When Do You (GM) Kill PCs?

[xnosipjpqmhd]

...I'm a big fan of maiming the characters instead of killing them outright. ... there's no glory in being killed during the build-up of the story. Once you reach the juicy bits of the story though, all bets are off.

My philosophy exactly! And from a realism standpoint, it's what what would most likely happen in real life. That little line in the PHB that reads "Damage ... doesn't slow you down until your current hit points reach 0 or lower" can lead to overconfidence and quick PC death, IMHO.

ironregime

 

[ThirdWizard]

For those advocating maiming, what about regenerate?

 

[xnosipjpqmhd]

For those advocating maiming, what about regenerate?

I'm not a good one to ask, since my current game would be considered "low magic" by most D&D'rs. (Though the heroes do currently have access to a Heal spell.)

ironregime

 

[ruleslawyer]

If the ambush wasn't important to the "story", why did you include the encounter?

You could just say, "Don't make dice rolls for anything that's not important. You guys can decide if you succeed or not." Which is totally valid.

Pardon; I should have said "critical."

Or perhaps you missed my point. Every game of my experience has an occasional combat encounter that isn't specifically critical to moving the campaign along. (If every single combat encounter WERE, that would make for an incredibly contrived game. If every single non-critical combat encounter were handwaved by the DM, that as well would, IMHO, make for a contrived game.) Read through any adventure out there and tell me that every single encounter is in there with the express purpose of furthering the storyline!

 

[genshou]

Ditto again,

However in one campaign of around 12th level the "Cripple Crew" as they renamed themselves was quite the sight entering town.

"Boy, you don't want to be an adventurer...stay on the farm..you wanna look like this when your 25?" says the scarred ranger...as he limped away.."Bring me a beer"

Fun times

That is the most honest, in-character view I have ever seen. It's going in my sig! What was the name and level of the character who said that?

 

[LostSoul]

Pardon; I should have said "critical."

Or perhaps you missed my point. Every game of my experience has an occasional combat encounter that isn't specifically critical to moving the campaign along. (If every single combat encounter WERE, that would make for an incredibly contrived game. If every single non-critical combat encounter were handwaved by the DM, that as well would, IMHO, make for a contrived game.) Read through any adventure out there and tell me that every single encounter is in there with the express purpose of furthering the storyline!

In that case, non-story related encounters are done to further suspension of disbelief. But if PCs cannot die during these encounters, why have them at all? That's pretty much the same as handwaving it.

If you enjoy these encounters for their own sake, doesn't death have to be present? Otherwise, where's the challenge?

I believe that you can write adventures where every single encounter has the express purpose of furthering the storyline. I don't know if there are any D&D adventures like that - but D&D adventures don't generally have a storyline (or much of one). Just monsters to be killed and treasure to be taken. (Which is cool.)

 

[ThirdWizard]

If you enjoy these encounters for their own sake, doesn't death have to be present? Otherwise, where's the challenge?

See, for me, if combat started and I announced a gurantee stating that no PCs would be killed in the battle, my Players would quickly lose interest, wondering why we were even bothering with rolls, so I agree with the sentimentality. It's sort of like announcing that we're about to have a TPK before a die has been rolled. Why roll further, just do it!


I still want to hear why the Cripple Crew didn't just get a regenerate spell and be fixed up, though. Or is it specifically banned in that game? Or are the crippling effects just for flavor, with no actual side effects?

 

[LostSoul]

See, for me, if combat started and I announced a gurantee stating that no PCs would be killed in the battle, my Players would quickly lose interest, wondering why we were even bothering with rolls, so I agree with the sentimentality. It's sort of like announcing that we're about to have a TPK before a die has been rolled. Why roll further, just do it!

The way I see it, it's a form of railroading. The "You can't kill my NPC no matter how hard you try" syndrome is the same thing.

Still, if the players like it, then everything is fine.

 

[shilsen]

See, for me, if combat started and I announced a gurantee stating that no PCs would be killed in the battle, my Players would quickly lose interest, wondering why we were even bothering with rolls, so I agree with the sentimentality. It's sort of like announcing that we're about to have a TPK before a die has been rolled. Why roll further, just do it!

But what if you announced that even though they would not be killed, they could be knocked out, captured, lose their equipment, etc.? You can have a lot of consequences to defeat besides death.

 

[LostSoul]

But what if you announced that even though they would not be killed, they could be knocked out, captured, lose their equipment, etc.? You can have a lot of consequences to defeat besides death.

That makes sense. As long as there are penalties for failure. Death is just usually the big one (although I'd rather die as a high-level fighter than have all my equipment stripped).