D&D General What do you do (as GM) if a PC dies in the middle of a session

[cranberry]

So, one of your players makes a risky move, the dice gods disapprove, and their PC dies. For one reason or another, no one in the party is able to revive the PC.

I'll start by saying the worst thing you can do, IMO, is have the player just sit there until the end of the session, and I think most GMs understand that.

I give my players a couple of options:

Take a few minutes to roll up a character, and jump in. (Since they had to do it on the fly, I let them change things after the session when they've had time to really think about the new PC)

Play the monster(s) that the other PCs will face, and roll up a new character at home for the next session (at the same level that the rest of the party is at)

Play an NPC if one is available and has more than a bit part.

Go home, and bring a new character in for the next session.

When the player rolls up a new character in this situation, I just assume that the new PC has always been part of the party from day one, and the game continues as normal.

I once had a PC that died, and the DM wouldn't let me play until I could figure out an in game reason for the new PC joining the party (and that also he had to review and approve). IMO, that's not fun, and really unnecessary.

So, with all that being said, what do you do?

 

[iserith]

If I'm running a one-shot adventure, there will be some pre-gen backups prepared ahead of time for players to grab and get back to playing.

If I'm running a campaign, the players are asked to create a backup character (or possibly more than one). In some campaigns, they can swap the characters from session to session to level them up a bit.

In either case, the other PCs know the character that is being tapped in, and they have a reason to be wherever they are, so there's no awkward "Gettin' Ta Know You" scenes or sitting around waiting for the "perfect" time for the new character to join the party. The goal here is to get the player back into the primary mode of participation with the game as quickly as possible.

 

[cranberry]

If I'm running a one-shot adventure, there will be some pre-gen backups prepared ahead of time for players to grab and get back to playing.

If I'm running a campaign, the players are asked to create a backup character (or possibly more than one). In some campaigns, they can swap the characters from session to session to level them up a bit.

In either case, the other PCs know the character that is being tapped in, and they have a reason to be wherever they are, so there's no awkward "Gettin' Ta Know You" scenes or sitting around waiting for the "perfect" time for the new character to join the party. The goal here is to get the player back into the primary mode of participation with the game as quickly as possible.

I wish I could give you two "likes"

 

[Cruentus]

I usually have the players have a couple of characters ready before play even begins, in the event that there are deaths.

During the game, they can usually either run a hireling or other NPC (or have that become their character), have them encounter the new character in the adventure (rescued, run into, etc.), or the party usually quickly returns to town to resupply after the death, so the new character can join then.

But, as you said, its never a long time that the player has to wait to rejoin the party.

 

[Parmandur]

Though seriously, in my experience the player who loses a character juat chills out and starts flipping through the PHB to think about their next one.

 

[Baldurs_Underdark]

In my group, nobody would actually enjoy playing a new character. We focus heavily on character development, and any new character would feel hollow and empty. And the party would be mourning the loss of their friend.

I'd give the player controls over one or more of the pets, so (s)he has something to do in combat. Other than that, tough luck. Not much to do in the roleplay situations.

We would definitely follow up with an extra "session zero" to discuss what's next. New character, or side-quest to revive the old one.

 

[el-remmen]

In my experience, players rarely want to immediately jump into playing a new character (and for me and most of my players the continuity of the new character's arrival matters). So like others, I might offer an NPC henchman or companion to run or if there isn't one or they don't want to do that - they can spend the session preparing a new character so we can figure out how best to introduce them the next time.

If a player wants to go home early that's fine and if they want to stick around and see what happens that also happens. I don't think of having "fun" as such a scarce resource that if they don't immediately have a way to play more it is a big deal - esp. since there is no guarantee that they will have fun with any of the "keep playing" options.

 

[Jahydin]

For my OSR games, I have them run multiple characters (2-4), so one dying isn't a big deal. They can roll up a new Level 1 characters whenever they feel like it.
Pathfinder/D&D, they just roll up a new character right away, but what level they start at varies system to system. Pathfinder 2E is same level, 5E is a level lower for instance.

 

[cranberry]

So, for those of you who prioritize role playing and story continuity over participating in the action and decision making for the group during the session, would you even allow allow a character to die? (permanently)?

 

[Oofta]

So I assume this is after I do the "DM celebratory death dance" and demand tribute from the other players lest the same happens to their PCs?

 

[Oofta]

Player death is fairly rare in my current campaign based on player preference. It is never completely off the table.

So I give players basically the same options. Bring in a new PC, run an NPC if I have them statted out, help DM. Frequently people will still just hang out for the rest of the game and bring in a new PC next session.

 

[Lanefan]

View attachment 276117

Though seriously, in my experience the player who loses a character juat chills out and starts flipping through the PHB to think about their next one.

My character Black Leaf in fact did die during last week's session.

But she got better... (it helps that the party can hard-cast Raise Dead in the field)

 

[Lanefan]

Player death is fairly rare in my current campaign based on player preference.

Hardly surprising, as I'd guess most of your players would prefer to survive the session and continue with their non-gaming lives.

Their characters, on the other hand...


As for what I do, if it seems at all likely the character will be revived before long then the player just has to wait. If the character declines revival or revival isn't an option, the player will IME usually dive right in to rolling up a replacement, which will be introduced at the next reasonable opportunity in the fiction.

At low-mid levels I usually allow players to run two characters side-along, such that if when one dies the other is still there to play.

 

[iserith]

So, for those of you who prioritize role playing and story continuity over participating in the action and decision making for the group during the session, would you even allow allow a character to die? (permanently)?

In some campaigns where it makes thematic sense, such as in my serial pulp action Eberron game, I just take death off the table unless the player decides it's the right time. If the rules would otherwise indicate you are dead, you are instead taken out of the current scene and come back in the subsequent scene. Often that means you suffer a penalty of some kind until you do something to get rid of it. For example, you might have a -dX penalty to your attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks, until you complete a quest or the like. Thus, there is still a cost to "dying" sufficient to work toward avoiding it, but the continuity of the game, as far as a regular cast of characters is concerned, isn't interrupted.

 

[Larnievc]

If I'm running a one-shot adventure, there will be some pre-gen backups prepared ahead of time for players to grab and get back to playing.

If I'm running a campaign, the players are asked to create a backup character (or possibly more than one). In some campaigns, they can swap the characters from session to session to level them up a bit.

In either case, the other PCs know the character that is being tapped in, and they have a reason to be wherever they are, so there's no awkward "Gettin' Ta Know You" scenes or sitting around waiting for the "perfect" time for the new character to join the party. The goal here is to get the player back into the primary mode of participation with the game as quickly as possible.

Bit like the 2nd ed Dark Sun character tree?

 

[iserith]

Bit like the 2nd ed Dark Sun character tree?

I don't remember how that worked exactly as it's been a long time since I've cracked open that boxed set, but sure.

 

[Shiroiken]

It depends on the situation, edition, and level, but if there's an absent PC (missing player), they usually take over control of them. In case of perma-death, where the character can't/won't be revived, the player will normally spend the time making a new character (this is particularly common at lower levels). If the character might be revived at some point later in the session, the player will usually just listen in, read, or (these days) play on their phone. If the character might be revived at some point after the session, the player can either build a temporary character, run an absent PC, or simply depart the session until next time.

 

[Weiley31]

Well first I tell the player to reload their save file.

 

[Cordwainer Fish]

Middle of a session? It's probably time for a convenience store run. Options can be discussed in the car.

 

[el-remmen]

So, for those of you who prioritize role playing and story continuity over participating in the action and decision making for the group during the session, would you even allow allow a character to die? (permanently)?

Not sure what those have to do with each other, but yes. In fact, in my games, most deaths are permanent as accessing resurrection magic is rare in the setting.