Is it O.K. for the DM to kill a character when the player isn't there?

[lukelightning]

If the DM is absent can the PCs run amok in the campaign? "Hey Don Junmaster, when you didn't show up to run the game last night we played without you. We killed the king of the land and looted the palace."

 

[an_idol_mind]

If the DM is absent can the PCs run amok in the campaign? "Hey Don Junmaster, when you didn't show up to run the game last night we played without you. We killed the king of the land and looted the palace."

This actually happened in a group I was in once. The DM left the use the bathroom, and for some reason gave the adventure to one of the players to run while he was gone. When he came back, we were all 30th-level demigods. I don't think the DM was amused.

 

[Mark CMG]

Is it O.K. for the DM to kill a character when the player isn't there?

In some games I have played it is almost required, a sort of challenge for the DM to find a way to do it purposefully without seeming to do so.

 

[DonTadow]

IF we're playing a game, a person certainly can't play it if they are not present. Whereas I think its unfair, so are casinos, but people throw their money into them all the time. In other words, if your group agrees to it, and you get Xp when you aren't there, you should face the consequences for such deals.

 

[Bagpuss]

A big DEPENDS for me. Most of the time its a no, because it isn't fun to return to find out your character has died no matter how 'fair' any dice rolls were, after all if you were there you might have decided run and not have need to face the killer blow at all.

Some examples of exceptions.

TPK where there is no chance of escape.

Extended absence when you have effectively left the group via non-attendance, but usually I try to "retire" a character before then, if they do return you can always work them back in.

The player has left explicit instructions knowing he is unable to attend, and agrees that those instructions could lead to his characters death. "If it comes down to it I will fight the reguard action on any retreat, I'm heroically foolish like that."

 

[lukelightning]

In some games I have played it is almost required, a sort of challenge for the DM to find a way to do it purposefully without seeming to do so.

Heck, in some games it's the players who kill the absent person's PC.

 

[sniffles]

To those who won't kill a character whose player isn't there....

is the character still getting full shares of gold, magic, and xp?

And if so, what's the motivation to always show up? You're actually 'safer' not showing up since you're character is still getting everything but now has script immunity.

The motivation to show up is the fun of playing your character. That's the reason you're in the game, presumably.

Several years ago I was very ill for a long period and had to miss a number of game sessions. I was playing in games with a couple of different GMs, and each of them responded to the situation in a different way. One GM gave my character full XP for the sessions during which I was absent, although I'm fairly certain my PC became all but invisible during those sessions. The other GM did not give any XP for my absences, but again my PC was treated as though not present.

Naturally I like what the first GM did. I didn't fall behind, and hence didn't get penalized for something that was entirely out of my control. Sure, you can say it penalized the other players because they didn't get extra XP for being present and having active characters. But that's not the way we play. We're in it for the roleplaying and player social interaction. The XP is just a bonus.