Hero Points - Cheat Death Experiences

[Wyrd_Wik]

Hi all so had my first fatality in the JR campaign I'm running last session. It was a pretty minor encounter in the adventure pretty close to a random encounter really. So we've been using hero points in the campaign thus far in lieu of XP (just levelling up when appropriate). So the player used his hero points to cheat death (later found out that he needed 2 when he only had 1 but that was my fault and didn't realize until well after the fact but that was my fault).
It worked fine I'm just not sure how I feel about cheat death especially as in JR they have access to the

Spoiler:

Amatatsu Seal which can do ressurection once a month

. I like having death be a possibility in the campaign. So was wondering how people who use hero points have found the use of cheat death to be?

[Albatoonoe]

So, imagine this. You have just defeated the bad guy and now his evil fiery mountain is exploding. Lava everywhere. Nowhere to run. You are stuck with no help in sight. But then...

Giant freakin' Eagles.

[Pan]

Yeah I don't know about that ^^

I like to take the gloves off. My Players eventually grow to like their characters. Its a win/win for us. So far everyone in my Carrion Crown campaign has died and used hero points to ward off death. Last session a player finally got caught with only 1 point; perma death. So its not immunity if the campaign is lethal. Players still have to play smart.

[Gwaihir Scout]

I think it makes a nice buffer. I was able to coup de grace a Held PC in the middle of combat without fear of playing too deadly because I knew he had hero points. It still took him down to -1, so it made quite a difference for the fight.

[Albatoonoe]

Oh, don't mind me. I was just making a silly reference to Lord of the Rings.

Now, to be serious. Cheat death is useful because it allows for the dramatic events that only nearly kill the hero. You've seen it all before. The hero is thrown into a ravine and plummets to his death, but miraculously he survives. And then he is taken in by an old lady and learns the value of the old ways.

It gives a bit more dramatic irony than the PCs always curb stomping everything in their path. Throw an enemy that is a little bit harder. Let them be grievously wounded but survive. Hero points are all about the dramatics.

[STARGAZER_DRAGON]

I rather like it, I mean the players can just got get a raise dead normally if the char dies in the current game but there already pretty tight on gold. Also lets me b a bit ruffer on the party without fear of a TPK as much, yes the party could lose all there gear but least with cheat death they will likely get up eventually. Over all I prefer hero points

[hogarth]

Wyrd_Wik wrote:

I like having death be a possibility in the campaign. So was wondering how people who use hero points have found the use of cheat death to be?

How many hero points are you giving out? If you feel like death is not a possibility, just give out fewer hero points.

On the other hand, I much prefer having near-death a possibility rather than having {death + routine resurrection} be a possibility.

[STARGAZER_DRAGON]

also makes for increasing res costs and such not so bad since in theory they shouldn't need them as often

[3.5 Loyalist]

I allow rerolls, you get one per game session and they add up.

[Wyrd_Wik]

Good to know other people's experiences seem to be positive. I'm going to keep them in just remember from now on that its 2 HP.

[Malag]

I am using Hero Points in home campaign AP which I lead. So far, my player's are pretty happy with it, but they gain it only for major heroic deeds (big boss encounters). They do not gain them on each level, they admitted that it would be rather unchallenging then.

So far, there were some drama moments which 1 Hero Point saved whole situation.