All Questions
Tagged with character-death gm-techniques
41
questions
28
votes
4
answers
12k
views
As a DM, how can I use Power Word: Kill without ruining my players' fun?
I'm currently designing an encounter with a lich for my 13th-level party. They've cruised through more level-appropriate combat encounters, and they like to come up with creative ways around difficult ...
- 6,586
2
votes
0
answers
292
views
What should I do to prepare a player for his character's death [closed]
You know a player character is going to die next session, mainly thought the stupidity of his actions (I would have to fudge too many dice rolls for him to survive). You know your player is likely to ...
- 3,439
10
votes
7
answers
7k
views
Is it appropriate to bring a player character back after they had been "killed"?
A player character "died" in battle early on in this current arc I'm DMing, and I had already decided that either this character would be in pursuit by the big bad or would be taken captive. ...
- 111
6
votes
3
answers
353
views
How could I keep a player engaged if I can't bring his dead character back to life a for a few sessions? [closed]
I have a storyline I'm writing based in an Arctic setting. The party will have to engage in a battle of survival against the elements - kind of a Napoleonic retreat from Moscow - which is likely to ...
- 69
31
votes
8
answers
6k
views
What are the DM's responsibilities when dealing with a character's death?
This facet of RPGs is the thing with which I have the least experience/comfort level. I'm sanguine about the idea that Dungeons etc. are inherently dangerous places, and that the PCs behavior is ...
- 418
39
votes
10
answers
9k
views
How do I help a player terrified of their character dying in combat?
Relatively new DM with a group of 5 players (some with ttrpg experience, some not) through a twist on the essentials kit module. One absolute first time player is running a 3rd level rogue with low HP ...
- 378
29
votes
12
answers
6k
views
How to avoid killing player characters due to a single (un)lucky roll?
Especially at low levels, Pathfinder characters can usually be killed easily by a single enemy attack, provided the dice fall in said enemy's favor. An example:
The PC has a Constitution score of 10 (...
user66921
32
votes
4
answers
5k
views
How to alleviate the tedium of PC death at higher levels?
In our high-level Pathfinder game, player characters die relatively often, whether to save-or-die or just to high damage.
When a PC dies, then players either defeat the enemy or escape, and unless the ...
- 3,676
10
votes
2
answers
597
views
Save a dying PC without being too obvious
In my last session a PC left the party and engaged a one-to-eight fight. He is dying alone in an isolated place without many chances of becoming stable and the other players will probably need some ...
- 334
22
votes
12
answers
8k
views
How to prevent discontent among the players when one player murders the others' characters?
I've recently had an idea for a one-shot game (in my own homebrew system that I've been using for a while) where I collaborate with a player to make things more interesting. My plan is to make it look ...
- 407
9
votes
5
answers
2k
views
How to introduce a new PC into the party after character death?
In the D&D 4e campaign that I am running, there has recently been lots of character death. The death itself is not the problem, because the players seem perfectly fine generating new characters (I ...
- 1,836
13
votes
8
answers
4k
views
How do I clearly foreshadow a potential out-of-combat death?
Let me first set the scene
The group I DM for is in a position where they are at the mercy of a group of people who are contemplating what to do with the party.
I have decided on a game of chance to ...
- 30k
25
votes
11
answers
8k
views
How do I address the need to kill off one member of the party for on going plot?
So I have a plot that I want use, that will require a specific member of the team to be "Killed" in a run. The player is very invested in this character, and can take things at the table a little ...
user2015
13
votes
7
answers
9k
views
My Player Wants to be Resurrected After Telling Party Not To [closed]
In the game I run (D&D 5E with a home brew setting) those that die a spectacular death get to send a letter back to the living. Spectacular being defined as enough to amuse or impress the goddess ...
- 567
2
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How should I request a PC sacrifice for the best ending to a campaign? [closed]
The scenario: The BBEG is preparing to unleash a sealed monster and devastate the civilized world. The seal has already been weakened by prior actions. The PCs engage the BBEG as the campaign finale. ...
- 1,363