I am about to start running STAP, and I'm trying to come up with a mechanic to deal with low-level PC death. In other campaigns I've run, rarely do the PC's who start out the adventure finish it. Usually each player goes through two or three characters. I would like to find some way to keep players playing the same PC without having to spend lots of gold or experience level loss. One think I was thinking of was that if a PC died, they would be out of commission for that "game" day, and when they revived, they would lose enough xp to put them back at the beginning of their current level. The problem is, what if that's where they are already, or what if they are first level? Any thoughts?
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In my experience, the risk of death is what makes D&D so compelling. I wouldn't recommend treating it too lightly.
Just make sure the challenges your present them with are appropriate. Even at low levels, when characters have few hitpoints, creatures with CR 1 or lower tend not to hit very hard. There aren't many threats that can hit them right down to -10. And make sure they have adequate healing (help them out in that department if they don't, and you want to keep them alive).
That said, there certainly are ways to cushion the blow that death presents in the game. Houserules have never been my specialty, though.
I am about to start running STAP, and I'm trying to come up with a mechanic to deal with low-level PC death.
How about this mechanic: Don't kill off the characters so many times. As the GM, you should be making or modding adventures so the possibility of PC death is on par with what the group is comforatable playing with.
As ever,
ACE
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I am about to start running STAP, and I'm trying to come up with a mechanic to deal with low-level PC death. In other campaigns I've run, rarely do the PC's who start out the adventure finish it. Usually each player goes through two or three characters. I would like to find some way to keep players playing the same PC without having to spend lots of gold or experience level loss. One think I was thinking of was that if a PC died, they would be out of commission for that "game" day, and when they revived, they would lose enough xp to put them back at the beginning of their current level. The problem is, what if that's where they are already, or what if they are first level? Any thoughts?
As to the experience problem, our DMs (myself included) have adopted a house rule that removes the loss of level in favor of a negative level. Thus, characters raised or resurrected come back with the same level and amount of XP they had when they died, but are bestowed with a negative level that they cannot remove until they gain a level. Also, XP is always handed out to dead characters, so that if they are close to gaining a level before they die, they gain the level but are stuck with the negative until they gain another level.
This doesn't really address the high cost of raising the dead, but I think that's an easier fix than the loss of XP, as one could just raise the average party wealth and treasure awarded by a 20% margin or so to compensate.
How about this: The PC is "out" until his party members can get him or her to safety (or the appropriate ressurection magic is applied, in which case the following doesn't apply), and for 1 day thereafter. Then, they slowly recover their health. They are sickened until they pass a Fortitude save (DC 10 + damage dealt on the 'killing' blow). They get one chance on this save per day (remembering that a natural 20 on the saving throw roll automatically succeeds).
This is just off the top of my head, mind. It might give the tanks a free pass, screw over the casters too much, or be simply not enough.
I'm sticking with the RAW for now, though. Well, RAW with action points. Action points rock.
TK
I am about to start running STAP, and I'm trying to come up with a mechanic to deal with low-level PC death...
So do I -- tear up the character sheet :)
Seriously, though, I agree it's a concern. While I don't have a solution, I think it's important not to remove the threat of death. XP loss doesn't do it, IMO.
Jack
If the characters are trying their sincere best at first level you could always fudge rolls to avoid TPKs, so that at least one PC can run for the nearest cleric. I'm not suggesting you you place a potion of healing dispensing machine every 100 feet, it's just that my idea of enjoying this game is in earning a sense of accomplishment by taking and prevailing over measured risks, not a neverending cascade of can't-get-past-the-trap-puzzle-in-the-very-first-room fatalities. I hate having to kill off PCs in general, but zigging instead of zagging regrettably brings about a messy end from time to time. I've run two TPKs through Tomb of Horrors back to back with different groups :(. That said, I am all kinds of kid gloves on first time players and pretty forgiving with first and second level PCs.