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Worlds of Design: The Four Laws of Character Death
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<blockquote data-quote="pming" data-source="post: 8000278" data-attributes="member: 45197"><p>Hiya!</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I don't think I'm a "killer DM"....I have taken to calling myself that because it disarms those who would seek to just point and say "Well, YOU'RE a killer DM! So, whatever!" and dismiss my opinion without even attempting to think about what I am saying. Also, I am a "killer DM" by today's standards...not the standards 20+ years ago. Lastly...it does tend to start interesting conversations from which I sometimes gain valuable insight into my own shortcomings as a DM. A DM should always be striving to learn...even if that learning is a bit ego-deflating. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>In my limited 3e experience, and I'm going to include Pathfinder in that, if I am DM'ing and a players PC gets killed by, say, a lucky critical hit and max damage, then they die. Now, an 'old skool' player may get upset in the moment and swear to let off some steam...but they understand and accept that death is a very real possibility that all their characters might succumb to. But 'newer' players...who learned RPG's/D&D with 3e/PF? They get upset...and then proceed to tell me how "unfair" it is or how I am "trying to kill their characters" or that their last DM "always gave them a save" or had some house rule that allowed the DM to "fudge" the death somehow. I don't do that, 99% of the time. I hand them a blank character sheet and say "Well, now you get to make a NEW favorite character. Just try it". Usually an hour into it they are excited to play their new PC. (oh...and that 1% of the time when I have 'saved' a PC?...I just outright tell everyone..."Ok, that was really cheap and pointless...agreed? Good. Ok, Hector the Huge looks like he's gone through a meat grinder...but he's still alive...if you want him to be. BUT, reduce his Comeliness by 1d4p [oh, "p" means "penetration dice"...it's a Hackmaster thing). That said, I think I've had a player agree to that MAYBE 2 or 3 times in 40 years of DM'ing. What can I say? I was blessed by great friends and players. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Anyhoo..."killer DM" is in regards to today's standards is what I'm saying. And yeah, I am kinda proud of that for the simple fact that I stayed true to my DM'ing mantra of "Be Fair, Be Prepared, and Be Neutral". If that makes me a "Killer DM"...so be it. Badge of honour I say! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" /></p><p></p><p>^_^</p><p></p><p>Paul L. Ming</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pming, post: 8000278, member: 45197"] Hiya! I don't think I'm a "killer DM"....I have taken to calling myself that because it disarms those who would seek to just point and say "Well, YOU'RE a killer DM! So, whatever!" and dismiss my opinion without even attempting to think about what I am saying. Also, I am a "killer DM" by today's standards...not the standards 20+ years ago. Lastly...it does tend to start interesting conversations from which I sometimes gain valuable insight into my own shortcomings as a DM. A DM should always be striving to learn...even if that learning is a bit ego-deflating. :) In my limited 3e experience, and I'm going to include Pathfinder in that, if I am DM'ing and a players PC gets killed by, say, a lucky critical hit and max damage, then they die. Now, an 'old skool' player may get upset in the moment and swear to let off some steam...but they understand and accept that death is a very real possibility that all their characters might succumb to. But 'newer' players...who learned RPG's/D&D with 3e/PF? They get upset...and then proceed to tell me how "unfair" it is or how I am "trying to kill their characters" or that their last DM "always gave them a save" or had some house rule that allowed the DM to "fudge" the death somehow. I don't do that, 99% of the time. I hand them a blank character sheet and say "Well, now you get to make a NEW favorite character. Just try it". Usually an hour into it they are excited to play their new PC. (oh...and that 1% of the time when I have 'saved' a PC?...I just outright tell everyone..."Ok, that was really cheap and pointless...agreed? Good. Ok, Hector the Huge looks like he's gone through a meat grinder...but he's still alive...if you want him to be. BUT, reduce his Comeliness by 1d4p [oh, "p" means "penetration dice"...it's a Hackmaster thing). That said, I think I've had a player agree to that MAYBE 2 or 3 times in 40 years of DM'ing. What can I say? I was blessed by great friends and players. :) Anyhoo..."killer DM" is in regards to today's standards is what I'm saying. And yeah, I am kinda proud of that for the simple fact that I stayed true to my DM'ing mantra of "Be Fair, Be Prepared, and Be Neutral". If that makes me a "Killer DM"...so be it. Badge of honour I say! ;) ^_^ Paul L. Ming [/QUOTE]
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