How to deal death of Characters

[redkobold]

The thread on first characters made me wonder about this since my first character died so quickly.

When a player character dies in your adventure, what do you as the DM, typically do?

I would like to hear what some others do to consider in my campaign.

Sincerely,
Kevin Chenevert

 

[DerianCypher]

I also enjoying pointing at the player who lost a character and laughing maniacally at them.


DC

 

[Bagpuss]

In my games if your character dies you have to pay a forfit, I assume its the same in most DM's games.

It started out as they had to go and make the coffee's while the rest of us continued playing, seemed sensible since it's not like they were involved in the game anymore.

Its since progressed so that they have to go to the fish and chip shop and buy a sausage dinner for everyone, but with all the total party kills I started to put on weight.

So now they just have to pay cash, as DM I get the lion's share this goes toward covering the costs of a fresh character sheet, minature, and the hassle of working them into the senario. The other players get to loot the corpse IC and a couple of quid OOC as a bribe not to assume the players new character is a doppleganger or enemy agent and kill them onsite.

Of course with TPK's we wave the fees to other players and call it even but as a DM I make a tidy sum, each time. Funny either my players are getting careless or my dungeons have got dealier since we introduced this rule.

 

[Left-handed Hummingbird]

No no, I read somewhere you have to say "[Player's name], get out of here. YOU'RE DEAD! You don't exist any more."

 

[Tewligan]

No no, I read somewhere you have to say "[Player's name], get out of here. YOU'RE DEAD! You don't exist any more."

In death, everyone becomes Blackleaf.

 

[WayneLigon]

In death, everyone becomes Blackleaf.

Years later, that still gets a laugh from me

Generally, if it's really permanent death I let them roll up a new character and introduce him as soon as it logically becomes possible. Or they assume control of an NPC until they can get their friend ressurected. Once or twice, the person has gotten into the NPC role so much they don't want to give him up

 

[Paradoxish]

I also enjoying pointing at the player who lost a character and laughing maniacally at them.

Yeah, me too.

My players seem to like (read: force me to run) marathon sessions that last upwards of ten hours, so if a player loses a character early in the session it's a real bummer for that person. I run a somewhat low magic world, but IMC death is permanent short of divine intervention (although I've introduced a mechanic for this). If I didn't allow the player to roll a new character and have it introduced quickly that player would basically have to leave, and miss out on gaming for the week, or to sit around for the next six or so hours and do nothing.

 

[Mark]

In death, everyone becomes Blackleaf.

...*sniffle*...

I miss Blackleaf...

 

[Tonguez]

...*sniffle*...

I miss Blackleaf...

That should be

"AGGGH NO NO NO I MISS YOU BLACKLEAF WHAAAAA!"

oh and on topic - I always have backup Player-created NPCs that the Player can take over as soon as logically possible