The issue of death in (npc) battle

[Asmodea]

Could you maybe just Ethereal the downed person? Forcing the AI to target and smash someone else? I feel like there is maybe a stupid simple reason this wouldn't work. But maybe not?

[Aspect of Sorrow]

I'm avoiding anecdotal claims, as an medium-rp server, the grinders will shorten whatever path possible in all the same manner as it's been seen where not a word is said by existing role players regarding a recent death. I myself guilty of both.

[PaulImposteur]

Could you maybe just Ethereal the downed person? Forcing the AI to target and smash someone else? I feel like there is maybe a stupid simple reason this wouldn't work. But maybe not?

Cool idea.

I'm avoiding anecdotal claims, as an medium-rp server, the grinders will shorten whatever path possible in all the same manner as it's been seen where not a word is said by existing role players regarding a recent death. I myself guilty of both.

This is true, my post is certainly more about personal experience than facts.
Characters admitting their frequent deaths (Very frequent, in some cases) I think cheapens death more than this idea. But, I never was a fan of being known for my massive death count due to mostly gimped builds.

[Vogar Eol]

I've been playing with a bunch of newer players who have level 5 - 10 characters. The take amongst these players has been that death is roleplayed very very seriously.

If a party is out leveling, and one person dies... the whole group stops the mindless grind, and roleplay. They talk over who will carry the body, where to best take the body... if they run into players on the road, they ask for help. In general, it's only enhanced the play among these lowbies. They don't even lose much experience from respawning either. I've even seen them gird their loins for a rush to try and recover a body from a boss... All within this last week.

I also have epic characters. What I've noticed grouped with +20 characters in party is that they don't treat death seriously. I've watched the group go instantly OOC and ask who has a scroll, can anyone cast ress... etc. In short, they don't want the inconvenience of something interrupting their party's adventure.

I've also been in a couple prolonged DM events in the last weeks where the party almost whiped. Myself and one other lived. I cast Greater Sanc, turned on parry mode... and carried out the bodies one at a time in character. I started counting my spells left, and seeing how many scrolls I had... to prioritize raises. Then the DM just raised everyone, and even forced rest so all the casters (myself included) could regain spells. Frankly, I was a little shocked.

Death RP can be fun and adds a little tension. Without it, what is heroism? I was at Xvarts just yesterday when our party dissolved suddenly. My buddy and myself tried to fight our way to an exist, but ran into four Shamans and their supports. We were overwhelmed, and my buddy went down. From fugue he said "save yourself", as I fought to withdraw. I managed to heal in combat, fight to gain distance, run for the body, grab the body, and fight for the exit... just barely. I made it out with most of my supplies gone, but I had saved him. I took him to a temple, and was a hero.

Death mechanics are what you make of them.

[aaron22]

i played in a group that played death as if you fell in a manner that rez is impossible given the circumstances. ex. eaten by a dragon, eaten by wolves, eaten by.. anything, burned badly. certain spells, or we could not get to the body in a reasonable amount of time. we were delete dead. heroes were made and confirmed very often. it was exciting and made the adventure feel like an adventure. this was done with all the mechanics as we have them now, but a lay and wait 3rd person spirit watch would only make the experience greater.

if your watching in 3rd person spirit view. what happens when some picks you up and puts you in their backpack?

[Vogar Eol]

Yeah, I played Dungeons and Dragons Online... and having a ghost tied to your body was fun. Allowed me to watch some of the people attempt heroics and generally made things more exciting.

I remember one buddy lagged behind our group in a particularly nasty dungeon because he was flirting in private messages. A particularly nasty trap killed everyone but this clumsy flirt. We were placing bets on if he could make it to our bodies while we watched him try as ghosts.