I killed someone (in the game)

[Kae'Yoss]

Let me get this straight: He was new, it was his first session or one of the first sessions, he hasn't totally warmed up to the game and how it is played yet, and already you slaughter his character?

I don't want to make you feel guilty, but this may very well ruin the game for him. I would certainly have fudged that roll. If you make it well, the players won't find out (and if you reduce him to negatives, they might not think it's fudged)

I'm not saying that ever DM should handle the players with kid gloves, but he should have a little time to get to know the game before you show him that his character can be taken out without problems - especially if it wasn't his fault. Like the couple of seconds of invulnerability you get in first person shooters, to get your bearing and maybe arm yourself.

 

[rogueattorney]

I've noticed that many of my new (3.0 or 3.5) players seem overly sensitive to character death.

Probably because it just took them an hour and a half to make the character in the first place. I agree with Francisca.

Seriously, some should consider starting newbies up on a disposable "generic" character for the first time around to give them an idea of what they're doing. The first few sessions should focus on learning the mechanics of the game more than character creation. Once the noob has the mechanics down, he'll have a better idea of what he wants in a character anyway.

Or maybe running the characters through a few practice combat sessions that don't "count" making sure that a couple characters "die" to give them an idea of how deadly combat can be would be a better way to go.

And Ferret, never ever let anyone make you feel guilty for not fudging the dice. DM's don't kill PC's; monsters and traps kill PC's.

R.A.

 

[MarauderX]

Ferret, you must be a card-carrying member of the Rat Bastard DM club, but if you aren't and need some reassurance on killing PCs, new players or old, pay them a visit. And while you are there get some insight on how to kill the rest of them too.

 

[Henry]

Probably because it just took them an hour and a half to make the character in the first place. I agree with Francisca.

Seriously, some should consider starting newbies up on a disposable "generic" character for the first time around to give them an idea of what they're doing.

Probably the best idea for any new player. I, too, have noticed a propensity for attachment to PC's that wasn't there in my "old days" of gaming. It took all of 10 minutes for the most inexperienced player to design a new PC, and we took 'em in and either survived or died. The intriguing thing was that no matter how many times we got killed, the novelty of that death and the story behind it kept us coming back for more!!! We just made up a new "green army toy" and jumped back in.

I would say that designing a 3E character from the ground up, and not getting emotionally invested in that character, do not go well together. The pre-gen character, however, is just about right for "cool factor." But then, that's what those NPC tables in the 3.0 DMG are for.

 

[Mystery Man]

With Etools (now 3.5 if that's your angle) you can crank out characters as easy as breathing.

Although I think a green, brand spanking (if thats what your into) new player to the game should be guided a little closer as to what would be a really stupid thing to do. Killing their character just to teach them what not to do is kind of being a jerk. If after however the 4th or 5th time of saying "that might not be a good idea" and they still don't get a clue....

 

[arscott]

I kinda feel for the player here.

If my character had died during my first few games, I would have thought "oh well, that sucks, but I can make a new one."

But If my character had been killed by a dire weasel I would have pulled a blackleaf.

 

[Caspian Moon Prince]

I would have fudged the roll for sure. For the first few adventures, I would make sure to lay off the newbie and slowly put the player in tougher and tougher perdicaments. This way they can get a feel for the game, without much pressure.

This could also be because I play and run a campaign with one other player and character deaths are a pain in behind sometimes.