Death

Thinking Critically: A D&D Discussion

This episode features the "Bard Killer" Seven from the 7th Roll podcast, and we talk all about the concept of death in our Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. We coin the phrase "murderhobo DM"; a DM who is more than comfortable with putting the PCs through some rough and tumble situations where death is a possibility. This can sometimes be at odds with a preciousness found in players who are attached to their characters, but if everyone is on board, this push and pull can make for great role play moments! One classic cause of PC death is player knowledge, or lack thereof. The player doesn't know everything their character does, and vice versa. As a DM, where should you step in to ensure this doesn't result in any untimely deaths just because of the unglamorous reason of miscommunication; where is the line in the sand? Ultimately, every kind of death in a TTRPG, not limited to the PCs, can and should be used to motivate role play.

• 01:36 - The Cost of Dying
• 17:07 - Should Player Knowledge Lead to Character Death?
• 24:57 - The Heroism of Fifth Edition
• 34:55 - Anticlimactic and Unsatisfying Deaths
• 45:38 - Alternative Resurrection Rules
• 55:52 - TPKs

Find Seven (@7thRoll) on:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/7thRoll
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3z_2iXa3yHWySDbhBu7DGQ
• Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/7throll

Find me on:

• Website: https://www.thinkingcritically.co.uk
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThinkCritDnD
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinking_critically_dnd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkingCriticallyDnD
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH_BSgazjwyshzo1jazHeaQ

References:

• 'Slient Knight' homebrew by High Level Games
• Pathfinder: Kingmaker
• Solasta: Crown of the Magister

Intro Music: 'Local Forecast' by Kevin MacLeod
Intermission Music: 'Chill' by Kevin MacLeod
Outro Music: 'Local Forecast - Elevator' by Kevin MacLeod