Sat 6 Dec, 2008
When is it fair to kill PCs? Does it show a lack of creativity on the GM’s part? Is it acceptable for a GM to kill a character because they’re absolutely sick of the player? Are rules lawyers acceptable targets?
Also, is it cruel to put characters into a situation the GM believes they can’t get out of or pit them against villains they’re positive the party can’t kill?
And what about those monsters that are apparently designed to destroy characters?
2 Responses to “Death and the PCs”
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cara says:
As someone that has experienced that sort of thing more than once, I don’t think it is fair to pit players against someone that they have no chance against. One of the rules of GMing I like is not to steal the PCs’ thunder. I don’t think its fair to pit us against enemies we can’t take care of ourselves and then have NPCs come to the rescue. If you want to have NPCs that are more powerful than the PCs then have them giving out advice to the players or something, but let the PCs take care of their own problems, or else they’ll probably want to kill your precious NPC.
If there is someone playing in your game that you didn’t invite and you really don’t want there and they’re causing a disruption, then I see nothing wrong with killing their character. Its probably more polite then telling them to get out of your house. If they try to generate another character to use, you could always tell them politely the reason(s) that you don’t want them in your game. And I don’t see why any player that’s causing a problem (like rules lawyers) wouldn’t be acceptable targets.
On the last question, ‘what about those monsters that are apparently designed to destroy characters?’. I think that its fair to do that if you are killing off the PC for the reasons above and not just being vicious, or if you’re going to let the PC kill it. Otherwise in my opinion, its cruel and unusual and shouldn’t be done.
katie says:
There’s always the school of thought that the players themselves should be dealt with out-of-game and in private when they start becoming a problem. This helps to avoid bad feelings between the GM and players. Personal experience shows me that the other players will often intervene when the offender gets really annoying, or they’ll do something to invite terrible consequences.
On a side note, the PCs are often far, far more creative and aware of their resources than the GM. We GMs may place the party in positions we’re positive there’s no way they can get out of–only to have them escape, kill the villain, foil the plot, and probably level half the countryside in the process.
It seems to be when the GM uses one of their own characters–that they know as well as the players know their own–as a villain when things go to hell for the party.