The Unnerving Effect of a Party NPC Dying

[ParagonDireRaccoon]

Occasionally when I run, I'll provide a party NPC (often a cleric). Sometimes it is because no one wants to play the cleric (clerics are awesome starting in 3E and in PF, but there is some remaining lack of enthusiasm for playing a cleric with some players). Sometimes there are only three players.

I've noticed players get a little bit unnerved when a party NPC dies or nearly dies. A party NPC cleric can be counted on for healing and if need be to have vital equipment ("the NPC cleric has a lot of extra climbing equipment, and a lot of flammable oil- should we be concerned?"). So it makes sense that players expect the NPC cleric to not die. But I let the players run the NPC cleric in combat to prevent it from becoming a GMPC, which means the NPC will take damage and risks death.

Anyone have observations on players being unnerved by a party NPC death?

[Rubber Ducky guy]

We do, but our GM excels at bringing these NPCs to life.
Loosing an NPC in one of his games is like loosing your favorite character in a book or TV series.

[Jasque]

Our group is the same. Perhaps part of the reason is due to the differences between PCs and NPCs.

If a PC dies, you know that the player will just create a new PC. You might be sad, but the loss doesn't seem as permanent. You still get to play the game with the same player.

If an NPC dies, there is no guarantee that the GM will create another NPC to take his place. We also seem more willing to suspend our disbelief when it comes to NPCs than to PCs. So, the death of a favorite NPC just feels more permanent to us.

[DM_aka_Dudemeister]

Consider also that if a GM imperils an NPC it means nobody is safe, it's like the comic relief in a horror movie, if an NPC dies you know the GM isn't playing with kid gloves on.

[DM Under The Bridge]

They feature in my game, there is always a reason to take them on. Sometimes they die, and this can be used to good effect.

What bothers me though, is an invincible slightly useless npc. So it is tagging along, not helping with combat much, but always seems to survive. For over ten sessions the pf group I am in has had one. They have been an important plot point, and they have info, but they should have died thrice now.