Killer DMs and you
- Thread starter MerricB
- Start date
Norfleet
First Post
I'm a killer DM. Players live in mortal terror of even the smallest kobolds. Especially kobolds. I can turn an ordinary walk through the jungle into a summary of my experiences in Vietnam. I'm also stingy about treasure, because I feel that if it were so easy to take the treasure from these monsters, somebody would have done it already, and the monsters never would have had the treasure for very long to begin with.
I'm also a big fan of realistic irony, so I've frequently had players go off to investigate some legendary treasure, only to find sporadic resistance and dead monsters, and eventually discover that somebody has beat them to it.
I'm also a big fan of realistic irony, so I've frequently had players go off to investigate some legendary treasure, only to find sporadic resistance and dead monsters, and eventually discover that somebody has beat them to it.
frankthedm
First Post
I am a cold blooded Playa Killa.
If a player asks for death they get it.
If they won't / can't run, they will die sometimes. if your armor slows you down, just remember you CHOSE to wear it.
I changed fly to where dispell ends the entire spell, no feather fall crap.
If a player asks for death they get it.
If they won't / can't run, they will die sometimes. if your armor slows you down, just remember you CHOSE to wear it.
I changed fly to where dispell ends the entire spell, no feather fall crap.
As a DM I do not kill PCs without a clear warning. As long as I don't say "Do that and your PC may/will die" the players in my campaigns know that their PCs will survive (the PCs may loose gear, status, freedom etc. as a consequence of their actions, but the players will be able to continue to play their PCs.)
As a player, I don't play with DMs who kill PCs. I don't want to play a tactical wargame where I have to make the "best" choices for feats, skills, gear and class in order to survive/beat the monsters. I played in such campaigns and it was absolutely no fun for me at times, and only marginally entertaining sometimes. The endless worrying in every battle killed my fun completely. If I want to have a tactical challenge as a player I play a CRPG - with saving.
Because some people will probably wonder: I don't play with people who need the threat of PC death to abstain from playing "immortal" characters. Our PCs do not know they will not die, and depending on the character and situation may run from fights or surrender.
As a player, I don't play with DMs who kill PCs. I don't want to play a tactical wargame where I have to make the "best" choices for feats, skills, gear and class in order to survive/beat the monsters. I played in such campaigns and it was absolutely no fun for me at times, and only marginally entertaining sometimes. The endless worrying in every battle killed my fun completely. If I want to have a tactical challenge as a player I play a CRPG - with saving.
Because some people will probably wonder: I don't play with people who need the threat of PC death to abstain from playing "immortal" characters. Our PCs do not know they will not die, and depending on the character and situation may run from fights or surrender.
MerricB said:
I have, and I have seen 15 PCs drop in one night!... (I think some people lost their three times)
Why play with him? Well, it was my second campaign, ever, and if there were other groups, I didn't know about them. The game was very challenging (too much at times), but with a large group (usually 8+ players), we could usually out-think one poor GM.
He did get irritating, at times. Like when the MU tried to get a Humonculos made, and he ruled that the alchemist had been Feebleminded, so the result was a "Nesbit" (no, not the little cheese crackers, a magical pest creature that looked like a Humonculos, could injure the MU even when he Shapechanged into a Willo-the-Wisp, and took bites out of Vorpal Swords)! To get away from THAT monstrosity, I had to go down underground, where he told me I became "imprisond... Either before or after that point, he had already done something to my other PC, so when he asked me "Do you have another PC?", I replied "No, you've killed them all!", and I think he knew he'd crossed the line. At the end of the night, he "gave back" both PCs.
What was really interesting was when someone ELSE GMed, and he played with us... CE MU with some potent staff... As much trouble to the party as many of his NPCs! He kept at it until my poor little Druid wondered (aloud) what effects Warp Wood might have on his precious staff. He didn't think it would have any. The then-GM disagreed, saying that it would "probably" cease to be magical... "Please don't cast Warp Wood on my staff." begged the evil Mage. "Behave!" replied the Druid!
I really hate to make people reroll so i have a different system for death.
There is only one type of resurection and you have to get it at the temple. It cost 6000gp times there level. They also lose a random magic item.
This way it still hurts the character but in a different way. Surprisingly people are more cautious with there characters when they know they will lose 95% of there money and a magic item.
There is only one type of resurection and you have to get it at the temple. It cost 6000gp times there level. They also lose a random magic item.
This way it still hurts the character but in a different way. Surprisingly people are more cautious with there characters when they know they will lose 95% of there money and a magic item.
Kichwas
Half-breed
MerricB said:
I've had... 1.
And it was the same player who in the game I play in is always getting his characters killed. He's lost maybe 4-5 in that game. We considered it a killer game, because here were about 8-10 PC deaths over the life of the game.
I generally don't like playing in a game with a reasonable risk of death to my character. Why? Because I want to be able to develop personality and story. Those are the factors that drive me to roleplaying, not challenge or victory.
Lord Ravinous
First Post
Yup, my character survival rate looks like were playin' in the ghetto of LA. Rolling 1's sucks. *Shakes Fist*
diaglo
Adventurer
sad to say a big fat NO
the DMs i've met are afraid to kill characters. they are afraid of several things...
1) it will mess up the storyline
2) the player will be upset and possibly not return
3) the player may not like them anymore
4) they will have to stop play to figure out how to introduce the new character
5) they can't handle change so they allow the PC to come back pretty much instantaneously
only in the latest campaign have i seen character death(s). one by my character and one by all the other players' characters too. a TPK. but up to that point we didn't. however, the new campaign does have hero points to save the PCs bacon.
the DMs i've met are afraid to kill characters. they are afraid of several things...
1) it will mess up the storyline
2) the player will be upset and possibly not return
3) the player may not like them anymore
4) they will have to stop play to figure out how to introduce the new character
5) they can't handle change so they allow the PC to come back pretty much instantaneously
only in the latest campaign have i seen character death(s). one by my character and one by all the other players' characters too. a TPK. but up to that point we didn't. however, the new campaign does have hero points to save the PCs bacon.
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