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Author Topic: Superhero Campaign Deaths  (Read 659 times)

Thondor

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Superhero Campaign Deaths
« on: May 09, 2022, 08:56:10 AM »
For those who run Superhero games: have any of your PCs ever died? Did they stay dead? How did it go down and do you generally feel that "death is on the table" in your Supers games?

How commonly are your villains killers? Have your PCs ever killed a villain?
Have the villains killed a loved one or a side-kick?

 

Chris24601

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Re: Superhero Campaign Deaths
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2022, 10:20:40 AM »
Most of the superhero games I’ve played tend to make it very hard to actually die, but relatively easy by comparison to be knocked unconscious.

So while I’ve had plenty of PCs knocked out, I don’t think I’ve ever had a death.

As to killing from the heroes. Me? Never. I’m a fan of the classic superhero tropes. One of the gals I play with though made a Punisher/Deadpool mashup who has no problems murdering villains.

I’ve never lost a sidekick or love interest to a villain, but that was more due to active intervention by the PC than villains not being potentially murderous.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2022, 10:26:42 AM by Chris24601 »

Visitor Q

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Re: Superhero Campaign Deaths
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2022, 11:44:40 AM »
For those who run Superhero games: have any of your PCs ever died? Did they stay dead? How did it go down and do you generally feel that "death is on the table" in your Supers games?

How commonly are your villains killers? Have your PCs ever killed a villain?
Have the villains killed a loved one or a side-kick?

A few years back I played a pretty gritty Wild Talents game which had PCs (including my own at the end) and villians getting smoked more or less every other session. But then again it was sort of like The Boys before The Boys was written. Resurrection wasn't really on the cards though there was an NPC who coupd animate corpses...(he was a good guy but somewhat delusional).

Since then I have played Masks and Mutants and Masterminds. Those games were far lighter in their sensibilities and death while threatened wasn't really on the cards. Definitely something to discuss at the beginning of the campaign as it has the potential to cause confusion on what the 'escapism' of the game is.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2022, 11:47:14 AM by Visitor Q »

zend0g

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Re: Superhero Campaign Deaths
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2022, 11:52:37 PM »
From my Marvel and Champions sessions back in the day, I was more worried about players just keeping playing the same characters.
If you give me six lines written by the hand of the most honest person, I will find something in them to be offended.

Omega

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Re: Superhero Campaign Deaths
« Reply #4 on: May 10, 2022, 04:55:51 AM »
For those who run Superhero games:  have any of your PCs ever died?
 Did they stay dead?
 How did it go down and do you generally feel that "death is on the table" in your Supers games?
How commonly are your villains killers? Have your PCs ever killed a villain?
Have the villains killed a loved one or a side-kick?

1:Depends on the system but in most dead is dead unless theres something that can revive a character. Which tends to be a no. In SMT though character death was a joke. But the PCs and NPCs tend to avoid it. Just in case. Or because it tends to hurt. lots. But yes have lost superhero characters.
2: So far dead has been dead and no ones come back. Even in settings where it might be possible simply because the players did not have access to anything that could or the requirements were too steep.
3: Yes because in the campaigns the means to revive the dead are few, far between or in a few cases non-existent.
4: Depends on the campaign. In SMT several villains were gleefully lethal the rest were not. I never got word back from the creators on just how common it was. Running V&V some villains were lethal and again, others were not. The players dealt with them as the situation and laws dictated.
5: So far no. Most villains dont cross that line as its about a guarantee to end up permanently dead.

x: Aberrant is probably the worst case scenario of all of the above.
No recovery from death unless you have a power that allows and even that isnt a guarantee. Many villains willing to kill and heroes who will put them down if they do. Villians can and will go after family if they can find them. Its a very "90s" RPG.

Alot depends on the system/setting, players and DM.
Aberrant is very lethal. TSR:MSH is not. But the players and DM can skew anything into whatever.

Thondor

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Re: Superhero Campaign Deaths
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2022, 06:03:02 AM »
For those who run Superhero games:  have any of your PCs ever died?
 Did they stay dead?
 How did it go down and do you generally feel that "death is on the table" in your Supers games?
How commonly are your villains killers? Have your PCs ever killed a villain?
Have the villains killed a loved one or a side-kick?

1:Depends on the system but in most dead is dead unless theres something that can revive a character. Which tends to be a no. In SMT though character death was a joke. But the PCs and NPCs tend to avoid it. Just in case. Or because it tends to hurt. lots. But yes have lost superhero characters.


What system is SMT?

I've had pretty strong reactions to introducing highly lethal enemies. "The Devourer" is the only villain who is clearly a killer in Simple Superheroes #0, he lifedrains and usually kills normal people with a touch. In my "Capital City" campaign when he was introduced, and fled through a crowd of people at a Fair, killing more than a couple while the heroes pursued him. This lead to the only moment I recall having where a hero, had an enemy basically helpless and said, "I kill him" and the rest of the heroes stood back or nodded.
That did have some interesting roleplaying impacts in future sessions.
In my "New Carthage" campaign, when the heroes encountered The Devourer, it was more of the classic one hero declaring that he must be killed and the others stopping him at the last moment. Memorable events.

I've used the spend 7 strainpoints to "Avoid Death in Classic comic-book style" rule* a few times for villains over the years and across campaigns and one-shots. Usually this hasn't been because a player was particularly intending to kill there opponent, but it's a cool thing to use. Your punch brings Thunderfist down to -6 lifepoints? "When you hit him, it knocks him through the next building, which collapses on him. But when the rescue crews search the building his body is never found."
*A key part of the rule is they get away, and people think they must have died, or at least think they could have died.

I've had a player use it at least once in a one-shot.

In my Chalice City campaign I had some heroes decide not to go back inside a burning Church to rescue a couple blood cultists. They had already rescued some innocent bystanders and fought the cultists. They just waited to see if the cultists would make it out. They didn't.