Not my character, but one of our party members. Our group is running ToA, and over the course of our time playing together, my PC and another got really, really close. Like nothing official yet, but they were fixin to be something special. Last night, we go to fight a Yuan-ti Anathema, and she uses Divine Word on us. PC crush fails her save, literally dies in my PC's arms, technically her tail, but that's splitting hairs. The thing that I wasn't prepared for was the effect it would have on me irl. Last night, I couldn't sleep. At all. I'm literally grieving the loss of this other PC. I don't know if it's because this is the first character I've ever really gone all in on with backstory, personality, role-play etc., or what. Anyone else ever experience this?
I haven't experienced it, no. But in a strange way it sounds awesome. I mean, that your RP was so good at the table you are actually feeling sad about the loss of a fictional character. That is some powerful cooperative storytelling. Not many of us have probably experienced something so powerful. And most of us would probably like to.
Most of the PC deaths in my past (mine and those of fellow players) happened man years ago before we took RPGs that seriously. Characters were little more than game pieces. We made up tons of them and swapped them out when someone died. "Oh good, my cleric died, I get to try playing a druid next week." By the time we had cut that out and become better RPers, we had moved on to Champions, in which very few characters ever die. We had 1 or 2 deaths in Champions but nothing like what you describe, even so.
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WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
You're not wrong. The pain is real, but it's a cathartic kind of pain. I've played plenty of other characters, but really it wasn't until I discovered CR that I began to think of the characters I created as anything more than game pieces. It's been a completely different experience.
It's definitely natural. I still remember the loss of my elf cleric Naivara (she's my username sake). I felt awfully sad that night. It was crazy, because I had to put on a brave face for my family: it's hard to understand grieving a fictional character unless you've done it. But death and sadness is real: it's part of the beauty of storytelling, like you said, it's cathartic.
That said, I've also played in high-lethality games where death is more "WOAH, cool, that monster was tough!" Usually it's somewhere between the two. Either way, death is beautiful, and the game wouldn't be the same without it.
Might I suggest holding a funeral (in-game) for the departed character at the start of next session? Each of the characters could say a few words or tell a favorite story of their fallen friend.
It's definitely natural. I still remember the loss of my elf cleric Naivara (she's my username sake). I felt awfully sad that night. It was crazy, because I had to put on a brave face for my family: it's hard to understand grieving a fictional character unless you've done it. But death and sadness is real: it's part of the beauty of storytelling, like you said, it's cathartic.
That said, I've also played in high-lethality games where death is more "WOAH, cool, that monster was tough!" Usually it's somewhere between the two. Either way, death is beautiful, and the game wouldn't be the same without it.
Might I suggest holding a funeral (in-game) for the departed character at the start of next session? Each of the characters could say a few words or tell a favorite story of their fallen friend.
I think a funeral would be useful as a story point in the campaign.
Yes. Death is harsh when you care about someone - even a fictional character. Good prep for real life. (Note, I just watched the season finale of Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, great death episode. Handled it wonderfully.) It is a cliche that D&D players are about their characters (old cliche about gamer nerd talking only about their characters even to women they are trying to pick up.) It hurts more than you think.
If you feel like it, you can always hold a ceremonial cremation, (burning of the character sheet) with your other players. Everyone can say a word or two about them. Might help you.
This may be a little off the exact topic of the original post, but the death mechanic in 5e really irks me! I mean, IT IS SO FRIKKIN' HARD TO KILL CHARACTERS in 5e.
Don't read into that: I, as a DM, am NOT trying to kill my PCs, but... death is no longer a motivating factor anymore! It used to be that players would seriously plan out their assaults, knowing that they only had limited supplies. And death was a real possibility. Now, with death requiring 3 failed saves to actually die and with the plethora of healing options available in the game and character classes, it is rare for any character to spend more than 3 rounds making saves. And, yes, I know... any additional damage while the PC is down at 0 hit points automatically kills them. But unless you're slinging AoE spells or the like it is unlikely anyone is going to attack a downed character when there are others standing and fighting.
Sorry... rant over. I just feel like the current death mechanic really takes something away from the urgency of the mission. It's like death is only an 2-3 round inconvenience.
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C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
Yeah, we are 11th level now. We killed two bad guys and tried REALLY hard to keep the body, but a wizard managed to take the decapitated head AND the rest of the body, so we expect a reunion eventually. The other body we animated as a zombie and imprisoned inside a wall using stone shape. Will not stop a True Resurrection or Wish, but other than that, we got that one permanently. We think.
We ourselves have a Cleric, so most deaths are just 4 days of downtime and a cost of 500 gp. One of our main fren-emies has Blackrazor (don't ask, we actually gave it to him and made a truce), and another has a weapon that if it kills you requires a True Resurrection. This keeps us honest a bit. But aside from them, we are only truly worried about a Total Party Killed situation. Kidnapping/body napping is scarier than mere death.
I'm in CO, the rest of them in TX, so I don't think we can hold an actual cremation of the character sheet. And this isn't necessarily the end. I'm planning on it being a major character moment, one way or the other. (Canhe shares a lot of parallels with Zariel, which could lead into some deep shit in next campaign) We'll see how she handles the temptation.
Not my character, but one of our party members. Our group is running ToA, and over the course of our time playing together, my PC and another got really, really close. Like nothing official yet, but they were fixin to be something special. Last night, we go to fight a Yuan-ti Anathema, and she uses Divine Word on us. PC crush fails her save, literally dies in my PC's arms, technically her tail, but that's splitting hairs. The thing that I wasn't prepared for was the effect it would have on me irl. Last night, I couldn't sleep. At all. I'm literally grieving the loss of this other PC. I don't know if it's because this is the first character I've ever really gone all in on with backstory, personality, role-play etc., or what. Anyone else ever experience this?
I haven't experienced it, no. But in a strange way it sounds awesome. I mean, that your RP was so good at the table you are actually feeling sad about the loss of a fictional character. That is some powerful cooperative storytelling. Not many of us have probably experienced something so powerful. And most of us would probably like to.
Most of the PC deaths in my past (mine and those of fellow players) happened man years ago before we took RPGs that seriously. Characters were little more than game pieces. We made up tons of them and swapped them out when someone died. "Oh good, my cleric died, I get to try playing a druid next week." By the time we had cut that out and become better RPers, we had moved on to Champions, in which very few characters ever die. We had 1 or 2 deaths in Champions but nothing like what you describe, even so.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
You're not wrong. The pain is real, but it's a cathartic kind of pain. I've played plenty of other characters, but really it wasn't until I discovered CR that I began to think of the characters I created as anything more than game pieces. It's been a completely different experience.
That's what happens when there is good RP. You get attached.
WOTC lies. We know that WOTC lies. WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. We know that WOTC knows that we know that WOTC lies. And still they lie.
Because of the above (a paraphrase from Orwell) I no longer post to the forums -- PM me if you need help or anything.
It's definitely natural. I still remember the loss of my elf cleric Naivara (she's my username sake). I felt awfully sad that night. It was crazy, because I had to put on a brave face for my family: it's hard to understand grieving a fictional character unless you've done it. But death and sadness is real: it's part of the beauty of storytelling, like you said, it's cathartic.
That said, I've also played in high-lethality games where death is more "WOAH, cool, that monster was tough!" Usually it's somewhere between the two. Either way, death is beautiful, and the game wouldn't be the same without it.
Might I suggest holding a funeral (in-game) for the departed character at the start of next session? Each of the characters could say a few words or tell a favorite story of their fallen friend.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
I think a funeral would be useful as a story point in the campaign.
I have never had a sad PC death, but I know it will happen
I don't know if we're having a proper funeral, but Canhe definitely has a few words she's gonna say at Yilfine's graveside.
I haven't experienced it yet, but this sounds heart-wrenching. You have my sympathies, you and your party!
I know that when I finally do have to face this (new player), it's going to tear me up for sure.
I agree on the funeral idea, or at least some kind of official remembrance. It'll be good for the game, and good for the players :)
Yes. Death is harsh when you care about someone - even a fictional character. Good prep for real life. (Note, I just watched the season finale of Zoe's Extraordinary Playlist, great death episode. Handled it wonderfully.) It is a cliche that D&D players are about their characters (old cliche about gamer nerd talking only about their characters even to women they are trying to pick up.) It hurts more than you think.
If you feel like it, you can always hold a ceremonial cremation, (burning of the character sheet) with your other players. Everyone can say a word or two about them. Might help you.
This may be a little off the exact topic of the original post, but the death mechanic in 5e really irks me! I mean, IT IS SO FRIKKIN' HARD TO KILL CHARACTERS in 5e.
Don't read into that: I, as a DM, am NOT trying to kill my PCs, but... death is no longer a motivating factor anymore! It used to be that players would seriously plan out their assaults, knowing that they only had limited supplies. And death was a real possibility. Now, with death requiring 3 failed saves to actually die and with the plethora of healing options available in the game and character classes, it is rare for any character to spend more than 3 rounds making saves. And, yes, I know... any additional damage while the PC is down at 0 hit points automatically kills them. But unless you're slinging AoE spells or the like it is unlikely anyone is going to attack a downed character when there are others standing and fighting.
Sorry... rant over. I just feel like the current death mechanic really takes something away from the urgency of the mission. It's like death is only an 2-3 round inconvenience.
C. Foster Payne
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around."
Yeah, we are 11th level now. We killed two bad guys and tried REALLY hard to keep the body, but a wizard managed to take the decapitated head AND the rest of the body, so we expect a reunion eventually. The other body we animated as a zombie and imprisoned inside a wall using stone shape. Will not stop a True Resurrection or Wish, but other than that, we got that one permanently. We think.
We ourselves have a Cleric, so most deaths are just 4 days of downtime and a cost of 500 gp. One of our main fren-emies has Blackrazor (don't ask, we actually gave it to him and made a truce), and another has a weapon that if it kills you requires a True Resurrection. This keeps us honest a bit. But aside from them, we are only truly worried about a Total Party Killed situation. Kidnapping/body napping is scarier than mere death.
I'm in CO, the rest of them in TX, so I don't think we can hold an actual cremation of the character sheet. And this isn't necessarily the end. I'm planning on it being a major character moment, one way or the other. (Canhe shares a lot of parallels with Zariel, which could lead into some deep shit in next campaign) We'll see how she handles the temptation.