I have a table of 1/2 experienced and 1/2 new players. My cleric is a new player, she likes playing a healer, and this was a natural choice for her. At level 3 we had our first character death, mostly due to terrible rolls and a bad plan on their part. Now, all of a sudden, she tells me that her character isn't comfortable bringing that dead PC back (she can't cast the spell yet, but someone in the city can and they are going on a quest for the diamond needed). Since he is technically no longer living, and her domain preserves life, she can't cast it because its a necromancy spell and says her character wouldn't cast it.
I've tried to explain that Necromancy spells are neither good nor evil (showed her the definition in the PHB) and its the caster that either preserves the life essence or raises the undead. Its the caster that is good or evil. She still holds her ground. Now, my concern is not this PC, I can have someone in the city resurrect him., my concern is how do I go forward knowing that if a PC dies, I (as the DM) will have to intervene? Either through use of NPCs or Godly intervention, which takes the sting out of death. Not sure what to do here.
You don't need to intervene, the rest of the party can bring the dead person back through the method you're using now, whether the cleric likes it or not, just allow them to decide to not bring the cleric back when it dies, as it would be against their wishes which they would then have to respect,
Then let them have the discussion to establish this
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All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
I think you let your player play her character the way she wants to. There is no requirement that the party have a cleric, or have someone who can cast lesser restoration or resurrection.
Why would you have to intervene if a PC dies? Presumably the cleric PC has expressed her convictions about letting the dead stay dead to the rest of her party; they know her boundaries. If that's an issue for them, they can figure out a way to deal with it. I'm not sure that arranging for an NPC or Godly intervention takes the sting out of death anymore than having a party member able (and willing) to resurrect does.
The player has designed a character with an interesting trait that affects how they use the mechanics of the game-- To me, that's a dream player. I love when my players stick to who their character is, even in the face of making a decision with negative consequences, because that creates story conflict and story conflict is what makes a great game. You don't need resurrections to play D&D, she's not a life cleric who's refusing to heal her wounded allies, she just believes that once something is dead, it would be wrong to bring it back. To me, that sounds interesting.
As a DM you do not need to intervene here. Your job as a DM is not to intervene-- It is to collaborate. You listen to what the group is trying to do, and you try to think of a reasonable challenge they can face to accomplish their goals. If the group as a whole wants to bring someone back, they can seek out someone to bring the dead character back and you can let them discover how that happens. Or, the player who had a character die can come up with a new character. If the group wants to try to in character convince the Cleric to change her views, they can do that. You shouldn't force a player to do something they believe is against their character's beliefs. You provide the story, and the party can decide what to do with the story.
From the bottom of my Dice tower, thank you guys for setting me straight. After reading this, you're right...its HER character to do with as she pleases, and the consequences are t be handled by the party! I should be celebrating the choice, not trying to DM and plan for it. Her party will know where she stands, it's theirs to deal with, who am I to try and change that. Thanks everyone! I saw it as a problem to solve, and not a character choice to play within. Always learning and trying do a better job as a DM.
Honestly it shows the mark of a good DM to be able to see it at all! I hope that you and your party have fun with the options (and challenges) that the player's character traits present!
The only place you have a problem possibility, is when the player who refuses to resurrect her party members, tries in skating that they resurrect the cleric against their wishes
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All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
The only place you have a problem possibility, is when the player who refuses to resurrect her party members, tries in skating that they resurrect the cleric against their wishes
Do you mean the party tries to resurrect the Cleric against her wishes? Thankfully, you cannot resurrect a soul that does not wish to be resurrected. ("If its soul is free and willing, the target returns to life with all its hit points." - From the Resurrection spell)
1 my autocorrect is rediculous in skating I typed insisting,
2 yes you're spot on with the spell description that part had slipped my mind, however who decides it doesn't want resurrecting, the cleric or the player of the cleric
Ha! Are you asking if the character has agency aside from what the player wants? Because if so, then this conversation just became extremely existential.
I was going more along the lines of player of cleric attempts to insist that the party resurrect their cleric, despite the fact that they have been playing it as completely against resurrection to the point of refusing to perform one themselves while the party want to comply with the spirit which that particular cleric has been played in, or something like that
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All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
I would give the Cleric inspiration as that is some awesome rp thinking. You're on the right track, the party can find other ways, although I think there is a time limit on anything but the high level resurrection?
Don't worry about having to intervene for the players if they die, so long as it is their own choices, and not DM fiat that gets them killed. As long as you provide them with good intel and valid choices, let the chips fall where they may ya know?
Although if the Cleric does die I personally would get with the player, pointing out that their character hated necromancy if they do insist on a rez, and ask permission for the Cleric to become a BBEG NPC upon resurrection.
Agreed with the others - this is a great trait that should be celebrated. Personality traits that make less-than-favourable-decisions are always great opportunities for some of the best role-play at the table.
This will be a particularly gripping trait later down the line, when the party have sunk some serious hours together and overcome some incredible odds. I'd love to see the turmoil in your player, when she knows she has the power to bring back a close companion, but her ideals forbid her.
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I have a table of 1/2 experienced and 1/2 new players. My cleric is a new player, she likes playing a healer, and this was a natural choice for her. At level 3 we had our first character death, mostly due to terrible rolls and a bad plan on their part. Now, all of a sudden, she tells me that her character isn't comfortable bringing that dead PC back (she can't cast the spell yet, but someone in the city can and they are going on a quest for the diamond needed). Since he is technically no longer living, and her domain preserves life, she can't cast it because its a necromancy spell and says her character wouldn't cast it.
I've tried to explain that Necromancy spells are neither good nor evil (showed her the definition in the PHB) and its the caster that either preserves the life essence or raises the undead. Its the caster that is good or evil. She still holds her ground. Now, my concern is not this PC, I can have someone in the city resurrect him., my concern is how do I go forward knowing that if a PC dies, I (as the DM) will have to intervene? Either through use of NPCs or Godly intervention, which takes the sting out of death. Not sure what to do here.
You don't need to intervene, the rest of the party can bring the dead person back through the method you're using now, whether the cleric likes it or not, just allow them to decide to not bring the cleric back when it dies, as it would be against their wishes which they would then have to respect,
Then let them have the discussion to establish this
All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
I think you let your player play her character the way she wants to. There is no requirement that the party have a cleric, or have someone who can cast lesser restoration or resurrection.
Why would you have to intervene if a PC dies? Presumably the cleric PC has expressed her convictions about letting the dead stay dead to the rest of her party; they know her boundaries. If that's an issue for them, they can figure out a way to deal with it. I'm not sure that arranging for an NPC or Godly intervention takes the sting out of death anymore than having a party member able (and willing) to resurrect does.
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The player has designed a character with an interesting trait that affects how they use the mechanics of the game-- To me, that's a dream player. I love when my players stick to who their character is, even in the face of making a decision with negative consequences, because that creates story conflict and story conflict is what makes a great game. You don't need resurrections to play D&D, she's not a life cleric who's refusing to heal her wounded allies, she just believes that once something is dead, it would be wrong to bring it back. To me, that sounds interesting.
As a DM you do not need to intervene here. Your job as a DM is not to intervene-- It is to collaborate. You listen to what the group is trying to do, and you try to think of a reasonable challenge they can face to accomplish their goals. If the group as a whole wants to bring someone back, they can seek out someone to bring the dead character back and you can let them discover how that happens. Or, the player who had a character die can come up with a new character. If the group wants to try to in character convince the Cleric to change her views, they can do that. You shouldn't force a player to do something they believe is against their character's beliefs. You provide the story, and the party can decide what to do with the story.
From the bottom of my Dice tower, thank you guys for setting me straight. After reading this, you're right...its HER character to do with as she pleases, and the consequences are t be handled by the party! I should be celebrating the choice, not trying to DM and plan for it. Her party will know where she stands, it's theirs to deal with, who am I to try and change that. Thanks everyone! I saw it as a problem to solve, and not a character choice to play within. Always learning and trying do a better job as a DM.
Honestly it shows the mark of a good DM to be able to see it at all! I hope that you and your party have fun with the options (and challenges) that the player's character traits present!
The only place you have a problem possibility, is when the player who refuses to resurrect her party members, tries in skating that they resurrect the cleric against their wishes
All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
Do you mean the party tries to resurrect the Cleric against her wishes? Thankfully, you cannot resurrect a soul that does not wish to be resurrected. ("If its soul is free and willing, the target returns to life with all its hit points." - From the Resurrection spell)
Maybe not... but you could raise them as a zombie with animate dead. Boy wouldn't that make for an awkward table?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
1 my autocorrect is rediculous in skating I typed insisting,
2 yes you're spot on with the spell description that part had slipped my mind, however who decides it doesn't want resurrecting, the cleric or the player of the cleric
All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
Ha! Are you asking if the character has agency aside from what the player wants? Because if so, then this conversation just became extremely existential.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
I was going more along the lines of player of cleric attempts to insist that the party resurrect their cleric, despite the fact that they have been playing it as completely against resurrection to the point of refusing to perform one themselves while the party want to comply with the spirit which that particular cleric has been played in, or something like that
All plans turn into, run into the room waving a sword and see what happens from there, once the first die gets rolled
Who says you have to bring them back, and that you would have to intervene at all?
You can let the players try to find alternate ways to try and revive other characters or have those players just roll up new characters.
A character death isnt necessarily a fault.
I would give the Cleric inspiration as that is some awesome rp thinking. You're on the right track, the party can find other ways, although I think there is a time limit on anything but the high level resurrection?
Don't worry about having to intervene for the players if they die, so long as it is their own choices, and not DM fiat that gets them killed. As long as you provide them with good intel and valid choices, let the chips fall where they may ya know?
Although if the Cleric does die I personally would get with the player, pointing out that their character hated necromancy if they do insist on a rez, and ask permission for the Cleric to become a BBEG NPC upon resurrection.
That is something my players would go for.
What Mellie said. Also, like csheets416 said, I'd award inspiration for this roleplaying.
Agreed with the others - this is a great trait that should be celebrated. Personality traits that make less-than-favourable-decisions are always great opportunities for some of the best role-play at the table.
This will be a particularly gripping trait later down the line, when the party have sunk some serious hours together and overcome some incredible odds. I'd love to see the turmoil in your player, when she knows she has the power to bring back a close companion, but her ideals forbid her.