I killed one of my players...and they didn't get mad (possible Banewarrens spoilers)

[reveal]

Saturday nite, I DMed our weekly session. I decided to run my group (all 7th level) through the Banewarrens.

At the beginning of the sessions, I talked to the group and told them two things:

1) That everything I do I do for a reason. I am not trying to screw over anyone and even though they may think things are not clear, it will all become clear eventually.

2) Character death is a possibility. They are at a high enough level that they should know that and this portion of the campaign will be tough.

So after they get back to Silverymoon (where the last session ended) they end up going to Ptolus (I'm lazy and just inserted the city north of Luskan on the Sword Coast).

If you've run (or read) the Banewarrens before, you know it starts out very hectic, with Tavon Zith running about cursing people. Well, my players took care of the people, but Tavon ended up escaping. (This was one of the reasons for my first point; so they wouldn't feel that frustrated at this point)

So, one things leads to another and they end up under the Manor and in the tunnels that have been dug by an Umberhulk. They finally confront the Umberhulk.

And here's where things get wierd. The Umberhulk is a CR 7 creature. No problem with a 5 7th level characters, right? Well, kind of. They did end up killing the thing, after the Paladin goes unconcious twice. But not before a party member died.

The Umberhulk used its Confusing Gaze and the ranger failed his Saving Throw. The rogue was standing in front of him and, after I rolled to see what happens, the ranger wanted to kill the rogue. Now, the ranger is a master with the bow and gets a good thunk into the rogue. On his next turn the rogue runs to the other side of the cavern, yelling at the ranger.

On his next turn, the Umberhulk does the gaze thing again and, you guessed it, the ranger, again, fails his throw and, AGAIN, he wants to kill the rogue. And he does... Arrow right through the throat.

After the party kills the Umberhulk, they rush the rogue back to a temple and, after three days of praying, he is brought back.

And after all that, the party was not upset! I just wanted to let everyone know that, especially after reading all the posts about bad DMs/bad players, there are players out there who understand character death is a possibilty and, even if they don't like it, they will accept it if they don't feel the DM did it unfairly.

Just thought I'd post a kudos to my group and a thanks for being so openminded.

 

[Leopold]

i say your taking this death thing too seriously and that you are basically cheezing out on the risk.

I told my players right from the bat that death is common in my world and that smart PC's live longer than dumb ones. After that nice disclaimer they knew that I played my monsters for keeps and that they need to be smart and use tactics to keep them alive and kicking.

I have killed 5 PC's in 4 months and none of them have complained bitterly about it as I pointed out to them the flaws in their plan after the battle was done WHEN they asked for my opinion.

Overall their deaths have come from sheer stupidity and only once has a death been heroic and worthy of the PC saying "Ya know what, he died like he wanted to, keep him dead".

My players take death rather well and know and understand the risks. I don't take death of a PC to seriously and know that the players understand the risks to any situation. It breeds caution on their part knowing that at any turn something may popup or attack them or lure them to their doom!!!

 

[Squire James]

Jeez, of course they weren't mad, at least not openly. They saw what you did to that player!

OH... you mean you killed one of your player CHARACTERS! Sorry, my bad...

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

My players actually like dying, since they get to roll up new characters.

 

[BBrendolfus]

My players (and me) have a similar attitude to character death.

It sux

But for combat I roll openly and play the opponant appropriately, especially in the form of concentrating attacks for intelligent foes.

2 characters recently died due to excessive fireballs and cones of cold. They tried hard to survive but each made one bad mistake in the battle (one was 'grouping' whilst aware of a flying fireballer and the other was finding out the hard way that yes the sorceror still had 5th level magic left).

We do not want fudging or railroading. I want the characters to win or lose on their players merit. I, as the dm try to give a nice array of encounters of differing difficulty to be had or avoided by player choice. The above battle was an el 4 higher than the party and the only escape plan of teleporting blew up when the characters 'grouped'. The players want to win and win without cheese.

nuf said

 

[Tom Cashel]

In a game where the dead can be raised...

"Death is but an obstacle."

 

[Psion]

I try to not pull any punches, and in a 17th level game, I only have 2 character deaths so far (one when facing a dragon, the other when facing a beholder). The ones that did occur, the players roleplayed well (they came back in both cases). In one case, the party rogue used it as a chance for introspection and it changed the character's outlook.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

In a campaign that played for about 3 hours, once a week, I once went 3 weeks in a row getting my character killed/captured.

The first week - my transmuter goes with some others to investigate strange sounds in the middle of the night - captured

Week 2 - the barbarian is killed fighting as part of the distraction to rescue last weeks characters

Week 3 - the ressurected barbarian is killed AGAIN, this time by a green dragon!

But all three times we down to my choices and fair combat, nothing else. So I lived with it and rolled up another new character.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

Re:

I kill characters pretty regularly in my campaign. 'Course they're DEEP in Rappan Athuk 3, so they don't get mad - a bit frustrated at times, but not mad.

One thing - if the rogue was acrosss the cavern, why did the ranger shoot at him? Confusion makes you attack the nearest target - whether friend or foe.

 

[apsuman]

I thought the subject line read that you KISSED one of your players and they didn't get mad.

"Man what a wierd game" I was thinking.


g!