5e is much more forgiving. However, when you're starting a campaign with 1st level characters, those are usually pretty squishy (compared to higher level 5e play). I've had numerous 5e TPKs, most of them at 1st-3rd level.
Too Much Effort to Make New Characters?
- Thread starter Retreater
- Start date
5e character levels 1 to 3 are fairly fragile and there are some low level monsters that can be very swingy. 4 and 5 they toughen up and after 5 it would take work.
TaranTheWanderer
Legend
Gloomhaven is free on Tabletop Simulator(I think). There are videos explaining how to set it up.
Tabletop simulator is 20$ Per person.
A very cheap way to play a $200 game. And it sets up all the scenarios for you.
Here is the first hit I did on google:
Gloomhaven tts
There is your problem then, or at least the heart of it.
It is also available on Steam
Committed Hero
Hero
There's a big difference between making a new character and making a character to start playing. A lot of players put deep thought into the process - regardless of what the GM wants or expects - and I can understand feeling that the effort was wasted if the PC dies after a handful of sessions. I know plenty of folks who buy dice or minis just to match the PC, so there is possibly an economic aspect to the analysis.
The likelihood of character death is something that should be discussed in Session Zero so that everyone is on the same page. A lot of folks feel that a PC's death should be meaningful or at least a choice of the player (though certainly the choice of game makes a difference).
The likelihood of character death is something that should be discussed in Session Zero so that everyone is on the same page. A lot of folks feel that a PC's death should be meaningful or at least a choice of the player (though certainly the choice of game makes a difference).
Jd Smith1
Hero
While I'm an advocate of tough games, and letting the die fall where they may, that seems high. If I'm reading it correctly, a PC would only last 3 or 4 sessions.
If so, either your players' tacticals are bad (far from impossible), or your scenario design seems a little rough.
Well, I am using pre-published adventures, so I'm not necessarily designing the encounters. So maybe it's bad tactics on the players' part? (Or brutal tactics on my part?)
payn
Glory to Marik
Likely a combo. Also, sometimes published adventures have what appears to be a balanced and/or challenging encounter and its not. At least that was my experience in the PF1 AP era. Of course, that system is notorious for CR being all over the place so it was likely more off balance then. Which likely put me in the habit of looking closely at encounters as part of my GM prep.
Possibly brutal (or even incorrect) tactics on your part. When you say you are using published adventures - there's still a lot of leeway in that. If monsters are always running high on HP, for example, that can have an impact. Many of WotC's major published adventures technically start at level 3, and have expectations on levelling beyond that point. If the party is low compared to the expectations, you'll have issues.
I might also take a look and see if there's any systemic rules issues - like, is your group is using rest and healing mechanics properly? Are you applying surprise appropriately? Are you all applying movement rules in the same way? A simple thing like players not knowing the Dash action exists can have a major impact on play.
Each time the players approach something, as yourself what you'd do in that situation - if the players are consistently failing to do what you think is appropriate, maybe there's a knowledge gap.
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