Character Death; Appreciating the Awesome.

[Cruzel]

(This is intended to be a constructive thread. Any constructive comments about something I missed or you feel should be added, feel free to post them! If you're not going to contribute though, don't post at all!)

I have been playing efu for over a year now. I have seen the deaths of many of my own and other player's PCs alike.  One thing that I have noticed when people die, is usually them saying something like "I really liked this PC.. etc." Some people leave it at that, chill in tells lol'ing about the death, and move on to create their next concept and continue to contribute to 'the awesome' that we all make here on EFU:A. This is totally cool, and a great way to look at it.

Some people get angry, usually when I see people angry it is after a PVP death. Some get so attached to their PC's, that when another person comes and ends that PC it makes them angry and upset, because the player did not want to stop playing this PC. This is totally cool too. It's normal to be upset when something you are attached to gets lost, and it's totally fine if you don't like the fact.

Some people get really upset, blaming either PC's involved or even the DM running the show. Some people have said their PC dying  meant they wasted the last few weeks/months, that now they would need to start over.  Yes, this can totally suck. But an important note to remember here, is very little we do on the world of EFU is a waste of time. You might not have been able to build the temple you wanted, or the government you were starting, etc. You might not have caused any changes to the module itself at all, but you still did not waste your time, as long as you interacted with other PC's and helped contribute or even stood in the way of their goals.  Ideally, your PC affected another in a way that affected their past/future actions. Your part in the story may have ended, but the PCs you affected will go on (Except for in some super apocalyptic event) and the awesome will continue.

For various reasons, people try to avoid dying usually, because they do not want to stop playing their character. This is totally cool.  But  while EFU:A is about telling the story of many different people and their roles in the larger overall story; Sometimes  there are situations where dying can make the story that much more awesome. It may suck to lose the character - But if you can die in an awesome way, that will immortalise your PC in both the memories ICly of the PCs you die around, and OOCly in the players.  Nothing is more cool than stepping up and eating an awesome death in the name of storytelling. One death can have a huge impact on the server. If you see the chance for an awesome death, I fully encourage you to take it.

Summary;

When a PC dies, it can totally suck. But no matter what you do or how you died (Some exceptions) Your death will almost certainly contribute  to the greater 'Awesome' that is EFU:A. Wether by DM quest or PVP deaths for the most part have a good reason, and that plot/whatever that led to your death can totally continue, making it fun for other players as they try to avenge/raise/discover what happened to you.  The possibilities are endless, but death is something that usually should be thought of as awesome. It is much more fun to laugh about a death and the life of your PC, than to get worked up about it, for everyone involved. If you really feel like a death was lame, or whatever - Speak to a DM right away. Don't vent in a public channel or on the forums,  take whatever concerns you have right to a DM. Either  of two things will happen ; The DM will sit down and discuss the facts, and they will agree, retconning the situation and allowing you to live. Or they will tell you they do not agree, and they will discuss why, hopefully appeasing you and helping you understand and appreciate the awesome that was your death.
 

[Thomas_Not_very_wise]

I've had over 130 characters now.

Some of their deaths were lame.

Others were sheer awesome.

Others were meh.

But all (most) contributed.

[Letsplayforfun]

I'm the kinda guy to make two sorts of pcs: the ones i don't plan on stopping excpet if something neat happens, and those i don't care at all if they get pawned. The second ones are actually much more numerous.

The second kind are cool because you enjoy the game as it's meant: just rolling with the flow and having fun, getting wacked by PCs or monsters alike.

The second ones are cool too because you do get attached to them, and that's a nice feeling.

Ideally, when i see folks with long lived PCs (though most are gone by the Way), i imagine the player behind having some kind of 'planned death', because i do: when i make my pcs, i usually alreay imagine what a cool death would be for them.

So if you're in that kind of mood, just send me a tell, and i'll help you 'end' your pc more or less like you'd enjoy it. More or less, because the unknown is the fun part.

[Gullible Righteousness]

Something I find that when I have lost my PC, is something when you're chillin' in the Fugue.
 
At first, yeah, you feel kind of awkward and lame.
 
But that's when my nostalgic instinct kicks in.
 
Yeah, sure, it's cool when you get a sweet death, but what's even cooler is remembering all the good times you've had with that character. Being starting your noobish mercenary buisness, or fighting epicly with your pals, against some evil lich who does 45 damage with an unlimited use/day ability, or a deathmatch with that epic paladin.

[JackOfSwords]

Personally, I don't feel that dying adds anything at all to the gaming experience.  I'd much rather NWN worked like WoW.  (Or that WoW had DM-run sites like NWN.)  But that's just me.

[Letsplayforfun]

I've been strolling around other servers a little for new ideas, and the feeling is always the same: as soon as death brings no penalty, well, all the flavor and excitement just aren't there.

You just level up, and then you wait for next level. You interact, have conflict, pvp, and next thing you know you meet your enemy again either as if nothing happened, or you just start the same conflict again. In quest, you get pawned, wait a little, get up, and well, no fear, no excitement, nada. If you're new on the server, you only meet lvl 30 folks who'll have nothing to do with you.

So, yes, i love the death system on EfUA. Could even be harsher.