"PCs usually die of stupidity"

[Fieari]

It was hard picking just one, but I settled on not knowing when to quit. That barely edges out the other choices. Looks like it's the same for quite a few other DMs too...

 

[jeff37923]

Need... multiple... choices.

Oh, yes. We definitely need multiple choices.

I've seen all of the above kill player characters. Although I'm DMing a 13-year old now in a game and it is opening up new vistas of actions and consequences I'd never even concieved before ("I strip off all my clothes and walk into the Baron's audience chamber naked! - What do you mean the guards arrest me for that?", "My alignment is neutral so I'm going to flip a coin to see if I'll be good or evil just like Two-Face! Tails! I attack the nearest party member! - What do you mean the rest of the party is trying to kill me for attacking them?").

It's an eye-opener, that's for sure.

 

[A'koss]

"Well... it did sound like a good idea at the time."

A'koss.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Oh, yes. We definitely need multiple choices.

I've seen all of the above kill player characters. Although I'm DMing a 13-year old now in a game and it is opening up new vistas of actions and consequences I'd never even concieved before ("I strip off all my clothes and walk into the Baron's audience chamber naked! - What do you mean the guards arrest me for that?", "My alignment is neutral so I'm going to flip a coin to see if I'll be good or evil just like Two-Face! Tails! I attack the nearest party member! - What do you mean the rest of the party is trying to kill me for attacking them?").

It's an eye-opener, that's for sure.

Change his alignment to Chaotic Stupid and just hand it back to him. He should probably be just fine with it.

And hell, lots of us did the same stuff at 13. Heck, I had scatalogical stuff added into the mix. You're getting off lucky!

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Need... multiple... choices."

Agreed.

Back when I played a game in CA about 16 months ago, it was this:
Inappropriate not RP'ing. ("You want to talk to a dragon?! They're evil! Charge!!!") and

A dragon tried to inform our group of some goings on near Anauroch. One player pulled a classic manouvere. "I'll attack the evil beast," she exclaimed. The dragon then plugeed its right nostril and shot fire out the other, incenerating her character.

-------

Nowadays its part bad RPing and not knowing when to call it a day (in-game wise).

 

[Nifft]

Next time, multi-choice. For now, though, the winner has quite a large lead.

-- N

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

Never give up, never surrender - REPEATEDLY DIE. And I thought I was the only one with players so bullheadedly stupid.

 

[Saeviomagy]

I tried to sneak up on him and use my last spell, Vampiric touch. He saved and turned around and used death touch or harm on me thus killing me.

Vampiric touch has no save.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

By not being as paranoid as I am as a player.

Actually, this has applied to almost every campaign I'm in. I tend to make savvy, defensive-minded PCs with a streak of (usually justified) paranoia. These PCs tend to survive because they watch their backs, take save-upping items over uber-1337 death sw0rds of d00mz0rz, and stick close to other characters who compliment their strengths.

No one else ever takes this example to heart. I couldn't tell you the number of PCs I've seen die from situations that should have been painfully obvious both to the players and to the (allegedly Int 15, Wis 15) characters. I'm talking telescoped a mile away because the DM intended for the party to understand the danger.

Nope.

With that said, nothing kills PCs like overstepping their bounds. Just last session I had one who had just seen a (much more powerful in combat) ally get smacked down right next to him, had been himself grappled and mauled by one of the four opponents ringing him, who had been given the option to surrender twice, who could have dimension doored away... pick up his swords while prone and attack four boss enemies.

 

[MonsterMash]

Most PC deaths I saw were caused by inappropriate cowardice from the most powerful PCs; especially the Wizard who teleported away when anything bad happened.

That in a lot of ways would be inter-party conflict - failure to co-operate leading to PPK

I would have liked a multiple choice poll too.

The main problem I have found is 'one more room' syndrome, which possibly I try to avoid too much as a player.