D&D 5E How often do characters die in your campaigns?

[Richards]

PC death isn't common but it happens in my campaigns - we've always been a "let the dice fall where they may" group and we all roll in the open. That said, I allow returning from the dead to be as easy as normal in D&D: not much of an option at lower levels but increasingly more likely as the PCs go up in level.

Johnathan

 

[TheSword]

More than J.R.Tolkein, but less than G.R.R.Martin

 

[Rabbitbait]

I also try and tie all characters strongly into an overarching campaign, but I'm also happy to let them die. Stories change, prophecies can be wrong, players can do dumb things.

I have not had any TPKs, but once it came down to a single die roll.

 

[Oofta]

More than J.R.Tolkein, but less than G.R.R.Martin

Greater than 1% and less than 99% is quite the spread.

 

[FrozenNorth]

Probably 10% or so.

Per session? You sir, are hardcore!

 

[Zardnaar]

Per session? You sir, are hardcore!

Per campaign. Generally one death every second campaign.

Generally.
1. Unlucky
2. Does something stupid.

 

[Bacon Bits]

Campaigns with any character deaths are the exception rather than the rule. Maybe once every other year we see a death, and the PCs usually get raised.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

In my current campaign, three characters have died, but all have been raised.

 

[ccs]

My table is soaked in the fictional blood of PCs.
I've killed a grear # of characters & I'd guess that about 1/2 the time things end in a TPK.

Breaking this trend though is the current campaign. We've had several characters drop out or retire, but no deaths in 2 years worth of play.
Though that's my fault as I completely misread things & failed to realize that one character was actually trying to drown another. Had I realized that the ex-paladin would be dead....

 

[Benjamin Olson]

My first 5e DMing experience was Lost Mines of Phandelver. By rights the party should have been wiped twice, once in the opening goblin encounter and once when an enemy spellcaster took out everyone in the same shot with a fireball. In the first instance the module has instructions for how the characters survive, and in the second the enemy had reason to take them captive for interrogation, and so he did. Those are the only 5e TPK (equivalent) experiences I've had as player or DM, though there have been some close calls.

As DM I seem to end up killing a lone party member or two about every other campaign.