Questions tagged [character-death]
For questions about issues related to the in-game death, or threat/fear of death, of a player's character in an RPG.
315
questions
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Can a Half-Orc's Relentless Endurance trait save it from its soul being stolen when it dies?
Half-Orcs have the Relentless Endurance racial trait:
Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this ...
10
votes
1
answer
261
views
Can a player character avoid dying as long as they still have Plot Points?
I've read Cortex Prime and now I'm wondering whether a PC could die. The rule said that "you can spend a PP to avoid being taken out of the scene" (which I translate as dying).
Does this ...
19
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Does a Swarmkeeper lose their swarm if they die?
In Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, the Swarmkeeper Ranger's "Gathered Swarm" feature states the following (emphasis added):
A swarm of intangible nature spirits has bonded itself to you and ...
25
votes
10
answers
11k
views
How does anyone ever die with a Cleric?
I'm relatively new to the game and DMing a group who are all also new to the game, so maybe this is something obvious that we just don't know. Last session the party was beset upon by a group of ...
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 ...
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
DoIP Dragon Barrow Area D5 – how is this not a likely TPK?
I'm running Dragon of Icespire Peak, and my players have encountered the Dragon Barrow.
This question relates to the mechanics of a specific part of the quest, so I've liberally used spoiler blocks to ...
12
votes
2
answers
915
views
Slaying the Target Outright
In Dungeons and Dragons 4th edition's Player's Handbook I. on page 288 states:
Under "Coup De Grace," there is the rule "Slaying the Target Outright": "If you deal damage ...
4
votes
0
answers
111
views
Can you die instantly if you take enough damage? [duplicate]
If you have a max HP of, for example 27, and you have 0 current HP, and then take another 27 dmg, do you die instantly?
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 (...
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 ...
5
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What ways (other than advantage) are there to improve the total for a death saving throw?
What ways (other than advantage) are there to improve the total for a death saving throw?
For instance, the bless spell allows you to add 1d4 to any saving throws you make during the duration.
I'm ...
4
votes
1
answer
249
views
Can spells that stabilise you when you'd die overrule death from exceeding negative constitution?
Characters die from damage when their health is reduced below their negative Constitution score. However, some spells stabilize you when you'd die. Can these spells stabilize you even from damage that ...
37
votes
5
answers
8k
views
How do I engage someone who is playing his character poorly?
I am DMing a game where one player has never quite seemed happy. He regularly questions rulings and gets quite hurt when he tries to do things with his character and they don't succeed.
He is playing ...
0
votes
0
answers
38
views
What happens when an attack with a raider drops a hero to 0 hp? [duplicate]
So, imagine you are hit by a monster and dropped down to 0 hp. But then the same attack also requires you to make a Constitution save or take extra damage. Is this attack treated as a single damage ...
10
votes
1
answer
3k
views
If a player's character is absorbed by a gibbering mouther, do they make death saving throws as normal, or are they instantly killed?
I am a DM for the Tomb of Annihilation published adventure. My group will be exploring an abandoned mine near Fort Beluarian, so I wanted to create a level mini-dungeon for a party of five people.
...