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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Guest&nbsp; 85555" data-source="post: 6156038">Yes, they should factor sod in xp. the potential damage output ina single round (including max damage via sod) is an important consideration and sometimes these things get overlooked. Of course they have to balance this against other considerations as well. But that doesnt make sod a bad mechanic. A monster with a chance of killing a pc on a single roll is frightening and exciting. That is why the mechanic is there. It spooks players the way things like level drain do. Some folks do not like this, but that doesnt make it bad design. If your design goal is to have some monsters that are scary and can kill pcs on a single roll, I would say there is nothing objectively bad about it. I completely undertsand the view that some find it too lethal and too unpredictable. That is a valid concern. People will disagree based on their preference. But I am really not getting this whole "its objectively bad design". It is a tool. Just like HP are a tool and AC is a tool. The question is whether it belongs int he next edition of D&D. It may or may not. I just do not think SoD should be written off as bad design for all cases. It is a perfectly valid tool for designers to draw on when needed.</blockquote>