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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Remathilis" data-source="post: 2325539" data-attributes="member: 7635">Storyline death (as opposed by combat death, which is a function of game mechanics) should have the following properties (as applied to RPGs, novel writers have much wider breth). 1.) Never allow your villian to WIN. Even if he is your favorite villian with 1,000,000 contingencies, to truly make him amazing he must die. By the PCs if possible. Too many DMs fall into the pet villian mold and never allow the PCs to win, but to forever stay in stasis with their villian. 2.) Kill NPCs that matter ONLY to elicit a response. A dead prostiute on the street is a plot device, a dead wife to the PC will garner a wide aray of responses. Don't always guess the PCs response either. Some will become melancoly, some vengeful, some stoic. 3.) Don't kill everyone the PCs meet: They'll stop talking to people. 4.) Ressurection of a darling so killed can have two effects depending on your tone. It changes the nature of heroic sacrifice (from willing to die to willing to suffer death) and its only cheap when its artificially constructed (IE, DM hints, part of the plot). In this one persons case, the death may change him, sober him up and make him less whiny and more focused to make his second chance "count"5.) Never do any of this to a PC without his expressed consent. 6.) "Kill" doesn't always mean death, esp in D&D. Soul Binds, Planar Prisons, even kidnapped by kobolds all "remove" the darling from the scene and spur greater adventure.7.) Lastly, wait out the moment of maximum effect if you wish to kill your other darling. Predictability breeds contempt. Have said NPC become increasing aware and (perhaps resigned) to her demise. subtle clues like change in attitude or appearance. Have her confide in another PC that she feels a sense of dread or gloom. Bonus points if she is or becomes a love interest. Finally, allow her one final stand as a hero or whatever, then do it as the capstone to a major plot advancement. (Think Aeris in Final Fantasy VII or even Padme in Sith). 8.) Don't look back. Allow the PCs mourning time and even methods to bring about thier return, but never judge yourself or have second thoughts. whats done is done.</blockquote>

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