My first TPK

[Rel]

Let me fix this problem that is emerging:

Grumpy Celt, you're offended. We get it. Don't post in this thread anymore. Doing so won't make you less Grumpy and I personally want you to be happy.

Everybody else, stop posting to or about Grumpy Celt. He's not allowed in this thread anymore and that's just poor form.

 

[Carpe DM]

I find that TPKs give credibility. The best way to do a TPK is to plan for it, but never force it. Death is a big deal. It should add to the story, not detract from it. And the last thing you should do is intentionally TPK (that is, railroad the PCs into it). So, how can you plan for something without forcing it?

The first thing I do when I start a campaign is I plan the adventure that I will run if I wipe everyone out. There are lots of ways: the party is resurrected years later and must sort out the mess. The PCs become living souls, fighting their way out of hell. The PCs are resurrected on the Ash Tree of Woden, and are now Einherjar, fighting for the Betrayer in Battle. The players take on the roles of the people who just killed them.

Find your own cool story -- one that adds to your campaign if it happens. Then stick that adventure in your back pocket, and leave it there.

If the TPK happens, pull out the super cool story. The campaign continues without a hitch.

 

[Rechan]

That's one of my pet peeves. I hate anything that interferes with the player's sense of agency over his or her character.

How about things like blindness?

Or Nausea?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

I really hate it now. Yeah, I was the DM.

That is the nature of learning experiences... you'll keep a better eye on things next time.

A druid could always happen upon their corpses and reincarnate them

Wha? I didn't even realize that Gerbil was even on the Reincarnation table?!!!

The Auld Grump