D&D 5E What attitude should Next encourage DMs to have to TPKs?

[Libramarian]

Or some kind of challenge that ends up being unexpectedly hard.

a) Apologetic -- "Sorry guys, my bad, I didn't balance it well enough."

b) Disappointed -- "Tsk, I wanted to see you succeed but you didn't bring your A-game."

c) Gloating -- "HA, I the Dungeon Master have beaten you with my creations, which means I win!"

 

[kitsune9]

I voted gloating because it was funny, but I'm closer to disappointed. I want to create challenging encounters for the group and TPKs should arise from bad luck on the dice or stupidity (or combination thereof). I won't throw challenges that will overwhelm the players unless they are being foolhardy.

 

[Ratskinner]

I don't think it should take any particular attitude towards them in the core. Different modules are welcome to take very specific attitudes, though. I guess, I would say Disappointed...but in the rules more than the players.

 

[Minigiant]

Disappointed.

"C'mon. Can't believe you all died. How'd you lose?

 

[JohnSnow]

I promote Option 4...

"DM's Sidebar: What to do if you (accidentally) have a TPK?

"If all the party members go down in a fight, remember that this does not necessarily have to be the end of the campaign. Did your players enjoy the way things played out? Are they talking about the epic way they lost? Then maybe it's time to let their characters stay dead and start a new campaign.

"But if your players really like these characters, and want another shot, there are options. Remember that characters who are reduced to 0 hp are unconscious and helpless, not dead. Now, their opponents might just finish them off, but they might not. Intelligent foes might take the PCs captive. Unintelligent opponents might leave them on the battlefield to be picked up by passersby later. The key is to talk to your players. If most of them want to continue with their PCs, but one wants to let his character die as a result of the battle, let him create a new character."

"Remember that the point of the game is to have fun. If you and your players can use a seeming TPK to create a great story together, don't let anyone tell you it's a bad idea. From events like this, great D&D campaigns can evolve."

 

[tlantl]

Libramarian I think you missed one.

Indifference. If the players find a way to get themselves killed, well it's the way it is.

I really hated the asinine way 3e set CRs. there was no way to gauge if a monster was really a good challenge for some combinations of character classes.

I had to give up trying to advance monsters since they invariably wound up so strong that the players didn't have a chance.

Giving monsters character classes was a safer bet but took forever and there was no way to condense all their stats to less than half a page and still be able to read them quickly.

I never had a party die until 3e.

But seriously,

What attitude should Next encourage DMs to have to TPKs? Go to it and have fun

 

[Libramarian]

Libramarian I think you missed one.

Indifference. If the players find a way to get themselves killed, well it's the way it is.

True, I should have included that.

 

[Sunseeker]

None of the above.

A DM should attempt to challenge their players at all times, the defeat of the players should let the players reflect upon why they lost and discuss that with their DM, if they feel there was any issue on the DM's part at all.

It should NEVER be gloating or disappointment. It should be a chance for everyone to see what went wrong and do better next time.

 

[howandwhy99]

None of the Above

I'm empathetic to the players trials, but I'm not going to alter the rules either. That's like lowering the pole vault bar because I feel sorry for the vaulter. I'm not totally adverse to pointing out they can go elsewhere, but it's up to them to decide.

 

[ExploderWizard]

None of the Above

I'm empathetic to the players trials, but I'm not going to alter the rules either. That's like lowering the pole vault bar because I feel sorry for the vaulter. I'm not totally adverse to pointing out they can go elsewhere, but it's up to them to decide.

This. So long as the players are in control of their destiny and the DM is not scooting them from encounter to encounter then TPks just happen when they do.