Unfair Character Death?

[The Thayan Menace]

Skilled Professionals

Since the player is trying to blame you have you tried telling him that its the other players fault since they all knew but choose to leave him in the dark about it anyway??

Yeah, they could have been more forthcoming, but they figured he knew. Hell, I did too. After all, it's not unreasonable to assume that a rogue knows how to handle such matters.

 

[Crothian]

No ... but it would certainly take the mystery and excitement out of it.

Of one encounter, that's really not that big of deal in the scope of things. Its not like this revealed the great campaign mystery or something. I'm just failing to see how this turned into a big deal. Character died, player says DM is to blame, DM says possible, I'll try to learn from the situation and then everyone moves on......

 

[Herremann the Wise]

No ... but it would certainly take the mystery and excitement out of it.

And instead give you a situation where the DM and the Player feel like it was the other who was "in the wrong", to the point where apologies are being demanded and apologising is being refused.

Now which situation would I prefer? :\

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

 

[Crothian]

Yeah, they could have been more forthcoming, but they figured he knew. Hell, I did too. After all, it's not unreasonable to assume that a rogue knows how to handle such matters.

Correct, and if the player is a master jewel thief I'd agree with you. But he's just playing the part of one and does not have the true knowledge or experiences or instincts of a true rogue. So, since it is not unreasonible for the rogue (the character ) to know this he (the player) should have been reminded.

 

[S'mon]

Was the PC Searching for traps? If not I can't understand what he's complaining about. If he was Searching you're supposed to roll vs the trap DC whether it's magical or mechanical. As a kind GM I'll assume the PCs are moving 5'/round & Searching in a dungeon unless told otherwise, but often PCs have Buff spells on and would rather whizz through the dungeon at 60'/round, in which case, tough luck.

 

[S'mon]

OK, this is the point at which I back out of the room, slowly.

These GMs, they Hate Our Freedoms...

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Word ....

I'm just failing to see how this turned into a big deal. Character died, player says DM is to blame, DM says possible, I'll try to learn from the situation and then everyone moves on......

Amen ....

Still, I didn't kill him ... his misunderstanding and bad luck did.

 

[Crothian]

Amen ....

and yet that's not what's happening.....

 

[The Thayan Menace]

Word (x2)

You either forgot or you mislead [sic] him as he didn't get the information he truly should have.

Here is exactly what I told the party:

"Without warning, a dozen jet black, bony ridged tentacles errupt from the deck floor and fortress walls."

After two characters made their Spellcraft rolls, I informed them that they had triggered an Evard's Black Tentacles spell.

Now, I could have been more descriptive and evocative, but I believe that this was sufficient information for any veteran player to realize that a magical trap had been set off.

Granted, there are other possible explanations for this spell effect ... but a magical trap is the most logical.

The only thing I did not do was say:

"You have triggered a magical trap."

 

[Bront]

I am currently DMing in a FRCS campaign, and I am having a hard time dealing with an argumentative player.

This player's rogue character was recently killed by an Evard's Black Tentacles trap and he believes that I purposely set him up to get killed.

Now, the location of the adventure possessed numerous such traps and the party had set two of them off before the rogue succumbed to a third.

The player with the rogue told me that he did not know that these tentacle effects were magical traps, and, if he did, he would have actively searched for them throughout the adventure.

Although I described the visual effects of the Evard's traps to the party, he feels that because I did not explicitly state that they were magical traps, he assumed that they represented some type of evil magic that he could not disable.

This player claims that I screwed him over by not providing enough information and he demands an apology.

What should I do?

Did the character simply ask "Could this have been a trap?" If not, his fault.