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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Water Bob" data-source="post: 5860261" data-attributes="member: 92305">I'm glad I started this thread.  Not only have I liked reading the commentary from both sides of the argument, but it's made me think of advice I usually give to DMs in my shoes but have conveniently forgotten to tell myself. And that is:  When you have a problem with the game, fix it in the game. I think a few have mentioned this type of answer up thread a bit.    Off the top of my head, one way to go about this might be:  I don't compromise my play style.  The Fate Points built into the Conan RPG keep the heroes alive.  And, as long as I don't start using a critical hit or fumble chart (which I loathe) or start playing the game as the DM vs the Players (which I learned decades ago was no fun for anybody), that the PCs have a very good shot at staying alive even in the gritty, deadly game that I like to run. Taking the problem and internalizing it in the game, though, I could do something like this:  Put in a major plot thread about The Waters of Karim Bey (totally making this up as I write).  Karim Bey was a powerful Shemite sorcerer from ages past, and in his crumbling tower, lost, somewhere in the wastes of the Great Desert, is a pool that some say give drinkers the power of everlasting life.  Immortality! Talk about a "push" that would greatly interest this particular player! So, now the player is happy.  He's on a huge quest to find the Waters of Karim Bey... ....but once he finds it and drinks...he does indeed become immortal...but not necessarily unchanged. Sorcerery in Conan is dark.  If the character ever dies, then nature demands compensation.  Instead of the character dying, someone close to him dies.  His closest ally--his friend--a family member. This corrupts the character, and the more corruption he takes on, he starts getting laden with all sorts of ailments and phobias.   No, the character will not die, but he's wracked with arthritis, taking a -2 penalty to hit and damage. Now, I know this wasn't what the player was thinking when he demands character immortality or he'll leave the game (and he may leave the game if his character gets afflicted as I've described).   But, if he's going to leave anyway, I might as well have some fun with it! And, who knows, maybe the roleplaying side of him will be intrigued and end up playing it out.  I could see another entire quest developed around the idea of lifting the Curse of Karim Bey!</blockquote>

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