Is it OK to...

[TracerBullet42]

I remember doing this once with a character of mine. My character was a 2ed halfling rogue that challenged this haughty elf to a fight. It was during a festival and was with wooden weapons and fighting on platforms over a pond. Anyways, first round my character criticaled on that elf. Knocked 'em right into the water and made them look a fool. Hahaha...a great moment.

Halfling triumphantly showing the elf who's boss?!!! You, sir, are my hero!

Stupid elves...

 

[DragonShadow]

As everybody has noted, stupidity comes with a price-tag roughly on par with a major magical item.

If the PC decided that he felt like dueling with Thor, then by all means, let the freak duel with Thor.

 

[Bendris Noulg]

An example would be one of my arrogant Pcs hearing about a very powerful general that leads the army of the kingdom they are in. And they get the chance to meet them. And then challenge them because he beleives he would be better.

This is what I would call a well deserved kick in the arse... Be firm but merciful.

This time.

 

[Zappo]

If a PC bites off more than he can chew... that's his problem. Consequences, action and reaction. It's a good way to run a game.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Is it OK to have a very powerful NPC Pretty much slaughter(but not kill) a PC. If the PC willingly challenged them? The NPC in question will be a high level Figher.

If the PC willingly challenged them, then I think it is fair. They should face the consequences, and if they are not going to get killed, I don't see a problem with it.

It might teach them a lesson about thinking a little more before they go challenging NPCs they are not certain they can take.

 

[Calico_Jack73]

OMG... this reminds me of a 2E game that I was in once. There was this scrawny looking human fighter in a town square that was boxing anyone for prize money. The prize was sizable so our big, brawny 18/9x Fighter goes over and puts some money down on the fight thinking that he'll whup the guy in just a couple short rounds. What he didn't know was that the scrawny looking fighter was a fairly high level Wizard who had recently "Dual Classed" to become a Fighter. The Scrawny guy had an Armor spell cast as well as Stoneskin and beat the Brawny Fighter PC soundly since nothing he could do would effect the guy. None of the other PCs that accompanied the BF on the shopping expedition were arcane types... just a Ranger (me) and a Thief. We stood their with our jaws hanging down to the ground as this scrawny guy handidly beat the tar out of our BF and takes his money.

We about died laughing when the BF player wanted to throttle the DM at the end of the session when the DM revealed how he had been beaten.

 

[Buttercup]

Yes, it's fine - as long as the players understand that the NPC is a powerful character.

I'm not sure I agree, Merric. I mean, sure it's ok if an NPC kills a character. I just don't think the DM has to put a sign on the NPCs neck saying "I'm too tough for j00!" There isn't any reason why the PCs should assume that they can take anthing or anyone they run across. And they shouldn't be encouraged to fight first and ask questions later.

I once had two 3rd level PCs confront a man who they *suspected* was involved in a kidnapping & murder plot. He turned out to be an 8th level fighter who killed one of them, and seriously damaged the other. I'd say they got what they deserved--barging into the guy's hotel room and pushing him around, just because the local priest had mentioned that said guy just got into town and was asking questions.

Buttercup the bloodthirsty

 

[Calico_Jack73]

I'm not sure I agree, Merric. I mean, sure it's ok if an NPC kills a character. I just don't think the DM has to put a sign on the NPCs neck saying "I'm too tough for j00!" There isn't any reason why the PCs should assume that they can take anthing or anyone they run across. And they shouldn't be encouraged to fight first and ask questions later.

I was in a game once where the DM introduced an magical item that became a great help for situations like this. It was a jewel which when held up to the user's forehead would allow the user to see a NPC's "Level" as a floating number over their head that only the user could see. Kind of funny really but it came in handy.

 

[Zappo]

OMG... this reminds me of a 2E game that I was in once. There was this scrawny looking human fighter in a town square that was boxing anyone for prize money. The prize was sizable so our big, brawny 18/9x Fighter goes over and puts some money down on the fight thinking that he'll whup the guy in just a couple short rounds. What he didn't know was that the scrawny looking fighter was a fairly high level Wizard who had recently "Dual Classed" to become a Fighter. The Scrawny guy had an Armor spell cast as well as Stoneskin and beat the Brawny Fighter PC soundly since nothing he could do would effect the guy. None of the other PCs that accompanied the BF on the shopping expedition were arcane types... just a Ranger (me) and a Thief. We stood their with our jaws hanging down to the ground as this scrawny guy handidly beat the tar out of our BF and takes his money.

We about died laughing when the BF player wanted to throttle the DM at the end of the session when the DM revealed how he had been beaten.

Whoa. In 2e, using the abilities of your previous class before having reached it again in level means no XP. Wacky rule, but plenty justified here since this is exactly the kind of situation it was written for. So this ex-wizard guy is renouncing all the XP for his current adventure - whatever this means for an NPC - just to make some money brawling?

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

And they shouldn't be encouraged to fight first and ask questions later.

Exactly.