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StuffImportant Question: Was there a cleric in the party?
Wow. And I think this is one of the least important things to ask.
There is little correlation between deaths and the presence of clerics at a table (deaths happen quite often both with and without 'clerics'). The notion that one is safer at a 'balanced' table is a myth.
-Pain
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It sounds like the death might not have been warranted. If there were, in fact, other targets (not sure what you mean by in range? of spells, melee, etc) in range then it is probably not reasonable that the BBEG continue to beat on a non-threat. This could be heavily impacted if there was a cleric in the group that had repeatedly channeled fallen PC's back up to continue. As the BBEG, that would really frost my cake and might result in a death blow.
The digital roller is irrelevant, IMO, but a rules error could be a problem, especially if it resulted in a kill.
Wow. And I think this is one of the least important things to ask.StuffImportant Question: Was there a cleric in the party?
I think the point is that if an intelligent enemy knows for sure that there's a cleric in the party, then it makes a certain amount of sense to kill one of the PCs (to prevent him from being healed).
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I think the point is that if an intelligent enemy knows for sure that there's a cleric in the party, then it makes a certain amount of sense to kill one of the PCs (to prevent him from being healed).Wow. And I think this is one of the least important things to ask.StuffImportant Question: Was there a cleric in the party?
Exactly. Yet so many people think that having a 'cleric' in the party is necessary for survival.
My entire point that this can easily be argued either way: a cleric will keep you alive with healing or that a cleric makes it more likely for a coup de grace...
...which is why the question is unimportant.
/soapbox
Newer players will often focus on 'balance' out of old history rather than a fuller understanding of all the dynamics involved in any encounter.
You can both survive and excel in any PFS module both with and without a balanced party...there are higher coefficients to survival than a 'cleric': like teamwork and flexibility...but that's for another post. /end soapbox
-Pain
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Wow. And I think this is one of the least important things to ask.
There is little correlation between deaths and the presence of clerics at a table (deaths happen quite often both with and without 'clerics'). The notion that one is safer at a 'balanced' table is a myth.
-Pain
I think it's an important question to ask, given the motivation of the baddie. Was there someone close by with dedicated healing that could have put him back in the mix of things? If the BBEG was of the intelligent nature, I think it is an important question to ask to get at the motivations of the baddie. Don't be so quick to dismiss, especially since this is a point that's already been raised before in this very thread, I was just taking the opportunity to get a response.
And I will have to disagree with your sentiment. I have a 9th level cleric and I can tell you that my healing (especially channels), were the only things to save a party on multiple occasions. But that is a topic for a different discussion.
Well, as someone who was at that table when it happened, I feel like I should comment. I think the OP is not just upset about the death. The judge didnt really know the rules in general and when called out on it(even when rulebook was consulted) just rule against the player since made the combat harder. That and the fact that the judge used a digital dice roller(tech version of rolling behind a screen) made for a frustrating game.
Its one thing to finish off an AC when it was the only creature in range(which the dm also did, claiming that i can always replace my AC). But when the BBEG had 3 other hurt PCs in range and chose to instead kill the downed/not a threat anymore pc, we were all a little upset. I appreciate it when people dm for me, but the fact that the dm didnt know the rules, was stubborn about it, and seemed like he/she was out for blood, that I do not appreciate. It wasn't even smart tactics neccesarily as there were other targets that were heavily injured by the creatures opening Horrid Wilting. It just seemed malicious
With that being said I think the word should be put out about playing with him. Of course I think he should be given a chance to defend himself, but if his attitude comes across like you portrayed him I would steer as many people away from him as possible until he decides to take the time to learn the rules, and correct him behavior.
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I really think it's easy to vilify someone who isn't present.
Personally, my answer to the OP is "it depends". I wasn't there and it's really hard to make a call. Most likely if there was someone else in range I'd have left the unconscious character and spread the attacks out, but there are a fair number of circumstances where that's not possible or it might have made sense to do otherwise.
I've been on both ends of that killing blow and it's not a ton of fun on either side.
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Thanks everyone for the responses. I was more polling on if this type of behavior is considered normal within PFS and I more or less got the response I was expecting. I made the judge in question well aware that I would not be sitting at their table ever again.
I was purposely being vague and giving fewer details because, like another poster said, it's easy to vilify someone that isn't around to defend themselves and that was not my intent.
I don't know what my judge's problem was with me/my character. Perhaps he/she thought I was overpowered? Perhaps I did or said something to offend him/her. Perhaps he/she really did think all-out killing me would somehow help the group overall. In any case, the act came off as malicious and it soured the game for myself and everyone else at the table.
Thanks everyone for the responses. I was more polling on if this type of behavior is considered normal within PFS and I more or less got the response I was expecting. I made the judge in question well aware that I would not be sitting at their table ever again.
I was purposely being vague and giving fewer details because, like another poster said, it's easy to vilify someone that isn't around to defend themselves and that was not my intent.
I don't know what my judge's problem was with me/my character. Perhaps he/she thought I was overpowered? Perhaps I did or said something to offend him/her. Perhaps he/she really did think all-out killing me would somehow help the group overall. In any case, the act came off as malicious and it soured the game for myself and everyone else at the table.
Did you try to find out why they did it, or did you just tell them you were not playing again?
I do think a lack of knowledge of the rules would be a good enough reason in any case if the person was refusing to acknowledge corrections.