D&D General How Often Should a PC Die in D&D 5e?

[Theory of Games]

We've been playing for 40ish years. I've never had a TPK.
I've been maimed, dismembered, disfigured, and eaten....but never TPKd.

 

[KYRON45]

I'll never be able to wrap my head around derailing your own campaign.
Game how you like of course.

 

[Theory of Games]

I'll never be able to wrap my head around derailing your own campaign.
Game how you like of course.

Combat can result in player deaths. The difference between how I run and how other GMs run is, I don't block player agency. If a player makes a decision that can 86 their PC, so be it. My adventures are loaded with dilemma and deadly combat and I let players know this with S0.

You know what "derailing" a campaign is? Ignoring dice rolls and player decisions because they aren't "the safest option". It's like being a player and your Mom is GM

 

[KYRON45]

Combat can result in player deaths. The difference between how I run and how other GMs run is, I don't block player agency. If a player makes a decision that can 86 their PC, so be it. My adventures are loaded with dilemma and deadly combat and I let players know this with S0.

You know what "derailing" a campaign is? Ignoring dice rolls and player decisions because they aren't "the safest option". It's like being a player and your Mom is GM

It's clear we run our games differently.
It's also clear that you like mocking people who don't agree with you so; enjoy your day.

 

[ezo]

I think people are missing the point. Death happens when it happens in the game, when the dice say so and when poor decisions put PCs in untenable situations.

The question is on average how often in a campaign do you think that should generally be coming up.

If the poll question was:

How Often Does a PC Die in D&D 5e?​

I would agree with you.

Then, I would answer, for my current campaign we have had 3 PC deaths. 1st level, 3rd or 4th level, and 7th level. So, I would answer "how oftend does a PC die in D&D 5E?" with "Once about every 3 levels in my current game."

But the poll questions also have responses with "I prefer..." meaning a somewhat planned or anticipated PC death on a schedule.

What you are getting from the poll really isn't what the poll is asking for:

How often should a PC die and what is your preference to the rate of deaths/ timing of deaths.

So I think you are actually missing the point of the poll. It isn't asking what you think it is. If it was meant to (which is possible!) then it was very poorly made.

I have to assume others post and write at face value. So, I take the poll to mean what is says it does.

 

[cranberry]

I don't go out of my way to kill PC's or cause TPKs, but full player agency means that sometimes people make bad decision, and intelligent monsters would take full advantage of those bad decisions.

I mean, if you're 2nd level, come across a dragon and decide to draw your sword, well.....

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Let me say these answers have been interesting and insightful. They also are making me wonder... what exactly is meant when people claim 5e isn't lethal enough or is easy mode...

Yeah, the curve is bizarre, a nice bell curve with accompanying spikes (outside the box?).

I wonder what we would see in an accompanying poll where the question is: How Often Should a Player Switch to a New Character in a D&D 5e Campaign?

 

[cranberry]

They also are making me wonder... what exactly is meant when people claim 5e isn't lethal enough or is easy mode...

Have you ever played 1E or Pathfinder?

 

[Voadam]

I thought the OP was clear about asking how lethal you think D&D should be, how often you would prefer PC deaths to happen on average at your preferred level of lethality because many think it is not lethal enough as is.

The flaw I see in the poll is not including an option for those not having a preference at all.

 

[KYRON45]

Back in my day a long rest...or "sleeping" as the elite called it; only got you back 1 HP.