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To Kill or Not to Kill (PCs): That is the Question...
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<blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 5952490" data-attributes="member: 8835"><p>In many ways, I think Level, Hit Dice, CR/EL were designed as mechanisms so that a GM could take a comparitive measure of difficulty/safety.</p><p></p><p>This is why I always find it odd to get pushback against level appropriate challenges.</p><p></p><p>Yes, it is possible that a 1st level PC in a "realistic" world could randomly run into Tiamat. Or they could foolishly seek her out for combat.</p><p></p><p>In the game aspect of RPG, I fail to see what the benefit of such a possibility is. If the PCs survive, it is more by GM fiat than player finesse that the GM "allowes" Tiamat to not decide to just eat the morsels in front of her.</p><p></p><p>Such an overkill encounter is hardly the players fault if they die. It is most likely assurance of PC death, which thus, is no challenge, no fun, and a foregone conclusion.</p><p></p><p>It would be far more proof of player skil to see them survive a level appropriate challenge. El1, EL2, etc. Where the fact that it WAS practical to win, makes failure proof of really bad luck/incompetence, and victory implies skill.</p><p></p><p>While in my game, there are higher level NPCs, etc that the PCs COULD seek out, I don't place the ridiculously higher ones in the path of the PCs. There's no point, as it proves nothing, and tends to lead to DM show-boating.</p><p></p><p>If I hear tell of players who beat a ridiculously overpowered NPC, I am inclined to think DM intervention occurred. The DM either handed out too much loot, enabling PCs to mont-haul the monster, or the DM was lenient on the dice rolls or interpretation of reactions. It's possible the victory was legitmate, but that's my first impression because of how improbable that victory should be.</p><p></p><p>Whereas, a PC facing a simple Orc, why fudge the result? If the PC can't beat a reasonable opponent, he deserves what happens.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Janx, post: 5952490, member: 8835"] In many ways, I think Level, Hit Dice, CR/EL were designed as mechanisms so that a GM could take a comparitive measure of difficulty/safety. This is why I always find it odd to get pushback against level appropriate challenges. Yes, it is possible that a 1st level PC in a "realistic" world could randomly run into Tiamat. Or they could foolishly seek her out for combat. In the game aspect of RPG, I fail to see what the benefit of such a possibility is. If the PCs survive, it is more by GM fiat than player finesse that the GM "allowes" Tiamat to not decide to just eat the morsels in front of her. Such an overkill encounter is hardly the players fault if they die. It is most likely assurance of PC death, which thus, is no challenge, no fun, and a foregone conclusion. It would be far more proof of player skil to see them survive a level appropriate challenge. El1, EL2, etc. Where the fact that it WAS practical to win, makes failure proof of really bad luck/incompetence, and victory implies skill. While in my game, there are higher level NPCs, etc that the PCs COULD seek out, I don't place the ridiculously higher ones in the path of the PCs. There's no point, as it proves nothing, and tends to lead to DM show-boating. If I hear tell of players who beat a ridiculously overpowered NPC, I am inclined to think DM intervention occurred. The DM either handed out too much loot, enabling PCs to mont-haul the monster, or the DM was lenient on the dice rolls or interpretation of reactions. It's possible the victory was legitmate, but that's my first impression because of how improbable that victory should be. Whereas, a PC facing a simple Orc, why fudge the result? If the PC can't beat a reasonable opponent, he deserves what happens. [/QUOTE]
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