon]

I dislike PC death, not because it derails my 'plots' but because of the investment players make in their characters.

 

[MonsterMash]

Yes, it will bother me, not if its due to pure player stupidity, but if its down to sheer bad luck it will bother me a bit and a lot if its down to bad design on my part - e.g. an encounter where the party can't escape if they're outmatched or in trouble.

 

[shaylon]

In the most recent campaign I DM we have been playing since January, every other week. We've had two character deaths so far.

You're a butcher! Senseless murderer!

I think that it depends on the situation. Death sucks for the PC's, undoubtedly, but it is a part of the game. I try not to kill off people when I DM, but then again my DM'ing of late has been relegated to one-shots.

-Shay