Post character death

[Shortymonster]

We've all had it happen - or if not, you're very lucky indeed - but one of the characters in my game died last session. Not usually the worst thing in the world, but there is a best, two sessions left to go. I have allowed them the chance to take over an NPC for me - a risky choice, as he's one of the main antagonists - instead of bothering to create another character at this late stage.

What would you lot have done? What have you done in the past, and how has it played out for you?

 

[delericho]

Short term, have the player take over a friendly NPC (or, in one case, the PC of a player who had all-but dropped out).

Slightly longer term, make arrangements to have the PC raised, or the new PC introduced, at the earliest possible opportunity. The closer the game is to the end of the campaign, the more I would favour raising the character and carrying on.

 

[Shortymonster]

Cyberpunk game, so no magic raise dead shenanigans going on here! But still totally possible to do, and one of the other characters has already hinted at how they might go about it. Not sure if bringing back from the dead might cheapen the death though?

 

[delericho]

Cyberpunk game, so no magic raise dead shenanigans going on here! But still totally possible to do, and one of the other characters has already hinted at how they might go about it. Not sure if bringing back from the dead might cheapen the death though?

There's the "Sixth Day" approach, where a character could conceivably have his memory/personality backed up on a computer somewhere, and his provider grows a clone body for him.

But... yeah, it almost certainly would cheapen the death just to bring him back. In that case, I would definitely be inclined to promote an NPC to PC status, or just bring in a new character.

 

[Shortymonster]

The characters are in fact cyrogenic wake ups. They have had everything about themselves stored on a system somewhere. If you've read the comic book Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis, you might know what I'm talking about.. Sadly I'm new to this forum, so can't post links just yet. If you can find my blog, the post entitled 'revivals' should give you an idea of what I mean...

 

[Dioltach]

Have his personality backed up on something unusual: a pen, a motorbike, a calculator, someone's telephone ... That way he can still participate, offering advice and helping to solve problems, without cheapening the death.

 

[Random Axe]

Have his personality backed up on something unusual: a pen, a motorbike, a calculator, someone's telephone ... That way he can still participate, offering advice and helping to solve problems, without cheapening the death.

I like this approach. Creative.

Shortymonster, did I interpret your OP correctly, that there are only one or two sessions left to go? Is that the end of the campaign for you? How long have these characters been adventuring together, is it an old campaign finally winding down, or a one-off adventure that your group doesn't intend to make a long-term campaign out of?

 

[smartmonkey]

I tend to introduce helpful minor NPC's for this very reason. The cop contact the Shadowrunners deal with on a regular basis and has drinks with them on the weekends, or the PC's ex-girlfriend, or the nerdy college kid who works at MIT's magical library, or whatever. All shadowrun examples, but hey. They're there for color and interest, as well as to advance the plot, and they all can easily develop a reason to step up to PC'dom if one of the mains falls.