I have one guy at my table who has the emotional depth of a skillet when it comes to this game. His character just took 11d10 greed damage trying to steal an amulet from the neck of a werebear and got instant killed. Wheeeee.
I want to give him the option to revive, but I also want it to be a learning experience with real consequences because the guy just does whatever he wants with no concern for the result or how it might burden the party. Any thoughts on a resurrection for a guy who doesn't really care about his character emotionally but needs to reap some consequences?
This sounds like they need to be part of a conversation and they need to be asked a few questions about their expectations compared to the rest of the table:
Why are they here?
What are they hoping to get out of the game?
Having no investment in their character or in the campaign as a whole sounds like they don't really want to be there. If it's just the character they don't care about then this is a good opportunity for them to make a character they actually can care about. If it's more the campaign as a whole, then perhaps they should sit this one out until they can muster care again.
Ultimately if they don't care there's nothing you can do to make them care. They have to decide to care.
I second Jathom. This ritual thing is trying to solve the wrong problem. Talk with them out of character about what’s going on. Could be they don’t want to play D&D, could be they want a different kind of game than you do, could be a dozen things.
Unless your party is super small and the loss of a player would be devastating, id tell him that he is dead and leave it as there until he decides to put investment into your hard work and make a character again. one player who is uninvested in a campaign can ruin the entire story for the party, and that's definitely not something you want. I also ask the same question for the two respondents above, is there perhaps something he would like to see more of? Could it be fighting, NPC interactions, treasure finding, etc?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hey!! I've played DND for maybe two to three years or so, so I'm still pretty new and only know the basics and such. I love SIlvery Barbs, and I'm always up to chat if you want :)
Sounds like this person may fundamentally not understand the game. It isn't GTA.
But if that isn't the problem, you can't make someone care about their character. Only they can. If he doesn't care, forget the resurrection and hand him a blank character sheet.
I have one guy at my table who has the emotional depth of a skillet when it comes to this game. His character just took 11d10 greed damage trying to steal an amulet from the neck of a werebear and got instant killed. Wheeeee.
I want to give him the option to revive, but I also want it to be a learning experience with real consequences because the guy just does whatever he wants with no concern for the result or how it might burden the party. Any thoughts on a resurrection for a guy who doesn't really care about his character emotionally but needs to reap some consequences?
So I'd say the character has already reaped the consequences...they're dead after all. The player on the other hand...
I know there a difference in opinions here on the forums between DMs on how/if/when character death is enacted, I fall firmly on the side of Character Death should be a thing to allow for the big heroic moments of sacrifice to be possible in a game's story. So, my answer comes from this biased point.
The other respondents are correct, in that a conversation with said player is important. Very important. That said so is your response. I say this a lot because I believe it but not every DM is suitable for every player. If you are relying on the players to bring with them something in order to get the most out of the game, but the player isn't willing, interested or able to bring it with them...well sometimes telling that player that you aren't the DM for them is the best thing to do.
Here's the biggest question I think might be worth you trying to answer: Why do you want to offer than option to revive? Do you think it's what you're 'supposed' to do? Do you think it'll make the player more invested in the character? Do you think it'll enhance the story?
As an aside to that, do the other player characters want to get their stupid friend back? If the party don't want to go on a quest or a journey to revive the fallen player then this is all kind of academic without some deus ex machina (something like a god or patron reviving the PC but on a condition).
So, it might be worth some moments of self-relfection and figuring out your motives for wanting to offer that option. Or at least that would be my advise. You never 'have' to revive a fallen PC. It's entirely DM descretion unless the group have decided otherwise. And if you're trying to wrap yourself in knots to make your player feel the consequences...that might not be the best path forward. Of course that will depend on you and your group dynamic.
Don't. Sounds like that person needs to be kicked. The respect for the game, the other players and the DM is REAL lacking these days. And you have to be tough.
So in response to everyone here, first of all, thank you. You've all essentially affirmed what I thought was the case, which is that this person should simply not be at the table. I don't think there is a lot of investment, and frankly I've been feeling pretty offended by his lack of engagement or interest in the story. He's never taken the time to understand the character he built as far as combat, but is only ever interested in the combat, which means that we end up spending all of combat explaining to him how to function. Then, once combat ends, he disengages completely until the next fight and we're re-explaining spells all over again AND trying to tell him what's been going on for the last hour so he knows who we're fighting and why. There's a ton of problems that are really solved very easily by just saying "sorry, no save points".
I've decided to take him out for the next five weeks (five sessions) and ask him to roll a new character with a solid backstory that has depth. I am asking him to spend an hour each week doing research on that character to understand spells/abilities so that we are not explaining things to him constantly. I'm also having him come in at two levels below the rest of the party in an effort to prevent him from having too much too quickly (less we have to try and help him with). I am explaining to him all of the reasons why this is my decision including lack of engagement, lack of discretion, disregard for the consequences to other players, etc.
If he continues to act this way with the next character, he'll just be kicked permanently. I put too much work in every week to put up with this kind of stuff.
Probably dumb but what do you mean when you say Greed Damage?
@Appellion It's mostly a joke. He tried to steal an item purely out of greed which led to taking 11D10 damage and instant death. As opposed to calling it slashing damage, I've been calling it greed damage, because had it not been for the greed, he would still be alive.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I have one guy at my table who has the emotional depth of a skillet when it comes to this game. His character just took 11d10 greed damage trying to steal an amulet from the neck of a werebear and got instant killed. Wheeeee.
I want to give him the option to revive, but I also want it to be a learning experience with real consequences because the guy just does whatever he wants with no concern for the result or how it might burden the party. Any thoughts on a resurrection for a guy who doesn't really care about his character emotionally but needs to reap some consequences?
This sounds like they need to be part of a conversation and they need to be asked a few questions about their expectations compared to the rest of the table:
Why are they here?
What are they hoping to get out of the game?
Having no investment in their character or in the campaign as a whole sounds like they don't really want to be there. If it's just the character they don't care about then this is a good opportunity for them to make a character they actually can care about. If it's more the campaign as a whole, then perhaps they should sit this one out until they can muster care again.
Ultimately if they don't care there's nothing you can do to make them care. They have to decide to care.
I second Jathom. This ritual thing is trying to solve the wrong problem. Talk with them out of character about what’s going on. Could be they don’t want to play D&D, could be they want a different kind of game than you do, could be a dozen things.
Unless your party is super small and the loss of a player would be devastating, id tell him that he is dead and leave it as there until he decides to put investment into your hard work and make a character again. one player who is uninvested in a campaign can ruin the entire story for the party, and that's definitely not something you want.
I also ask the same question for the two respondents above, is there perhaps something he would like to see more of? Could it be fighting, NPC interactions, treasure finding, etc?
Hey!! I've played DND for maybe two to three years or so, so I'm still pretty new and only know the basics and such.
I love SIlvery Barbs, and I'm always up to chat if you want :)
Sounds like this person may fundamentally not understand the game. It isn't GTA.
But if that isn't the problem, you can't make someone care about their character. Only they can. If he doesn't care, forget the resurrection and hand him a blank character sheet.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
EXTENDED SIGNATURE!
Doctor/Published Scholar/Science and Healthcare Advocate/Critter/Trekkie/Gandalf with a Glock
Try DDB free: Free Rules (2024), premade PCs, adventures, one shots, encounters, SC, homebrew, more
Answers: physical books, purchases, and subbing.
Check out my life-changing
So I'd say the character has already reaped the consequences...they're dead after all. The player on the other hand...
I know there a difference in opinions here on the forums between DMs on how/if/when character death is enacted, I fall firmly on the side of Character Death should be a thing to allow for the big heroic moments of sacrifice to be possible in a game's story. So, my answer comes from this biased point.
The other respondents are correct, in that a conversation with said player is important. Very important. That said so is your response. I say this a lot because I believe it but not every DM is suitable for every player. If you are relying on the players to bring with them something in order to get the most out of the game, but the player isn't willing, interested or able to bring it with them...well sometimes telling that player that you aren't the DM for them is the best thing to do.
Here's the biggest question I think might be worth you trying to answer: Why do you want to offer than option to revive?
Do you think it's what you're 'supposed' to do? Do you think it'll make the player more invested in the character? Do you think it'll enhance the story?
As an aside to that, do the other player characters want to get their stupid friend back?
If the party don't want to go on a quest or a journey to revive the fallen player then this is all kind of academic without some deus ex machina (something like a god or patron reviving the PC but on a condition).
So, it might be worth some moments of self-relfection and figuring out your motives for wanting to offer that option. Or at least that would be my advise. You never 'have' to revive a fallen PC. It's entirely DM descretion unless the group have decided otherwise. And if you're trying to wrap yourself in knots to make your player feel the consequences...that might not be the best path forward. Of course that will depend on you and your group dynamic.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
Don't. Sounds like that person needs to be kicked. The respect for the game, the other players and the DM is REAL lacking these days. And you have to be tough.
Enjoy your slop. I'll be enjoying good products elsewhere.
Probably dumb but what do you mean when you say Greed Damage?
So in response to everyone here, first of all, thank you. You've all essentially affirmed what I thought was the case, which is that this person should simply not be at the table. I don't think there is a lot of investment, and frankly I've been feeling pretty offended by his lack of engagement or interest in the story. He's never taken the time to understand the character he built as far as combat, but is only ever interested in the combat, which means that we end up spending all of combat explaining to him how to function. Then, once combat ends, he disengages completely until the next fight and we're re-explaining spells all over again AND trying to tell him what's been going on for the last hour so he knows who we're fighting and why. There's a ton of problems that are really solved very easily by just saying "sorry, no save points".
I've decided to take him out for the next five weeks (five sessions) and ask him to roll a new character with a solid backstory that has depth. I am asking him to spend an hour each week doing research on that character to understand spells/abilities so that we are not explaining things to him constantly. I'm also having him come in at two levels below the rest of the party in an effort to prevent him from having too much too quickly (less we have to try and help him with). I am explaining to him all of the reasons why this is my decision including lack of engagement, lack of discretion, disregard for the consequences to other players, etc.
If he continues to act this way with the next character, he'll just be kicked permanently. I put too much work in every week to put up with this kind of stuff.
@Appellion It's mostly a joke. He tried to steal an item purely out of greed which led to taking 11D10 damage and instant death. As opposed to calling it slashing damage, I've been calling it greed damage, because had it not been for the greed, he would still be alive.