I killed my first PC tonight

[IamTheTest]

She was a level 4 druid. There are 3 players (each level 4, druid, sorceror, and a rogue) in the party. I am DMing the WotC free adventure "Dry Spell" and the party was in area 3B. The druid with 23 hp got critical hit by an orc weilding a falchion for 22 damage. I rolled 2 20's in a row. The next enemy took her to -6 and as she is the only character with healing she bled out. The area is EL 4 so I suppose it may have been too challenging. I dont know how to feel about this. I know that death is a part of the game, but having fun is the top priority. She didnt look like she was having fun.
I need advice. What should I do? Im thinking about giving out action points so that death is still a possibility but it is more avoidable. Maybe an NPC cleric could do the trick. Help?

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Just wait until you kill your first player, I remember that being one my saddest days.

Seriously, just plonk in a mid level cleric with raise dead & a mission.

 

[Sammael]

The Heal skill can be used untrained. Furthermore, either the sorcerer or the rogue (whoever has the lower Wis modifier) could have tried to use the "aid another" option and add +2 to the other character's Heal check. Did the players use these options, or did they let the druid bleed to death without even trying to help her?

 

[BullMarkOne]

Did the players use these options, or did they let the druid bleed to death without even trying to help her?

First thing I'd do is make sure that the players were aware that there was something they could have done (if that were the case).

Next I'd sit down with the player who's character died, and talk options. Ask the player what she wants to do, roll a new character, hold out to see if the party can get her raised or whatever. I'm kinda a sissy about pc death, and I tend to be pretty generous with resurrections. Priestly types make it pretty easy, since ones party members just have to have the foresight to cart the corpse to the nearest temple (or in this case druid enclave) and start roleplaying negotiations. This btw is a great method for spinning off the next adventure, or even a little side-track.

As for the npc cleric, I'm not too sure I would go that route. I might suggest instead an NPC fighter. A very defensive NPC fighter. Basically a wall for the crunchier pc's to hide behind while doing their thing. Heavy armor, a tower shield, and a lower damage weapon (shortspear maybe, to fit the phalanxish image). This would round the party out nicely, and still let the actual player controlled characters do most of the 'work' both in and out of fights.

If it might take a while for the 2 living players to get themselves somewhere that they could have the druid raised, ask the druid's player to create and run the fighter while the party works on getting her back up and running. Then of course keep the fighter around as an NPC meatshield.

Finally, I'd like to admit that I'm very new to these forums. So I'll offer a complimentary grain of salt with my advice. Just in case.

 

[Gruns]

My 2 cents.

Hello.
Critical hits are pretty brutal at low levels, especially on the non-tank classes, which I notice the group has none of. Physical combat is definately not the group's strong point. Unfortunately, much of the game involves physical combat... Especially most pre-made modules you'll find. With that party make-up, you'll really need to do some tailoring to reduce direct combat encounters and increase more subtle encounter opportunities. Traps, Bluff your way past the guards, Track down something/someone, etc.
As for saving the Druid, as was mentioned, Heal is still usuable without ranks. Also, someone should have had a Cure XXX potion somewhere at level 4. The Rogue could have attempted to use a Wand or Scroll of Cure XXX, too. But what's done is done. It just seems someone should have been able to do something. Then again, maybe the place was crawling with orcs and the 2 survivors only survived be fleeing.
As for adding an NPC to the group, I've NEVER liked that as a PC, and I'd never do it as a DM. I'd rather give the party the resources needed to make things work. (A friend of a friend knows someone who will sell Potions of Cure Light to the party cheap, so long as they provide word of mouth advertising for her little bakery in Grove Park...). I'm also against anything that changes the rules like Action Points. No need for anything that drastic. Chalk it up to bad luck and either let the druid's player roll up a new lvl 3, or find a friendly cleric that will Raise the druid...if they help clear out the rats that are gathering in large numbers in the cellar of the local Mill... (Wait- those aren't normal rats...!)

Later!
Gruns

 

[the Jester]

I killed or otherwise 'finished off' three pcs tonight, so don't feel too bad.

First time I've killed a pc with a coup de grace.

 

[IamTheTest]

Both the sorc and the rogue attempted an untrained heal. They rolled horribly (this was a recurring theme tonight). We are all very new to the game so I cannot blame them for not using aid another. The rogue made great use of UMD but didnt have a scroll yet. I really like the idea of using an NPC fighter instead of an NPC cleric. I hate clerics just because no one ever really seems to want to play one, but every party wants one. That doesnt seem right. I told the player of the deceased that Id help her roll a character even if its the same general concept as the druid she lost. I hate seeing people not have fun, and I know she really liked her druid. I appreciate all the advice and support. I never thought that Id feel bad about following the rules, but I have a feeling I would have felt worse pulling the punch.

 

[IamTheTest]

I know its bad form to follow your own post with another but I think this is important. My players did try everything they new of to bring the druid back. Im very proud of the fact that the rogue tried UMD on the scroll and that they knew they could use Heal untrained. It just seemed like they couldnt roll the dice well. Over the next week Ill be talking with each of my players to discuss where the campaign is going and my style of DMing. I want to play a balanced game where there is risk, but I need them to have fun. Character death doesnt mesh with The True Rule 0.

 

[Zappo]

I killed a PC with a coup de grace last week. The party followed a monster to a place which they knew was swarming with hostiles. Since they were tired from a forced march, they searched for a somewhat hidden place. And then they didn't set up guard turns. They all went to sleep instead. They woke up to a brief scream and saw one of the creatures standing near the gutted body of the less lucky PC (I rolled randomly, in the open, which PC would be attacked).
The monsters knew that the PCs were around. The PCs knew this. And they knew that the creatures' intelligence was more than animal-level. I couldn't believe that they thought that a quick search for a place that wasn't in plain sight would be enough not to place sentries.

 

[Errant]

As for adding an NPC to the group, I've NEVER liked that as a PC, and I'd never do it as a DM.

Hmmm, I've actually often added NPCs to the group as a DM. Always with non-dominating skills/stats & generally a reserved/shyish personality to explain why they're often silent. It allows me to add the occasional clue/observation in-game without putting words in players' mouths. As already mentioned groups often call for clerics but few players enjoy being a walking Cure Wounds wand so my NPC clerics have often been very popular. When the going gets heavy I hand out the NPC's basic stats and let one of the more skilled players do the dice rolling. If a PC dies the player can take over the NPC & stay involved until a suitable RP moment arises for the slain PC to be resurrected or replaced. The trick is keeping the NPC's knowledge and abilities broad enough to be useful but limited enough to not dominate any aspect of the game. Having said all that, my players don't tend to put a lot of effort into character backgrounds so that might have a lot to do with it.

Getting back to the topic... PC deaths can hurt but if you never let PCs die you lose a lot of dramatic tension & you cheapen the PCs' victories. If baddies aren't really dangerous beating them isn't much on an accomplishment.

IMC resurrections are difficult to obtain from NPCs (churches) but possible, IF you're deemed worthy AND prepared to serve the church in return. Thats the route I'd go.