Players, DMs and Save or Die

[Anthtriel]

DM and player (more often DM), for ten years, originally liked SoD, and slowly came to hate it.

The most memorable SoD moments are always those were a PC or an important NPC dies in the first or second round of combat with no input whatsoever.

 

[Quartz]

I dislike SoD, but there is a place for it. IMHO the DM should give the players plenty of warning, and make sure they have the ability to obviate the ability - if they think. They need to know that they're going up against something with a SoD ability. Think of Perseus in Clash of the Titans.

 

[Piratecat]

Example 2: Phase Spider pops out and attacks my caster in the surprise round, I end up dead from constitution loss so quick that I can't do anything about it. Oh ya, that was fun.

Technically, Peter, this last one isn't save or die. It's save or take con damage. Mind you, the con damage kills you pretty damn quickly, but it's not technically the same.

I'm a DM, and I dislike save or die as well. Always have. When I kill PCs, I'd prefer to have them to go down fighting.

 

[diaglo]

my option isn't available.

i'm a referee mostly now and prefer save or die. but when i'm a player i also prefer it.

 

[Plane Sailing]

So, apparently, those who are both players and DMs obviously don't support Dave or Die?

Might want to fix the poll.

I've edited the poll so that option 5 is player and DM who SUPPORTS save or die (which is logically what I think you wanted that to be)

Cheers

 

[Plane Sailing]

Although 'save or die' can kill a PC too quickly and robs someone of fun, I still find I viscerally dislike the change made to disintegrate so that it merely does some damage.

So I'm a DM and a Player, and I think I vote FOR save or die.

One caveat - I dislike the death effects that you can't bring someone back from. In one campaign I was able to bring back people from the dead but every time someone was killed it was by some kind of death effect and I couldn't.

My hope for 4e? 'Save or die' effects that work on bloodied creatures.

Cheers

 

[Stormtower]

I'm usually a DM, and I dislike save or die... with one qualification:

If the game is a deep immersion/shared storytelling type of campaign, save or die is usually more trouble than it's worth. I do use Action Points to mitigate the risk and I will still (very) occasionally throw a SoD monster against a party, but they usually have fair warning and opportunities to turn back or prepare themselves w/Death Ward, etc... no bodaks for random encounters.

If I'm playing or running a campaign or module which is intentionally stated to be a high-lethality game, I have no problem with SoD at all, and it adds an interesting tension. But I want that level of lethality to be spelled out before we sit down to play.

 

[Baby Samurai]

If I'm playing or running a campaign or module which is intentionally stated to be a high-lethality game, I have no problem with SoD at all, and it adds an interesting tension. But I want that level of lethality to be spelled out before we sit down to play.

I could deal with that, as in not get too attached to my character (if on the rare occasion I was actually a player).

 

[Doug McCrae]

I'm quite surprised by the poll results so far. It seems ENWorlders are strongly against SoD, by a 3-to-1 majority in the case of DMs. Looks like those Wizards of Seattle do their market research well.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Actually, to refine my earlier position.

I am against 'save or instant death'

I am for 'save and you will die in a round or two unless someone intervenes'.

the latter gives the opportunity for dramatic last words or actions as the PC crumbles to dust/turns to stone/heart is torn away/etc, not to mention it gives other PCs the opportunity to take steps to exacerbate the situation.

Cheers