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GMing a hostage situation when players don't give up?

Started by mAcular Chaotic, July 20, 2017, 03:09:57 PM

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soltakss

#75
August 05, 2017, 06:39:50 AM
Quote from: Bren;980565Depending on the culture sending people after the kidnappers instead of paying a ransom may show the family as powerful and not to be messed with...or too poor to afford a decent ransom and too uncaring of their family members to borrow enough to pay a decent ransom when they can't afford one.

Mess with us and see what happens ...
Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism  since 1982.

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Bren

#76
August 05, 2017, 10:46:46 AM
Quote from: soltakss;980649Mess with us and see what happens ...
Yes, that would be the way that such behavior could lead to others thinking the family is powerful and dangerous.
Currently running: Runequest in Glorantha + Call of Cthulhu   Currently playing: D&D 5E + RQ
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Spinachcat

#77
August 06, 2017, 03:56:43 AM
Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;976908The problem I've noticed is that 99% of the time the players will just ignore however much danger there is for the hostage and try to bulldoze the other side and get their friend back.

Well, I guess my first question is: IS that a problem?

No.

Players get to make their choices.

The NPCs react to those choices and take their own actions.

Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;976908If they do that, should I just roll with it, or go ahead and kill the hostage?

Yes, if that makes sense for the NPC.

In your case, the Orc is gonna slice the throat.


Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;976908That seems to undermine the tension of what the situation is supposed to be. In those cases, is it right to say the PC instantly dies?

Yes, unless a throat slice isn't lethal in your game.

Maybe, the 5e rules work in this scenario. I don't know.

In 4e, I would take the PC to zero HP. Then they start the save vs. death dance, and I'd have the Orcs work over the dying body each round taking the PC to the dreaded negative half HP for instant death. But that's high fantasy.

In 0e, you're dead.


Quote from: mAcular Chaotic;976908How do you handle these situations? Have you ever had a PC die because of a hostage situation? Do you let them get rescued? What do you do?

Yes, I've had PC's die. That's why D&D has the spell "Raise Dead" and why Traveller has the spell "Roll A New Character."

If the PCs take actions to rescue their friend that works, so be it.

If not, so be it.

It's okay for the players to lose sometimes.

Gronan of Simmerya

#78
August 06, 2017, 02:28:32 PM
Quote from: spinachcat;980788it's okay for the players to lose sometimes.

Heresy!
You should go to GaryCon.  Period.

The rules can\'t cure stupid, and the rules can\'t cure asshole.

Omega

#79
August 08, 2017, 09:48:45 AM
Quote from: Gronan of Simmerya;980866Heresy!

Right. They lose on a roll of 1 or 2 on a d6.
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