Killer DM or Puppy Love DM

[JacktheRabbit]

So which one are you?

Are you the killer DM who revels in the death of a PC and does the dance of victory when a PC goes down to the orc blade?

Or are you the Puppy Love DM who fears the death of any PC and will go out of his way to make sure all of the heroes survive every session?

Personally I fall in the middle. I am running a new campaign and we have had about 5 sessions so far and within that time there has been 2 deaths.

The party was 3rd level at the first death, the party cleric was sliced in half by an ogre sized snakeman wielding a huge falchion sword.The second was at 4th level when the parties NPC dwarf wizard was shredded by a brown bear the crited with one claw attack and hit with his second claw as well as his bite. Needless to say the dwarf was short his head at the end of that round.

 

[hong]

Presenting things as a choice between two extremes isn't very useful. It's a given that most DMs are going to be somewhere between the two.

The campaign I'm DMing has been going for 7 sessions so far. There's been one death, although there have been a couple more damn close shaves. The PC in question was a 4th level sorc, who stuck around for one round too many next to a chain golem. It was messy.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Yeah, but by putting two extremes out you generally get people to give an answer and then qualify it often with an interesting explanation or example.

Chain Golem, very nasty.

 

[the Jester]

I'm much closer to being a killer dm. I don't pull punches or fudge (much, anyway). I act the heartless 'enjoy the dead pcs' role pretty well, though I'd rather everyone live.

 

[Sniktch]

Ditto - Although I have played with both extremes (and I think it was more fun with the killer DM, tho not by much), I think its pretty rare. Personally, I probably lean more towards killer DM. I am liable to fudge the dice to save a character who's simply had a run of extremely bad luck but has been roleplaying well and playing intelligently.

I have a very low tolerance of poor or 'stupid' (for lack of a better word) decisions. Players that consistently make mistakes in one of my games will soon find themselves rolling a new character.

Both of my campaigns have been running for over 2 years now, and in that time their have probably been about a dozen deaths in each game (well, at least a dozen. Sometimes raise dead/resurrect/etc. causes me to lose count).

 

[Fenes 2]

By that definition, puppy dog. I don't kill off PCs. If the player wants to act in a suicidal way with his PC, I warn him. If the player goes through, the possible death is on his head.
I run long campaigns, and I revel in background and NPC-ties. Common PC death would ruin my fun as a DM.

 

[Airwolf]

I must admit; I was a killer DM. I wanted at least one character death each session. If I didn't get that I was depressed. Of course I always planned a good story line that convinced the PC's that I wasn't at fault.

That came to an end a few weeks ago during a very nasty session involving a devil and two demons. My wife's character was the one that died. I am here to say, the ole' marriage bed was mighty cold for a while.

I am now the kinder gentler DM.

Advice: You can take it or leave it but I am living proof that if your wife is a PC do everything in your power not to kill her character or you will be very, ah 'romantically', frustrated.

 

[Sniktch]

Advice: You can take it or leave it but I am living proof that if your wife is a PC do everything in your power not to kill her character or you will be very, ah 'romantically', frustrated.

Heh, I think that may depend upon the marriage, Airwolf. My wife plays with us and she would be just as upset if she found out I was keeping her character alive. She doesn't want to be a DM favorite, she just wants to play with everyone else and be treated the same.

Yes, I must say that I have killed characters of hers before in my game. Its rare, but thats more because her characters usually attempt to avoid combat than because I am fudging to keep her alive.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

Poor boy, he is even WHIPPED at the gaming table. Does she keep your pair in her dice bag when she doesnt have them in her purse?

That came to an end a few weeks ago during a very nasty session involving a devil and two demons. My wife's character was the one that died. I am here to say, the ole' marriage bed was mighty cold for a while.

I am now the kinder gentler DM.

Advice: You can take it or leave it but I am living proof that if your wife is a PC do everything in your power not to kill her character or you will be very, ah 'romantically', frustrated.

 

[Airwolf]

Poor boy, he is even WHIPPED at the gaming table. Does she keep your pair in her dice bag when she doesnt have them in her purse?

Shhh! Don't tell anyone that.

Regards,
Airwolf