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<blockquote data-quote="Glyfair" data-source="post: 3699902" data-attributes="member: 53">I see this come up in discussions on a pretty regular basis when certain topics come up.&nbsp; Many are convinced that D&amp;D is no fun unless the threat of dying is a regular element of the game.&nbsp; Must this be true?The assumption is that there must be some sort of risk or else the game isn't fun.&nbsp; Maybe this is true, but does that threat have to be death?Taking a look at another RPG I follow, <a href="http://www.glorantha.com" target="_blank">Heroquest</a>, I note that death isn't automatic in the game.&nbsp; Even when a contest has death on the line (such as the typical D&amp;D combat) the worst result that can be obtained after the contest is &quot;dying.&quot;&nbsp; It's up to the GM whether the player actually dies (and it is suggested that it be a decision between the GM and the player based on the needs of the story).What sort of consequences can motivate players?&nbsp; In <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=203801" target="_blank">another thread</a> a poll suggests that over half the respondents believe that players are more afraid of losing their gear.&nbsp; Isn't that a negative consequence for players to suffer if they fail, instead of death?Note I'm not saying death shouldn't be part of the game.&nbsp; Clearly if the PC dives into a pool of lava, without magical protection, he should die.&nbsp; However, if he is knocked off a bridge into lava there are plenty of cinematic variations that can allow him to survive with negative consequences (maybe he is badly scarred and has to wear black life support armor and talk like James Earl Jones for the rest of his life).Thoughts?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Glyfair, post: 3699902, member: 53"] I see this come up in discussions on a pretty regular basis when certain topics come up. Many are convinced that D&D is no fun unless the threat of dying is a regular element of the game. Must this be true? The assumption is that there must be some sort of risk or else the game isn't fun. Maybe this is true, but does that threat have to be death? Taking a look at another RPG I follow, [url=http://www.glorantha.com]Heroquest[/url], I note that death isn't automatic in the game. Even when a contest has death on the line (such as the typical D&D combat) the worst result that can be obtained after the contest is "dying." It's up to the GM whether the player actually dies (and it is suggested that it be a decision between the GM and the player based on the needs of the story). What sort of consequences can motivate players? In [url=http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=203801]another thread[/url] a poll suggests that over half the respondents believe that players are more afraid of losing their gear. Isn't that a negative consequence for players to suffer if they fail, instead of death? Note I'm not saying death shouldn't be part of the game. Clearly if the PC dives into a pool of lava, without magical protection, he should die. However, if he is knocked off a bridge into lava there are plenty of cinematic variations that can allow him to survive with negative consequences (maybe he is badly scarred and has to wear black life support armor and talk like James Earl Jones for the rest of his life). Thoughts? [/QUOTE]

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