Today's L&L article was about the save or die mechanic. This is something I truly miss in 4e. I hate the whole respawning, no one dies, no danger and thus no real sense of accomplishment feel to 4e.
One of the complaints I have heard is that no one wants to come to the game, play for ten minutes, then spend the rest of the night doing nothing. Please explain to me how this is any different from being prone, stunned and within threatening reach of the at-will attack that inflicts the stun, but out of melee range of the monster (unfettered kraken I'm looking at you), where I spend the next hour rolling a d20 every ten minutes. If I become unstunned I can stand, but if I move or attack, I just get stunned again. If I am dead at least I can go do something else until that encounter is over.
Save or die encourages smarter gameplay. When you know that you are going to confront the Medusa in her lair, you prep for it. You buy mirrors. You memorize or take scrolls of Stone to Flesh. When in combat you fight with your eyes closed. You have to think to survive. The strategy and planning is part of the game.
Back in AD&D my husband's character got disintegrated. He and a few others did something uber stupid in the presence of the most powerful evil wizard in the kingdom. Because he was a smart player he had things in place that allowed him to come back from this, so his momentary lapse in judgment was only a temporary setback. And it was really cool watching some of the other players try to figure out how he came back. It is a great tale, one that we wouldn't have without save or die.
It is a fantasy game. Death is almost never permanent. Along with bringing save or die back we need to also bring back raise dead and reincarnation. I remember our group having tons of fun deciding if our newly reincarnated companion was a Dwome or a Gnorf. We settled on Dwome. It added to the story, to the fun.
Now there are times when save or die is inappropriate. You should never get into that situation without warning. No random encounters with Basilisks in the woods. Having to save or die from failing a skill check to walk along a narrow ledge, especially if it takes twenty rolls to get all the way across, just makes your DM a dick. The problem here is not the mechanic, but how it is used.
As for those players too lazy or not smart enough to prepare for that encounter with the Medusa? I don't want to play with them. Whine like a two year-old if you are not winning by enough? I don't want to play with them. Think PCs should never die? I don't want to play with them. It ruins my enjoyment of the game.
If, after you Mind Blast the dragon while it is 200ft in the air and the trajectory of its unconscious body causes it it crush you, you can laugh and admit that it was a stupid thing to do...then you are welcome at my table anytime. Thank you for helping to shape a story worth sharing. One we will remember for decades to come, and pass on to our children at the game table.
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