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Message: <blockquote data-quote="delericho" data-source="post: 2572900" data-attributes="member: 22424">The thing is, in all of the source material, I see three tiers of characters:1) Nameless-minor-NPCs. These include the droid armies, clone troopers, and stormtroopers, but also those rebel pilots who are only known as "Red X", the Jedi who don't have names, and so on. These characters are totally expendable, and may be slain with impunity.2) Named-minor-NPCs. Examples include Greedo, Jango and Boba Fett, Darth Maul, and Wedge Antillies. These characters are more important, if only by virtue of having names. However, they aren't hugely significant to the story. Minor named characters can and do die in simple or even embarrasing ways. However, they are given the honour that we actually get to see them die.3) Major-NPCs (& PCs). These are the key heroes and villains of the story, whatever it is. They never die easy. If one of these characters does die, it is at the hands of at least a named minor character, and never without a significant struggle. It just doesn't happen in the setting.(Actually, this third category seems almost universal. The only example of a major character who then dies without any struggle at all is Achillies.)(Oh, and I am aware that this argument is rather circular - one of the main differences between a named minor and a major character is the way they die, and one of the main differences in the way they're handled is that they have to die the correct way.)Anyway, the VP/WP rules just don't model the categories well. As it stands, a PC can die in a trivial manner, for no reason that supports the plot.The rules could be made to support this division, by disallowing critical hits on PCs and major NPCs, but that's not how they currently stand. Besides, if you make that change, you remove the 'advantage' of the VP/WP rules in that they are more lethal and encourage more cautious play.True, but not in a trivial or simple manner.Well, killed by a broken heart, because George needed her dead for his story (and also because we needed one more continuity problem).Not a simple or trivial death. Dying at the end of a long hard struggle is not something I have an issue with. Dying with one hit in the first rounds of combat, when you are a major character, is something that I feel should be prevented.Note that the other masters are never named in the films. The only one I can put a name to off the top of my head is Kit Fisto, and he was hardly a major character. Mace Windu, of course, didn't die easily.Not exactly major characters.PC deaths I can accept. Trivial and pointless deaths for major characters do not fit Star Wars, and they make for a lousy game as well.And, yes, a GM can make a ruling to prevent such things occurring, but I'd rather fix the system that gets the game to that position in the first place, rather than play on with a huge (perceived) weakness in place.</blockquote>

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