When Do You (GM) Kill PCs?

[kanithardm]

While I actively do not go out of my way to kill PCs, I also do not take "heroic measures" to shield them from harm.

i go out of my way, because well they deserve it. I mean they do dumber stuff then ive ever seen before.

 

[lukelightning]

I definitely don't agree with the "When it's dramatically appropriate" choice. Talk about metagaming and railroading! "hmm, I want a dramatic game, so I will arbitrarily kill on of the PCs to satisfy my need to control a plot..."

If you feel this urge, please do your players a favor and write a novel instead of DMing.

 

[Hussar]

I rarely fudge die rolls anymore. I've come to the realization that, over a long enough period of time, the chance of survival of any given PC is zero. 100% fatalities makes me happy. )

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

If you feel this urge, please do your players a favor and write a novel instead of DMing.

Believe it or not, I've seen more players calling for the dramatically appropriate deaths than GMs.

 

[Brottor Dankil]

I've noticed a disparity amongst GMs when it comes to killing player characters. Some really don't like killing PCs and will try to avoid it whenever possible, even when it involved fudging dice rolls or ignoring rules. Some only do it when it is dramatically appropriate in the story. And some just let the dice fall where they may. Where do you fall?

Also, how easy is it to be ressurected in your game, and does this effect your willingness to kill PCs?

When they do something stupid, let the dice fall where they may. When I do something stupid like make the challenge too difficult (CR too high, ect.) and impossible to escape, I'll fudge some.

- Brottor

 

[DonTadow]

I definitely don't agree with the "When it's dramatically appropriate" choice. Talk about metagaming and railroading! "hmm, I want a dramatic game, so I will arbitrarily kill on of the PCs to satisfy my need to control a plot..."

If you feel this urge, please do your players a favor and write a novel instead of DMing.

If he means what I think he means when using the world "dramitically appropriate", he might mean that he's less likely to fudge a dice or be lenient during these moments. There are situations in my game where I'm lenient on a pc and then there are times when the drama is so tense that the enemies arent going to fall off of their tactics and are going to go all out for the kill.

 

[lukelightning]

Believe it or not, I've seen more players calling for the dramatically appropriate deaths than GMs.

Oops, I misread this as "dramatically appropriate deaths of/ GMs."

I can accept this as a subset of the "fudge" option...keeping PCs from dying in random encounters, etc.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Or any different?

Well, the obvious point of difference would be the small buffer of 10 hit points between dying and dead.

As for any more fun, I never suggested it was, which is why I use the variant of Fortitude Save DC 10 + 2 for every 10 points of damage or be knocked out. Failure means you're dying, failure by 10 or more means you're dead.

It was also why I mentioned the old dying at your negative hit point total for those higher level games where getting hit for 50+ isn't that odd.

Have I cleared up my comment or ?

 

[Truth Seeker]

My guidelines...

If there a death, then let it have meaning...it shall not be CHEAP!

Letting the players know in advance, that something might be bad around the turn, make them work harder to overcome the challenge.

Let the Dice fall where they may...is a cop out. The DM/Storyteller is the final law on all things in that verse. So, anything can be as wanted, as seen fit.

I don't believe in total TPKs...unless,as stated in this thread, the players put themselves into it. On that note, they have to be a bunch stupid SOBs to go there.

When you get hit with a bad blow, you suffer the problems that come with it. Lost armor piece, damage body part, strength lessen, nothing instant kill, again nothing cheap.

And lastily, having a decent size and very smart group of players, who understand the ramifications, when it comes to combat.

That goes a long way.

 

[VirgilCaine]

DM's don't kill PCs, players kill PCs.

Since resurrection is expensive, the PCs have to pay--in money, labor, piety, something for the resurrection. And only Good PCs will get brought back, at least by an aboveboard church. Olidammara or an evil church might be amenable to an under-the-table deal, but that requires diamonds the PCs won't be able to get...

...but there's always wish. I'm sure the PCs would enjoy being in service to a high level wizard or sorceror for ten years or so.