What do you do when a PC dies because of a bad dice roll?

[dead]

I know there's a lot of DMs that don't like PCs to die unless they do something stupid. But what happens if it's just the luck of the dice.

For example, the PC has to save or die versus a Finger of Death or Disintergrate, etc. (Even worse, it's a Power Word Kill and there's NO saving throw!).

D&D is a game that is played with a fair few situations like this. I think in the spirit of earlier editions, the DM would have no remorse. The PC is DEAD!

Since roleplaying has evolved, there is more of an emphasis on story-telling and it doesn't serve well for heroes to be dropping like flys.

Of course, you've got things like Resurrection to bring PCs back, but what if you're not running a game with Resurrection spells on every street corner or the PCs just don't have the funds.

Also, if you "saved" the PC from a situation like this, the player might feel like your puppet. I know I would!

 

[SuperFlyTNT]

That sucks dude... you need a charecter sheet?

 

[francisca]

Other: Mock them endlessly and tell them not to let their dice get near mine.

 

[erian_7]

If they don't want instant death spells used against them, then the characters can't use such spells against the bad guys...

I'd say if the players are truly against save-or-die spells, remove such spells from the game entirely. Now there are other scenarios where a single die roll might result in instantly death, but spells are usually the big one. I voted to let the dice roll where they may. Death happens.

 

[Alhazred]

That sucks dude... you need a charecter sheet?

That's pretty much the responce I'd give. The only time I go easy vis-a-vis PC death is if I'm the cause (ie, I goofed by throwing something way too powerful at the party without an in-game hint, accidentally made a DC too high, etc).

 

[Corsair]

If I'm a player, I resist the urge to mock the other player, and say "I've got a spare character sheet if you need it."

If I'm the DM, I just say "Now serving number 2. Number 2, please come to the service desk."

 

[arwink]

Raise Dead is made for these kinds of circumstances.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

I'm sympathetic to losing a character...but really, dice rolls are part of the game and if a monster/BBEG/etc can die from one, PCs can too.

As arwink said, that's why we've got Raise Dead.

 

[Nifft]

I chose the first option, but... it's really in the player's hands.

See, I hand out these "Fate Points" which work like extra-strength Action Points / Drama Points. One use for a Fate Point is to instantly save a PC's life. By spending one Fate Point, you immediately are raised from negative HP to 0 HP (staggered).

PCs get Fate Points by doing stuff that helps the game along out of character. Writing up a Journal Entry, illustrating a battle, generally making something cool that helps the game.

-- N

 

[DragonLancer]

I always let the dice fall where they may, whether it be combat or save-or die effects. Always have done, and see no reason to change that.