What do you think of dying at level 1?

JustinM said:
I just killed a 1st-level PC in my campaign. First session, even. The tank got his block knocked off by an ogre with a greatclub. One hit, straight to exactly -10. I didn't mean to do it, but I hate it when other DMs fudge, so I didn't, either.
They're a menace. 2d8+7 damage can easily kill a first level character on an average hit. I've lost two PCs to 3e ogres.
 

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Doug McCrae said:
They're a menace. 2d8+7 damage can easily kill a first level character on an average hit. I've lost two PCs to 3e ogres.

They are at that. I've killed a couple PC's with 3e ogres as well, and only avoided being killed as a player (and had I gone down, an inevitable TPK) by lucking out with a critical.

I like them though, because that 'menace' factor makes them ideal mooks at mid-levels. But I really wouldn't set a party against them until 3rd level or so. I've learned my lesson on both sides of the screen.
 


1. The scout fighting for the church instead of against the church as decided earlier is definetally a problem. PCs should not flip-flop about what side of a battle they're on (short of a dramatic moment of realization about being doublecrossed/tricked or under magical influence, anyway).

2. The scount spending 7 rounds putting on armor in the middle of a fight was already a problem if he agreed to be the tank. Scouts are only allowed light armor anyway (IIRC), it shouldn't have been critical enough to waste 7 rounds on.

3. The DM allowing CN, NE, and CG characters in the same party is a big problem to start with. There is pretty much no way to hold those characters together without major railroading, and no one should be thrown into an evil party as a good character without be warned well in advance. BTW, when it comes to holding a party together, CN is marginally worse than NE. If you expect to hold an actual long-term party together with evil characters, you want to at least make them lawful.

4. The fact that no one tried to save you for 8 rounds is another indicator that the party was doomed to fail.

5. Saying "Well, now I have time to save you" one round after someone spends 9 rounds bleeding to death is just being an ass. And that's the player, not the character.

6. Where the heck was the warlock in the first battle, and why did it take so long for him to try and heal you in the second one? The scout isn't the only one failing at being a team player here.

7. In a low level party without a dedicated healer, you should expect to die a few times.
 

Three party members only, 2 of which are choatic and 1 is evil. This is not an adventuring party. It is certainly not campaign material (CG is probably more of a fanatic anti-evil zealot than LG)

I wouldnt be keen to play in such a thing. Im not surprised it didnt work.

That aside

In 1st edition it was the norm for much higher 1st level death-rate.
in 3e much higher survival rate within a normal party.
In 4e you will be far to uber to die at such lowly levels and 'diviners' can ressurect at will.

John
 


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