I guess I'm a REAL RBDM now - First TPK

[KidCthulhu]

Please don't feel you have to confirm your Rat Bastard-yness by killing us, Sagiro. Really! We fear you plenty.

I agree that to be a challenging DM and to run a game that your players love you don't have to be a killer. You have to run the game in such a way that they know they CAN and WILL be killed if they're stupid or unlucky or some combination of the two.

But when you view a TPK as something to strive for you've left Rat Bastard and moved into the less fun land of Out for Blood.

But congrats, Rel. You're still safely a Rat Bastard.

 

[The Shaman]

My first TPK was somewhere around 1985.

My second was a few months ago.

If history is any guide, I'm not due again for awhile.

(Then again, I very nearly had a third last month - balanced on a razor's edge was that encounter...)

Welcome to the club, Rel - I think we should order matching bowling shirts.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Yeah, I's say you've entered the realm of RBGMing.

 

[Asmo]

I have not yet recovered from my first and only TPK.
Forge of Fury - Roper = say no more.
I´ve tried to dm a bit after that, but it´s not the same as before.
I really can´t say what the problem is, but I guess that I´m not ready yet.

Asmo

 

[Len]

When I saw the thread title, my first thought was "Samantha! NOOOOOO!"
Glad to see it was your other party that bought it.

 

[Rel]

When I saw the thread title, my first thought was "Samantha! NOOOOOO!"
Glad to see it was your other party that bought it.

Ok, that made me laugh out loud.

I have to admit that if I was ever running one of her little adventures and she looked up at me with those big blue eyes and said, "Daddy, you're a Rat Bastard," I'd fall apart laughing. Then I think I'm supposed to make her wash her mouth out with soap or something, right? You can tell I'm marginal at best at this whole parenting thing, can't you?

 

[The Shaman]

When I saw the thread title, my first thought was "Samantha! NOOOOOO!"
Glad to see it was your other party that bought it.

Yikes! Trouble in Mommyville!

 

[ForceUser]

I never used to have TPKs, yet I've had four in the last year and a half. Have my games gotten deadlier? Not exactly; actually, my player base has become populated with a new crowd, one far less experienced with the mechanics of 3E combat than my previous players. The TPKs are a direct reflection both of my initial lack of flexibility as DM to compensate for their learning curve, as well as my players' trend of making some truly bone-headed choices (such as leaving the cleric behind at the temple--"No, no, don't bother coming. We have some potions of cure light wounds. We'll call you if we need you.")

 

[Thundering_Dragon]

You must have an excellent group if they have avoided a TPK up to this point with the monsters and tactics you describe using. Sounds like a great game, too many people miss out on the tactical and mathematical elements of D&D that, to me at least, are just as fun as the roleplaying elements.

 

[Cathal]

No one TPKs us with impunity!!!

Let this be a warning to you TPKers out there--you've got to sleep sometime... (photos courtesy of Rel's most-excellent wife):

Rel, past the point-of-no-return.

HK-47 (Cathal from the Faded Glory III SH) puts steel to scalp to finish the job.

Rel, mid-process.

Calandor (Riggs from the Faded Glory III SH) and HK flank (+2 bonus!) Rel for a post-payback 'nurpling.



But, before you think we actually did this as an over-reaction to the TPK, these are pictures from our most-recent beach trip, and Rel asked that we bring the clippers, himself! We're geared up and ready to continue on with brand-new characters!