Best system for PC deaths?

RPGPundit · December 24, 2016, 04:17:39 AM

So, which RPG did you find most impressive for the way PCs die? And why?

Omega · December 24, 2016, 04:27:51 AM

Albedo for its oft messy and lethal firefights.

D&D for some of the horrible ways monsters can off you. Really horrible ways.

Some RPGs have the bad ends in the mechanics. Others in the encounters, be it monsters or traps.

Bluddworth · December 24, 2016, 04:43:00 AM

Call of Chthulhu, because the PC was usually driven mad first, then killed and often devoured. That and the beasties that killed you were often weird and twisted looking abominations that had no place being on this world.

nDervish · December 24, 2016, 05:03:59 AM

RoleMaster/Space Master for all the color and flavor in the crit tables. Nobody just "dies". They're shot through the heart, then stumble 15 feet to a spot suitable for dying; or their head is vaporized, leaving their ears free to flutter down and land on their shoulders; or an automatic weapon opens up their chest cavity in a manner suitable for an introductory anatomy course. (This applies equally to NPCs, of course.)

Dirk Remmecke · December 24, 2016, 07:07:53 AM

Paranoia?

Nothing beats Paranoia in this respect.

AsenRG · December 24, 2016, 10:50:43 AM

The Riddle of Steel, Pendragon, Mythras, Artesia, Sengoku, Zenobia, Flashing Blades, H+I, Le Pavillion Noir, Reign, Earthdawn, Backswords and Bucklers, GURPS....the list can go on and on:).
But overall, I find that all systems can do a suitable death. It's the ones that make the life before it worth living that impress me;).

darthfozzywig · December 24, 2016, 12:17:37 PM

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;936812Paranoia?

Nothing beats Paranoia in this respect.

I tend to agree: death is generally sudden, colorful, and inescapable.

I'm also fond of Traveller and old D&D at low level - combat is likely to result in death, so you get clever about avoiding it or stacking the odds quickly...or you die quickly.

MERP/RM etc have funny crit tables, but they were more ridiculous to me than "good".

Really fond of death in FATE-based games: I'm only dead if I feel it is narratively proper for me to die at this particular point in our shared story.

Just kidding.

RunningLaser · December 24, 2016, 12:27:15 PM

Quote from: Omega;936801D&D for some of the horrible ways monsters can off you. Really horrible ways.

Yeah, there are. Gah!

Simlasa · December 24, 2016, 12:37:30 PM

Whatever it is it's a system that let's your PC stay dead, versus having a bajillion ways to get out of it... which means it isn't 'death'.
Lately I've really been enjoying my deaths (and those of others) in DCC... but a lot of that goes back to the GM and Players, as always.

Spinachcat · December 24, 2016, 02:33:02 PM

Warhammer Fantasy critical hit charts!

Having your PC go out in an exploding fountain of blood and bone was always a hoot.

And since chargen was quick in WFRP 1e, it wasn't a big deal.

Quote from: Dirk Remmecke;936812Paranoia?

Nothing beats Paranoia in this respect.

True. The 6 clone thing is very fun. Especially for the first 3 clones.

David Johansen · December 25, 2016, 06:14:06 AM

Rolemaster mainly but I've always liked the D&D negative ten hp thing. They dropped it for fifth edition and I think that was a bad move. The death saves don't pack the same tension as losing a hit point every round until dead. Mind you, in Rolemaster people think it's the criticals that get you but more often than not its the blood loss.

K Peterson · December 28, 2016, 10:45:09 AM

Quote from: RPGPundit;936799So, which RPG did you find most impressive for the way PCs die? And why?

RuneQuest, Stormbringer/Elric!, and WFRP 1e/2e. Critical hit charts/fumbles, severed limbs, major wound tables, bleeding, decapitation...

Xanther · December 31, 2016, 12:14:46 PM

Any game that lets you make a new character quickly. Glorious PC death does not arise from game mechanics, unless you lack imagination, but the situation the PCs get themselves into and how the GM runs the game.

Elfdart · January 03, 2017, 10:27:32 PM

Phoenix Command: Die early, die often.

AaronBrown99 · January 04, 2017, 12:18:44 AM

Classic Traveller.

You die during character generation!