What do you do when your character dies?

[Neo]

If theres one thing i've learned in my many years of GM'ing it is that players tend to prefer a set role, prefering race or class over others and thus tending to play that concept in preference to any others.

For example in my group, we have a guy who likes Rangers, the race may vary a little, the background a lot..but at the end of the day the way the character is played tends to be practically identical to how the very first one he made was played.

We have another who is the same with clerics, and another with trying to play tank like characters.... people have their preferences and thats fine the game is all about having fun after all.

If you liked your character, then by all means create the same class concept again, just be sure to vary him a little and make sure you give him a different name <chuckle>

 

[Victim]

Everytime I have a new character idea, I try to make a character around it right away, otherwise I'll never get around to it. I usually make these characters aruond the same level as the game I'm playing.

Then, if my character dies, I have a stack of cool ideas to choose from and I have the character ready pretty much right away, so I can quickly run him/her past the DM and make any necessary changes.

Of course, sometimes it's more appropriate to have the deceased character raised.

However, I try to mix up the characters I play. The cleric I felt obligated to play turned out to be one of my coolest characters. I also think varying character abilities improves playing skills. I have no problem with people playing a character with the same concept as their last one, though. If a player is trying to achieve a certain goal with a character concept, like a redemption based character who becomes good, and the character dies before they pull it off, then it's not a big deal if their next character tries for the same concept.

And some people just like certain characters. Some people don't like spellcasters, while I have to almost force myself not to play them.

 

[mmadsen]

How has everyone changed as they matured? For instance, as a kid I'd (a) cry, then (b) make up "Bilbo II" or "Sir Tristram II" or whatever. But I was six then.

It's way creepier when a teenager or adult starts bawling.

 

[Sodalis]

for beginner players, I like the idea of dying. When you are new to the game, the only real way to know what kind of char you like is toplay it. Sure a lot of ideas are appealing, but when put to the test, they lackluster.

Playing them for a couple levels and then dying is a great way for you to start a new char concept and testing that out.

Eventually you find what you like,a nd then settle down. That is the one you ride out dfor the duration of teh game...

 

[burdett]

for beginner players, I like the idea of dying. When you are new to the game, the only real way to know what kind of char you like is toplay it. Sure a lot of ideas are appealing, but when put to the test, they lackluster.

Playing them for a couple levels and then dying is a great way for you to start a new char concept and testing that out.

Eventually you find what you like,a nd then settle down. That is the one you ride out dfor the duration of teh game...

I think that this is an EXCELLENT point. New players should be encouraged to play something different when their character dies. It's a good way for them to find the classes that they enjoy playing and the ones that just don't work for them.

Experienced players have usually gone through this process and should be given the option to bring in a 'clone' character.

 

[Henry]

Well, first I start acting not like myself. Then, after crafting the noose from the light fixture in my room, I leave the note explaining how I can't live with the fact the my thief Blackleaf died to a poison trap, and I tell Marcy to say goodby to Ms. Frost for me.


Seriously, I tend to take that opportunity to explore a totally new character direction. I usually make up something totally opposite to what I had beorfe, assuming this does not leave the group short of a certain quality.

 

[Voobaha]

I usually freak out, dress up in a renaissance faire getup and run screaming through the steam tunnels under the nearest college campus. Then I take the elevator to the roof of the tallest building I can find, drink a "potion of flying" (a Pepsi) and leap to my death clutching my copy of the 1976 D&D Monster and Treasure Assortment Supplement I (Levels One to Three).

Sometimes I break out my copy of Mazes and Monsters and watch it again and again and again for 48 hours straight. When I recover from the self induced coma, there in front of me is a new character sheet for "Mezlo the XXVII" that I don't remember filling out.

 

[Limper]

Entirely dependent on two factors. One do I have a name? Two do I have another concept? If not I do as you were thinking and Recycle (its the ecological thing to do you know.)

 

[trimeulose]

Well, first I start acting not like myself. Then, after crafting the noose from the light fixture in my room, I leave the note explaining how I can't live with the fact the my thief Blackleaf died to a poison trap, and I tell Marcy to say goodby to Ms. Frost for me.


Seriously, I tend to take that opportunity to explore a totally new character direction. I usually make up something totally opposite to what I had beorfe, assuming this does not leave the group short of a certain quality.

ROFLMAO...........

twenty minutes later: That was great....snicker.... whoooooo.

 

[DM with a vengence]

I role up a new character in an entirely different direction. Since I DM most of the time (with a vengence), I have about a zillion cool concepts floating around.

Dwarf Cleric cursed with an Elven name (I am Aledrinker Bloodaxe Glindorfinel Goblinbane)
Human Evoker (KaBoom!)
Elven Bard (Hey, wanna make some half-elves?)
Gnome monk (Life is short and so am I)
Half-Orc Rogue (Me Blogg, me mug.)

See, a zillion different PCs out there.