DM's Death Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

DM's Death Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Braekor Dragonfang
04-23-04, 05:21 PM Ok, I'm having another glorious problem with my not so insightful DM. His latest ruling is that if your character dies twice (two different characters, not the same), you have to sit out the scenario. Now, normally I would agree with this, however, this isn't a "serious" roleplaying group. This is a group of friends getting together to have fun and play D&D. Now the problem I'm having is this. Because this is a group of friends, this could stir up bad blood. And, My character has already died once, and I've had to roll up another character, so if I die again, I'm done. Personally this is going to make me very angry, because I put a lot of time and effort into helping everyone and going to these meets every saturday, And i dont want that to be for nothing. How can I tell my DM that this is a bad idea, or what can I do to make the situation better?
Auber Furyblade
04-23-04, 05:28 PM Why don't you tell your DM exactly what you've told us?

ie. You don't like the ruling, you're concerned about it creating bad blood and if you die and have to sit out a session it's going to make you really mad.
Braekor Dragonfang
04-23-04, 05:40 PM I tried telling him all this, but he didn't seem to care
phizuol
04-23-04, 05:55 PM Start making your own campaign and run it for all the people who have to sit out. For flavor everyone can play a ghost. :cool:
Elendur
04-23-04, 05:56 PM If sitting out a scenario is 'punishment' for you dying, then that's a horrible idea.
If he is concerned about new characters just popping up in the middle of the adventure, ie its more of a storyline concern, he should let you run monsters or an existing NPC for the rest of the scenario.
Braekor Dragonfang
04-23-04, 06:02 PM I think the biggest concern for my character is that I am the only person who has died once before, and we are currently in a dungeon, and my dm is throwing instant death traps at us, and whats worse, the only two rogues in the party have no idea how to use them (new players)
mercurial67
04-23-04, 06:53 PM So this isn't if you have two characters die in one game session you are out for that session (which I thought was odd, but could see it would take time to come up with a new character) This is if you have two characters die in the game itself?

That's just whacked! You guys have played this way before? Even if it is just an entire dungeon, why play that way? It just means someone is going to be out of the game at some point. I might be able to see it if it meant sitting out ONE game, but being out of the game for any length of time is just ... Well it's just saying you can't play anymore.
Veton
04-23-04, 08:09 PM Next time it happens, whip out a GameBoy Advance and start playing it. Hopefully, he'll get the hint.
danielinthewolvesden
04-23-04, 08:27 PM Why-oh-why would he do that? I personally get annoyed as heck if the DM is slow about re-introducing my "new replacement guy" after my other PC died.

I can only think that maybe he has like a dozen players and needs to trim a few?:confused:

Hvae him come here and explain this. Makes no sense to me. I have only a bit of DM experience however, only 30 some years, so what do I know?:whatsthis
pokemaniacbill
04-23-04, 08:31 PM You could always catch a movie... if he doesn't listen the first time, then catch a movie when you die that second time. Though to be fair, it does give you time to create a new character...
Maladaar
04-23-04, 09:15 PM Or next time you die do this (I know as a DM it drives me nuts).

Pour all of your dice onto the table (hopefully you have a lot more than just six), then start stacking them (a different type on top of each other). In no time the stack will fall. Just keep repeating it. The sound of the dice falling over and over and will get on his nerves.

You could also add a "Shoot!" or "Darn!" when it happens.

Maybe a "Oooo...I stacked 9 that time before they fell!"

On a serious note, I really think that rule is ludicrous. Makes absolutely no sense unless the PCs are in a place where it would make any sense (story-wise) as to how the group stumbles upon the new PC.
Edymnion
04-23-04, 11:35 PM Well, my first opinion is that a DM that enforces a rule like this and then throws in instant death traps is just asking for trouble.

I like the movie idea.
The gameboy idea is good too. Pull it out with the volume up to max and a nice noisy game, like Mario Advance.

More constructive though, ask the other players what they think about this ruling. If they don't like it either, you're in business. First time one of you, any of you, die the second time and the DM tries to enforce the rule, have EVERYBODY stop playing. When the entire group tells him "We all play, or none of us plays", he'll either get the point and drop that stupid rule, or he'll have to find a new bunch to play with. Heck, you could do some basic work for the beginning of a ghostwalk campaign or something like that that you can all play without him if he doesn't come around.

Sometimes the only way to make somebody see the light is to kick them square in the ego.
Myst
04-24-04, 12:01 AM :heehee
DevilKiller
04-24-04, 01:39 AM I could see a DM with a serious, story driven game getitng frustrated if he had one or two players who were increasing his workload by always flinging their characters into suicidal situations for no good reason. Since you say your group isn't serious and you're the only player who's had a character death I don't really get what's going on here though.

Maybe the DM would like the game to be more serious? Perhaps you should ask him if that's the case. On the other hand, maybe the DM just wants to make the game more exciting by raising the risks. If so he might want to consider making you create each new character one level lower than the last. This sort of simulates what happens in games that use Raise Dead, and the threat of permanent level loss is generally enough to put a scare into most players.
Eomaugh
04-24-04, 01:27 PM It does sound weird that he would create instant death traps and then make you sit out if you die. If he is a real friend, maybe it would be worthwhile asking about it one more time, when he is alone and has time to really think about it
Steelwill
04-24-04, 01:28 PM Umm, this is silly. As a DM I am excited to have players who are enthusiatic to play, therefore I would not want to ban them from play. The only time I have asked players to quit playing was once when my group had grown to 11 people and that was too hard to manage. Otherwise what is the point? A scenario is only wort something if you have people to play in it and co create it with the DM. I guess it confuses me because I truly do not understand your DM's motivation for enacting this kind of gaming policy. My advice is to tell him exactly how you personally feel about this ruling, and inquire as to what purpose (if any) this ruling serves. My 2 cents.
D+1
04-24-04, 02:31 PM First, insist that he JUSTIFY to you the reason why you should sit out a scenario. Second, if the other players see it to be as stupid a rule as you (and it is) then get democratic on his behind and tell him he gets sensible or you ALL have a problem with him. Lastly, if none of that works and the day comes to pass and he insists that you sit out the scenario, then very calmly and POLITELY pack up your dice, your books, etc. and leave. As you go, or if he asks just tell him to call you again when the scenario is over as UNTIL then you have ABSOLUTELY no reason to be there.

"I'm here to play D&D. YOU tell me that I'm not allowed to play right now. Anything I do at the table at this point will ONLY be a disruption of the game for everyone else because... I'm not allowed to play."

Honestly, this is one of the most plainly silly rules I've ever heard of - and in nearly 30 years of playing I've heard of some galactically stupid rules. You want to avoid bad blood? Too late. Your DM has created it. You can only try to fix it.

Oh, BTW, if you walk out and are called back then do so without complaint. Yes, it's a collossally stupid rule but if he refuses to be REASONABLE you have only two choices - go along with it or quit. If you're gonna go along with it then rest comfortable in the knowledge that everyone else is playing under the same STUPID rules.
Braekor Dragonfang
04-24-04, 06:30 PM We just had our session for today, and he hasn't revoked it, but I'm on the verge of laughter. One of the female players is down to one remaining death. That female player has a boyfriend in the group. That boyfriend happens to be two belts away from black in his karate school. I'm sorely tempted to force the girlfriend into a deadly situation, just to see what happens, but I'm not that evil...
Remnant
04-24-04, 06:49 PM Has he justified it at all?

Give him a link to this thread, in an email or whatever. He has to have some logic behind this, other than punishing players for rolling badly.
Edymnion
04-24-04, 10:08 PM Originally posted by Remnant
Has he justified it at all?

Give him a link to this thread, in an email or whatever. He has to have some logic behind this, other than punishing players for rolling badly. More like punishing the players because HE rolled WELL.
Wizard
04-24-04, 10:17 PM So if anyone has two of their characters die, they're out of the game?

Okay. Go find two in-game ants, stomp them both, and tell the DM that he's now out of the game.
Lady Mia
04-25-04, 02:34 AM Once when faced with an impossible GM like that, I decided to fight back.

I am a fairly popular girl. I just brought my Astrology books with me and the next time he had me 'sit out' of the rest of a senario for some reason or another I would dig out my books right there at the table and start doing charts and answering the questions the others would ask me right there in the middle of the game. The GM got very angry when most of his players were talking with me and paying almost no attention at all to the game. I pointed out it was entirely his fault. After all he is the one who said I couldn't play the rest of the senario, and its not my fault if people want to talk to me. So he started 'removing' anyone who talked to me from the scenario too. When he was down to one player he got upset and quit. I guess some GMs just have no clue. It all worked out for the rest of us. We had a fun chat and then a new GM took over and we all had fun gaming.
Nick Soapdish
04-26-04, 03:35 AM Originally posted by Braekor Dragonfang
I'm sorely tempted to force the girlfriend into a deadly situation, just to see what happens, but I'm not that evil...

Plus it could backfire.

"Why did you make her do that?!"
*chairs begin flying, furniture breaking, etc.*
Thermanshs
04-26-04, 06:46 AM Braekor Dragonfang,
maybe you didn't tell us the whole story about "WHY" your DM came up to such ruling...
-maybe you were dying once per 3 sessions?
-or maybe all you cared for was go straight into battle no matter what you have to face and whack anything in front of you
-or maybe your party is consisted of 4 fighters and all your money goes to weapons and stuff
-or maybe you don't know the term "ressurection"

I don't know what really happened but when one describes such an unfair situation "there should be a hole in his soup" as we say in Greece
Naeron
04-26-04, 06:55 AM The simplest way around this is to talk to the other players (especially those who have lost a character already) and when the situation does arise all the other PC's state their intention to turn around and treck back to civilisation to find a replacement because they (very seinsibly and completely within character) do not want to continue this obviously hazardous exploration without a cleric/rogue/fighter as they just don't fancy their chances. After all if they have lost people already why continue on when that almost guarantees further losses.
Braekor Dragonfang
04-28-04, 02:15 PM Originally posted by Thermanshs
Braekor Dragonfang,
maybe you didn't tell us the whole story about "WHY" your DM came up to such ruling...
-maybe you were dying once per 3 sessions?
-or maybe all you cared for was go straight into battle no matter what you have to face and whack anything in front of you
-or maybe your party is consisted of 4 fighters and all your money goes to weapons and stuff
-or maybe you don't know the term "ressurection"

I don't know what really happened but when one describes such an unfair situation "there should be a hole in his soup" as we say in Greece
- Only 2 characters have died so far, and we've had about 10 sessions
- Then why did we the 4th level party run away from our psycho DM's pet iron golem?
- we dont even have one fighter...
- Not an option, low level campaign and there usually isn't enough left to revive
Arrowhen
04-28-04, 03:48 PM If all the other players agree that this is a stupid rule you should all just kill each other twice and then sit there while the DM talks to himself for the next eight sessions.

If it's just you, then when your second character dies you should order a pizza and sit at the table eating it all by yourself. Anyone asks for a slice, tell them no, it's your reward in the afterlife.
Endless Dave
04-28-04, 04:21 PM "Marcie, get out of here. You're dead. You don't exist anymore."

Sorry, couldn't resist. Haha, but seriously, a lot of the replies here assume that the DM is being an unreasonable jerk about this. Just talk to him next session and say that you think it's a silly rule because any benefit it would provide would be overshadowed by the fact that whoever had to sit out wouldn't be having any fun and, well, that's no fun. I'm sure your group will agree and I can't see how he could say "no, we're doing it my way" without cheesing a lot of the players. More than likely he'll just forget about the rule and everything will remain cool. Good luck!
edgelett
04-28-04, 08:52 PM Originally posted by Endless Dave
"Marcie, get out of here. You're dead. You don't exist anymore."

That is hillarious - i know what you're referring to, very funny.

Back to the topic, I think this is one of the lamest things I've ever heard!!

I'd point out to the DM that since you've killed two of his monsters, he's died twice & now HE has to sit out the game, while you & the other player run rampant through his dungeon looting & pillaging.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Braekor Dragonfang 04-23-04, 05:21 PM	Ok, I'm having another glorious problem with my not so insightful DM. His latest ruling is that if your character dies twice (two different characters, not the same), you have to sit out the scenario. Now, normally I would agree with this, however, this isn't a "serious" roleplaying group. This is a group of friends getting together to have fun and play D&D. Now the problem I'm having is this. Because this is a group of friends, this could stir up bad blood. And, My character has already died once, and I've had to roll up another character, so if I die again, I'm done. Personally this is going to make me very angry, because I put a lot of time and effort into helping everyone and going to these meets every saturday, And i dont want that to be for nothing. How can I tell my DM that this is a bad idea, or what can I do to make the situation better?
Auber Furyblade 04-23-04, 05:28 PM	Why don't you tell your DM exactly what you've told us? ie. You don't like the ruling, you're concerned about it creating bad blood and if you die and have to sit out a session it's going to make you really mad.
Braekor Dragonfang 04-23-04, 05:40 PM	I tried telling him all this, but he didn't seem to care
phizuol 04-23-04, 05:55 PM	Start making your own campaign and run it for all the people who have to sit out. For flavor everyone can play a ghost. :cool:
Elendur 04-23-04, 05:56 PM	If sitting out a scenario is 'punishment' for you dying, then that's a horrible idea. If he is concerned about new characters just popping up in the middle of the adventure, ie its more of a storyline concern, he should let you run monsters or an existing NPC for the rest of the scenario.
Braekor Dragonfang 04-23-04, 06:02 PM	I think the biggest concern for my character is that I am the only person who has died once before, and we are currently in a dungeon, and my dm is throwing instant death traps at us, and whats worse, the only two rogues in the party have no idea how to use them (new players)
mercurial67 04-23-04, 06:53 PM	So this isn't if you have two characters die in one game session you are out for that session (which I thought was odd, but could see it would take time to come up with a new character) This is if you have two characters die in the game itself? That's just whacked! You guys have played this way before? Even if it is just an entire dungeon, why play that way? It just means someone is going to be out of the game at some point. I might be able to see it if it meant sitting out ONE game, but being out of the game for any length of time is just ... Well it's just saying you can't play anymore.
Veton 04-23-04, 08:09 PM	Next time it happens, whip out a GameBoy Advance and start playing it. Hopefully, he'll get the hint.
danielinthewolvesden 04-23-04, 08:27 PM	Why-oh-why would he do that? I personally get annoyed as heck if the DM is slow about re-introducing my "new replacement guy" after my other PC died. I can only think that maybe he has like a dozen players and needs to trim a few?:confused: Hvae him come here and explain this. Makes no sense to me. I have only a bit of DM experience however, only 30 some years, so what do I know?:whatsthis
pokemaniacbill 04-23-04, 08:31 PM	You could always catch a movie... if he doesn't listen the first time, then catch a movie when you die that second time. Though to be fair, it does give you time to create a new character...
Maladaar 04-23-04, 09:15 PM	Or next time you die do this (I know as a DM it drives me nuts). Pour all of your dice onto the table (hopefully you have a lot more than just six), then start stacking them (a different type on top of each other). In no time the stack will fall. Just keep repeating it. The sound of the dice falling over and over and will get on his nerves. You could also add a "Shoot!" or "Darn!" when it happens. Maybe a "Oooo...I stacked 9 that time before they fell!" On a serious note, I really think that rule is ludicrous. Makes absolutely no sense unless the PCs are in a place where it would make any sense (story-wise) as to how the group stumbles upon the new PC.
Edymnion 04-23-04, 11:35 PM	Well, my first opinion is that a DM that enforces a rule like this and then throws in instant death traps is just asking for trouble. I like the movie idea. The gameboy idea is good too. Pull it out with the volume up to max and a nice noisy game, like Mario Advance. More constructive though, ask the other players what they think about this ruling. If they don't like it either, you're in business. First time one of you, any of you, die the second time and the DM tries to enforce the rule, have EVERYBODY stop playing. When the entire group tells him "We all play, or none of us plays", he'll either get the point and drop that stupid rule, or he'll have to find a new bunch to play with. Heck, you could do some basic work for the beginning of a ghostwalk campaign or something like that that you can all play without him if he doesn't come around. Sometimes the only way to make somebody see the light is to kick them square in the ego.
Myst 04-24-04, 12:01 AM	:heehee
DevilKiller 04-24-04, 01:39 AM	I could see a DM with a serious, story driven game getitng frustrated if he had one or two players who were increasing his workload by always flinging their characters into suicidal situations for no good reason. Since you say your group isn't serious and you're the only player who's had a character death I don't really get what's going on here though. Maybe the DM would like the game to be more serious? Perhaps you should ask him if that's the case. On the other hand, maybe the DM just wants to make the game more exciting by raising the risks. If so he might want to consider making you create each new character one level lower than the last. This sort of simulates what happens in games that use Raise Dead, and the threat of permanent level loss is generally enough to put a scare into most players.
Eomaugh 04-24-04, 01:27 PM	It does sound weird that he would create instant death traps and then make you sit out if you die. If he is a real friend, maybe it would be worthwhile asking about it one more time, when he is alone and has time to really think about it
Steelwill 04-24-04, 01:28 PM	Umm, this is silly. As a DM I am excited to have players who are enthusiatic to play, therefore I would not want to ban them from play. The only time I have asked players to quit playing was once when my group had grown to 11 people and that was too hard to manage. Otherwise what is the point? A scenario is only wort something if you have people to play in it and co create it with the DM. I guess it confuses me because I truly do not understand your DM's motivation for enacting this kind of gaming policy. My advice is to tell him exactly how you personally feel about this ruling, and inquire as to what purpose (if any) this ruling serves. My 2 cents.
D+1 04-24-04, 02:31 PM	First, insist that he JUSTIFY to you the reason why you should sit out a scenario. Second, if the other players see it to be as stupid a rule as you (and it is) then get democratic on his behind and tell him he gets sensible or you ALL have a problem with him. Lastly, if none of that works and the day comes to pass and he insists that you sit out the scenario, then very calmly and POLITELY pack up your dice, your books, etc. and leave. As you go, or if he asks just tell him to call you again when the scenario is over as UNTIL then you have ABSOLUTELY no reason to be there. "I'm here to play D&D. YOU tell me that I'm not allowed to play right now. Anything I do at the table at this point will ONLY be a disruption of the game for everyone else because... I'm not allowed to play." Honestly, this is one of the most plainly silly rules I've ever heard of - and in nearly 30 years of playing I've heard of some galactically stupid rules. You want to avoid bad blood? Too late. Your DM has created it. You can only try to fix it. Oh, BTW, if you walk out and are called back then do so without complaint. Yes, it's a collossally stupid rule but if he refuses to be REASONABLE you have only two choices - go along with it or quit. If you're gonna go along with it then rest comfortable in the knowledge that everyone else is playing under the same STUPID rules.
Braekor Dragonfang 04-24-04, 06:30 PM	We just had our session for today, and he hasn't revoked it, but I'm on the verge of laughter. One of the female players is down to one remaining death. That female player has a boyfriend in the group. That boyfriend happens to be two belts away from black in his karate school. I'm sorely tempted to force the girlfriend into a deadly situation, just to see what happens, but I'm not that evil...
Remnant 04-24-04, 06:49 PM	Has he justified it at all? Give him a link to this thread, in an email or whatever. He has to have some logic behind this, other than punishing players for rolling badly.
Edymnion 04-24-04, 10:08 PM	Originally posted by Remnant Has he justified it at all? Give him a link to this thread, in an email or whatever. He has to have some logic behind this, other than punishing players for rolling badly. More like punishing the players because HE rolled WELL.
Wizard 04-24-04, 10:17 PM	So if anyone has two of their characters die, they're out of the game? Okay. Go find two in-game ants, stomp them both, and tell the DM that he's now out of the game.
Lady Mia 04-25-04, 02:34 AM	Once when faced with an impossible GM like that, I decided to fight back. I am a fairly popular girl. I just brought my Astrology books with me and the next time he had me 'sit out' of the rest of a senario for some reason or another I would dig out my books right there at the table and start doing charts and answering the questions the others would ask me right there in the middle of the game. The GM got very angry when most of his players were talking with me and paying almost no attention at all to the game. I pointed out it was entirely his fault. After all he is the one who said I couldn't play the rest of the senario, and its not my fault if people want to talk to me. So he started 'removing' anyone who talked to me from the scenario too. When he was down to one player he got upset and quit. I guess some GMs just have no clue. It all worked out for the rest of us. We had a fun chat and then a new GM took over and we all had fun gaming.
Nick Soapdish 04-26-04, 03:35 AM	Originally posted by Braekor Dragonfang I'm sorely tempted to force the girlfriend into a deadly situation, just to see what happens, but I'm not that evil... Plus it could backfire. "Why did you make her do that?!" chairs begin flying, furniture breaking, etc.
Thermanshs 04-26-04, 06:46 AM	Braekor Dragonfang, maybe you didn't tell us the whole story about "WHY" your DM came up to such ruling... -maybe you were dying once per 3 sessions? -or maybe all you cared for was go straight into battle no matter what you have to face and whack anything in front of you -or maybe your party is consisted of 4 fighters and all your money goes to weapons and stuff -or maybe you don't know the term "ressurection" I don't know what really happened but when one describes such an unfair situation "there should be a hole in his soup" as we say in Greece
Naeron 04-26-04, 06:55 AM	The simplest way around this is to talk to the other players (especially those who have lost a character already) and when the situation does arise all the other PC's state their intention to turn around and treck back to civilisation to find a replacement because they (very seinsibly and completely within character) do not want to continue this obviously hazardous exploration without a cleric/rogue/fighter as they just don't fancy their chances. After all if they have lost people already why continue on when that almost guarantees further losses.
Braekor Dragonfang 04-28-04, 02:15 PM	Originally posted by Thermanshs Braekor Dragonfang, maybe you didn't tell us the whole story about "WHY" your DM came up to such ruling... -maybe you were dying once per 3 sessions? -or maybe all you cared for was go straight into battle no matter what you have to face and whack anything in front of you -or maybe your party is consisted of 4 fighters and all your money goes to weapons and stuff -or maybe you don't know the term "ressurection" I don't know what really happened but when one describes such an unfair situation "there should be a hole in his soup" as we say in Greece - Only 2 characters have died so far, and we've had about 10 sessions - Then why did we the 4th level party run away from our psycho DM's pet iron golem? - we dont even have one fighter... - Not an option, low level campaign and there usually isn't enough left to revive
Arrowhen 04-28-04, 03:48 PM	If all the other players agree that this is a stupid rule you should all just kill each other twice and then sit there while the DM talks to himself for the next eight sessions. If it's just you, then when your second character dies you should order a pizza and sit at the table eating it all by yourself. Anyone asks for a slice, tell them no, it's your reward in the afterlife.
Endless Dave 04-28-04, 04:21 PM	"Marcie, get out of here. You're dead. You don't exist anymore." Sorry, couldn't resist. Haha, but seriously, a lot of the replies here assume that the DM is being an unreasonable jerk about this. Just talk to him next session and say that you think it's a silly rule because any benefit it would provide would be overshadowed by the fact that whoever had to sit out wouldn't be having any fun and, well, that's no fun. I'm sure your group will agree and I can't see how he could say "no, we're doing it my way" without cheesing a lot of the players. More than likely he'll just forget about the rule and everything will remain cool. Good luck!
edgelett 04-28-04, 08:52 PM	Originally posted by Endless Dave "Marcie, get out of here. You're dead. You don't exist anymore." That is hillarious - i know what you're referring to, very funny. Back to the topic, I think this is one of the lamest things I've ever heard!! I'd point out to the DM that since you've killed two of his monsters, he's died twice & now HE has to sit out the game, while you & the other player run rampant through his dungeon looting & pillaging.