Save or die

[the Jester]

You know the interesting thing here is the frequency which players hit save or die versus the frequency monsters have to do so. I'd actually hazard a guess that save or die actually helps the players more often than it hurts them.

Yeah, but when it hurts 'em it hurts 'em bad.

 

[moritheil]

That just reminded me of my DM in an online game. Although he'd probably wonder what that 'save' word means.

That reminded me of me.

 

[genshou]

Not to get off Topic Genshou but from a realistic standpoint the GM has everything to gain from Sundering, and the players have everything to lose.

Since the GM can, at any time, say "And a meteor hits the planet, killing you all" I tend to shy away from things where the DM is up 100% on the party.

Think about it - for wealth the party relies on gear from fallen foes. Your NPC's dont need it, as you poof them into existance fully loaded. It is, by nature lopsided in favor of the DM. Seems kind of stupid really.

You do realize I was joking, right? Right?!

 

[wingsandsword]

As I've always run it it was RAW, but I was very wary about putting Save Or Die effects in, generally only from climactic encounter of at least mid-level parties, the sort of thing a BBEG leads off the fight with to show they are very, very serious.

My big problem with Save Or Die is how it completely bypasses hit points, which are supposed to represent the whole "Heroic Luck" which prevents any random sword stroke from running you through or cutting off your head, but somehow spells get to bypass all that.