Unfair Character Death?

[The Thayan Menace]

Doubt

If snaky, magical tentacles burst from the floor, I'm pretty likely to suspect a spellcaster or a magical trap - but I might also suspect a strange new creature, reaching incorporeally through the walls and manifesting only its arms.

Thanks to the Spellcraft rolls of the cleric and the wizard, the party was aware that these were Evard's Black Tentacles and not a creature. No one blamed an enemy spellcaster (though one did show up later); the rogue simply felt that these were magical effects which could only be "set off" and not disabled.

In other words, the more weirdstuff* the environment is, the more I'm likely to accept seemingly magical happenings as "normal," and not necessarily traps laid out by some other intelligence.

Good point, but does this mean I killed his character off pointlessly?

Well, if you're certain, then you're certain.

I'm not actually; which is why I started this thread.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I was willing to let bygones-be-bygones, and admit that I could have been more forthcoming about the nature of what his character was facing. After all, his PC was a skilled Thayan rogue, and he would have known what a magical trap was (even if his player did not).

Then I would apologize (verbally) and let it be done. If it isn't enough than you cannot really overly stress about his reaction.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Apology?

Then I would apologize (verbally) and let it be done. If it isn't enough than you cannot really overly stress about his reaction.

I do not make it a habit to apologize when I have not made a mistake.

 

[Crothian]

I do not make it a habit to apologize when I have not made a mistake.

Well, it is not that black and white. From a certain point of few you did make a mistake, you failed to give him the information to make an informed choice based on character information the player wasn't aware of. That seems to be how he sees it, and if he really is a friend taking his view point into consideration and apologizing is not out of line.

 

[Phoenix]

Do some players need their hands held through every last section of an adventure? I understand that it is a DM role to describe surroundings and so forth, but there is a certain ONUS on players to ask the right questions.

Plus: it's a game.

If he's letting it come between a friendship, that's pretty shallow.

I can't remember the last time a 7th level Rogue got between me and a friend....

But some people I guess have to play for sheep stations...

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

I do not make it a habit to apologize when I have not made a mistake.

My reply...

Well, it is not that black and white. From a certain point of few you did make a mistake, you failed to give him the information to make an informed choice based on character information the player wasn't aware of. That seems to be how he sees it, and if he really is a friend taking his view point into consideration and apologizing is not out of line.

Thanks Crothian.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Mistakes?

Well, it is not that black and white. From a certain point of few [sic] you did make a mistake, you failed to give him the information to make an informed choice based on character information the player wasn't aware of. That seems to be how he sees it, and if he really is a friend taking his view point into consideration and apologizing is not out of line.

I could have been more descriptive and given more hints, but how much prodding is too much?

1. I described the visual effects of the spell.

2. The rogue's companions made Spellcraft rolls and told him it was a triggered spell effect.

3. No one in the party made any Search rolls to look for trap remnants.

4. The rogue never asked me if it was a magical trap effect or made any effort to determine if it was. Hell, if he would have asked, I would have told him.

There are things I could have done better, but how did I make a mistake?

 

[Crothian]

I could have been more descriptive and given more hints, but how much prodding is too much?

There are things I could have done better, but how did I make a mistake?

Who cares?? Is your pride so important that you can't apologize for the sake of a friendship? Sometimes, perception of a mistake is more important then the reality of the situation, becasue your friends perception is his reality.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

There are things I could have done better, but how did I make a mistake?

If the PC would have know, and you've stated this as fact, than you should be forthcoming with the information. (IMHO, your world, your game, but your here asking for our opinions.)

 

[The Thayan Menace]

The Price of Failure

[Y]ou failed to give him the information to make an informed choice based on character information the player wasn't aware of.

I failed to see how a veteran player could mistake a triggered spell effect for anything other than a magical trap.

I was wrong, but I did not cause the death of his character. His inability to comprehend magical traps did that.

I will not apologize for his failure to understand the rules and abilities of his character.