No, this isn't spam.  It's something that came up in my ongoing Temple of Elemental Evil campaign.  Two key characters (well, key in that the party sure can use a high-level thief or two, and that's what they were: a thief and fighter/thief) bit the dust.  One was torn to pieces by a troll, another died at the wail of the Banshee on level 3.

The fellow who died fighting the trolls was a little irked (very, very, very little, and his irked mood was with a smile so it was all good) that his corpse was looted and his gear distributed among the party.  His comment was that "My new character could've used some of that equipment."

Likewise, the other player, I told her about the possibility of having her elf fighter/thief reincarnated, so she asked me to tell the party that's what she wanted (she wasn't present for that game).  I told her no, the party would have to come to that decision themselves unless she'd left a will or some other information about what to do if she died.  The cost is actually not that bad: the magic-user who'd perform it would likely want the scroll taken from the banshee's lair in return.

But again, these are actions that unless the party undertakes themselves simply can't be!  There are no telephones on Elysium...!

On the back of the original character sheets from TSR, there's a "last will and testament" section.  Most of my group think of it as a joke, but in these two cases, I think the importance of leaving some instructions behind has really hit home.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;373505On the back of the original character sheets from TSR, there's a "last will and testament" section.  Most of my group think of it as a joke, but in these two cases, I think the importance of leaving some instructions behind has really hit home.

Hehehehe... I loved those goldenrod sheets.  

I always used to fill out that will section on the bottom of the back page just in case.

In some campaigns, our characters had wills.  It was also fun when the dwarf found out that you didn't leave him anything.  I don't recall any of it being willed to our future characters.

Quote from: thedungeondelver;373505On the back of the original character sheets from TSR, there's a "last will and testament" section.  Most of my group think of it as a joke, but in these two cases, I think the importance of leaving some instructions behind has really hit home.

LOL Indeed.

OD&D vol. I actually has a fairly detailed (by OD&D standards, which is to say a single paragraph) section on wills, including how much of the estate is taxed away, and what happens when a character is declared legally dead but later returns and tries to reclaim his estate (a la Bilbo Baggins at the end of The Hobbit)

My will would have said:

Do not get my character killed when I am absent from the gaming session.  If you're reading this, you did it wrong.

But, yeah, interesting topic.  I could swear there was some edition that recommended you make these arrangements, up to and including willing some objects to a new character.  I might be making that up in my head though.  Anyone?

Quote from: Drohem;373510Hehehehe... I loved those goldenrod sheets.  

I always used to fill out that will section on the bottom of the back page just in case.

And now you can print them out to your heart content including NPC Records and the all-mighty Character Record Folder with Adventure Record Forms.

http://www.mad-irishman.net/pub_dnd_1e.html

Time to stock up on colored paper.

Quote from: winkingbishop;373553My will would have said:

Do not get my character killed when I am absent from the gaming session.  If you're reading this, you did it wrong.

But, yeah, interesting topic.  I could swear there was some edition that recommended you make these arrangements, up to and including willing some objects to a new character.  I might be making that up in my head though.  Anyone?

Sadly both deaths occured when the players were out.  One was two sessions back - the aforementioned thief was fighting trolls with a Flame Tongue acquired early on in the Temple.  The troll, having had enough of the pointy-ear with the burning sword, decided that once he'd knocked said pointy ear down, it was time to make sure he stayed down, and (as he was automatically hitting for 2x maximum damage on a down/prone target, and said target was already at -2 hp) the thief was reduced to -23 HP, I believe.

I described this as the troll basically tearing him to bits.

As for the other thief, that was "one of those things" - the party went to the banshee's lair in the Temple and were shrieked at.  Everyone but the thief made the roll, and that was that.  Wasn't really a "you weren't playing my character right" situation.  Now if they'd seen her, fled, and used the thief as NPC cannon fodder "You stay and hold her off and we'll come back!", yeah.

I'm trying to figure out how I can make money drafting wills for people's characters now...


What, I'm a Jewish lawyer who could use some extra cash to pay his property taxes!

Reported as Spam.


Seriously though:  My absent players are absent characters. Fuck Suspension of Disbelief.  I've been killed while absent before... maliciously at that... and its left a bad taste in my mouth ever since.

That said: next time I run a gonzo 'Adventurers R us' style campaign, 'Coffin Chaser' lawyers will abound....

Quote from: estar;373569And now you can print them out to your heart content including NPC Records and the all-mighty Character Record Folder with Adventure Record Forms.

http://www.mad-irishman.net/pub_dnd_1e.html

Time to stock up on colored paper.

Thanks.

Quote from: Spike;373581Seriously though: My absent players are absent characters. Fuck Suspension of Disbelief. I've been killed while absent before... maliciously at that... and its left a bad taste in my mouth ever since.
 
That said: next time I run a gonzo 'Adventurers R us' style campaign, 'Coffin Chaser' lawyers will abound....

Agreed and agreed.

"...'An I leave mah axe t' th' orcs. Y' know how t' deliver it..."

Yeah, I've never had this happen, not in a D&D style campaign. In Pendragon, yes.

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