# They killed me! (D&D) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 6, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150 "2018-08-06T01:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/1 "2018-08-06T01:54:13Z")
Due to a combination of waves os encounters and (seriously) back to back critical misses, my 6th level ranger just got killed. Time to roll a new character. Looking for suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/2 "2018-08-06T01:58:59Z")
Well, what sort of characters do you like to play? What’s the rest of your group? If you want to achieve cosmic balance, I started my current character, a ranger, when my 6th-level warlock died. But the circumstances were different, there: He got eaten by a shark, without a die roll, at my suggestion, because he just wasn’t working out the way I envisioned. The ranger, so far, has been much more fun. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/3 "2018-08-06T02:27:39Z")
IDK, maybe the medical field? (I know exactly jack-shit about D&D) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/4 "2018-08-06T03:41:04Z")
Usually when I lose a character and make a new one, I pick based on two criteria: 1. What is the party sorely lacking that I can now provide in a new character? 2. Make something very different from the last one. If my previous character was already providing something important that is now missing in his absence, I’ll try to make a character that still fills that role but from a different angle. Even if it’s as simple as having a totally different personality and outlook on life. ---
**Author:** ![Panther\_Modern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@Panther\_Modern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panther_Modern)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/5 "2018-08-06T04:09:30Z")
Add a “Jr.” to the end of your character’s name. Congratulations, you are playing your previous character’s child, who is seeking to avenge is slain father. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/6 "2018-08-06T11:29:53Z")
I usually struggle with this decision before defaulting to druid. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/7 "2018-08-06T12:52:08Z")
I’ve been thinking about trying my hand at one of the Magic User classes, but haven’t played one since 1[sup]st[/sup] edition, or maybe an Arcane Trickster rogue. Any opinions or advice? I’d be picking up at 7[sup]th[/sup] level. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/8 "2018-08-06T13:13:35Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, what sort of characters do you like to play? What’s the rest of your group? > > If you want to achieve cosmic balance, I started my current character, a ranger, when my 6th-level warlock died. But the circumstances were different, there: He got eaten by a shark, without a die roll, at my suggestion, because he just wasn’t working out the way I envisioned. The ranger, so far, has been much more fun. Oh, rangers are great fun, but I would rather be a “[Woody](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/Cheers)” replacement than a “[Cindy](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/ThreesCompany)” replacement. One good thing that came from Dorn’s death was: As they were going through his stuff, hoping to find a healing potion, they came across his father’s signet ring and a scroll of pedigree, which prompted an “Oh crap, we never really knew him,” moment, gaving the rest of the party a natural chance to roll play and give each other their back stories. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/9 "2018-08-06T13:18:40Z")
Magic users are in a way simpler than they used to be, since you don’t need to worry about how you’re allocating spell slots until it’s actually time to use them. Wizards, clerics, and druids still need to prepare spells, but if, for instance, a cleric prepares both Cure Wounds and Guiding Bolt, then he can use his first-level spell slots for any combination of those: Depending on how the day goes, he could use all of his slots on Guiding Bolt, or all of them on Cure Wounds. Preparation is also made simpler by the cast-a-spell-as-a-higher-level mechanic: For instance, there isn’t a separate Cure Light Wounds, Cure Moderate Wounds, Cure Serious Wounds, and Cure Critical Wounds: You just have Cure Wounds, and you cast it from whatever level spell slot seems appropriate. The biggest catch with spellcasters nowadays is concentration: Almost all spells with durations, whether offensive or buffs, require concentration. This doesn’t interfere with your other actions (like, say, casting instantaneous spells like Fireball), but it does mean that you can mostly only have one ongoing spell effect at a time. So, for instance, you might start a combat by casting Black Tentacles on a group of enemies, and then the next turn Fireballing the rest, but you couldn’t tentacle the enemies and then Haste your buddy the barbarian. My first 5th edition character was an arcane trickster, and I enjoyed him, but 7th level is a bit of a tricky spot for them: Your skills aren’t good enough yet to really rely on them (11th level makes a _huge_ difference for that), but your spells have fallen behind the curve enough that you can’t rely on them, either. But it’s good if you just want to Sneak Attack, with the occasional magic trick to show off. And if nothing else, when you attempt to disarm a trap and fail because you’ve rolled horribly, at least you’re 30’ away from where it’s set off. EDIT: I wasn’t suggesting that you make a new ranger; I was suggesting that, since I went from warlock to ranger, you should go from ranger to warlock to balance me out. But in all seriousness, I’m not sure I actually recommend warlock: In practice, it works out to be Eldritch Blast: The class. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/10 "2018-08-06T14:30:11Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > EDIT: I wasn’t suggesting that you make a new ranger; I was suggesting that, since I went from warlock to ranger, you should go from ranger to warlock to balance me out. But in all seriousness, I’m not sure I actually recommend warlock: In practice, it works out to be Eldritch Blast: The class. I’d gotten that. No worries. I guess it’s just as well my guy died. I was down to eight arrows, and I didn’t see any chance of refilling my quivers any time soon. That, and my teammates were getting tired of being shot in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/11 "2018-08-06T14:33:34Z")
> [@Panther\_Modern](#): > > Add a “Jr.” to the end of your character’s name. Congratulations, you are playing your previous character’s child, who is seeking to avenge is slain father. This is the method I use, and “slythe the 564th” is doing fi…make that “slythe the 565th”. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/12 "2018-08-06T14:56:04Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > This is the method I use, and “slythe the 564th” is doing fi…make that “slythe the 565th”. As per “[The Gamers: Dorkness Rising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gamers:_Dorkness_Rising)”: hide behind the pile of dead bards!! ---
**Author:** ![Panther\_Modern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac8455/32.png) [@Panther\_Modern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panther_Modern)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/13 "2018-08-06T15:12:14Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I’ve been thinking about trying my hand at one of the Magic User classes, but haven’t played one since 1[sup]st[/sup] edition, or maybe an Arcane Trickster rogue. Any opinions or advice? I’d be picking up at 7[sup]th[/sup] level. Magic users are fun. Don’t let the plethora of spells intimate you. When built wisely, a magic user can be the most valuable member of the party. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/14 "2018-08-06T16:25:51Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I’d gotten that. No worries. I guess it’s just as well my guy died. I was down to eight arrows, and I didn’t see any chance of refilling my quivers any time soon. That, and my teammates were getting tired of being shot in the back. Wait, what? House rule here? What edition are you playing? What other classes does the party currently have? ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/15 "2018-08-06T16:44:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > IDK, maybe the medical field? > > (I know exactly jack-shit about D&D) That would be a cleric. Does the team already have one? ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/16 "2018-08-06T16:59:31Z")
As others have asked, how many in the group and what are they? Might help. Otherwise, monk. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/17 "2018-08-06T17:53:21Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I’ve been thinking about trying my hand at one of the Magic User classes, but haven’t played one since 1[sup]st[/sup] edition, or maybe an Arcane Trickster rogue. Any opinions or advice? I’d be picking up at 7[sup]th[/sup] level. Keep in mind that bards count as full casters now and, if you’re starting at level 7, then you already have a Magical Secrets pull as a Lore Bard (pick two spells from any class to add to your own). Plus at least light armor, a rapier for poking stuff if you absolutely need to and skills out the wazoo. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/18 "2018-08-06T17:57:57Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Wait, what? House rule here? > > What edition are you playing? > > What other classes does the party currently have? My critical misses usually resulted in whoever in front of me getting shot in the back - except for the Monk. He’d usually grab the arrow out of mid-air and shoot me a dirty look. What went down: We had just finished off several encounters over two or three sessions, when we were trying to get to a safe, defensible spot for a badly needed Long Rest. Suddenly, we were spotted by a pair of perytons when we were 70 feet from safety. Our wizard, ran and Misty Stepped into the doorway. Our monk decided he was The Flash and ran there. The cleric dashed 60 feet. The fighter and I both ran 30 and popped healing potions. The perytons swooped down and attacked the fighter and me, knocking me down. On my turn, I failed a death saving throw. On the fighter’s turn, he hits the peryton for an ungodly amount of damage. He throws a one on the second attack, hitting my unconscious body for another death saving throw failure. “Oh crap, sorry!” he said, “There’s no way that can happen again.” He uses an action surge and throws another critical fail, cleaving my head from my body. The DM was very apologetic, and said we could figure something else out. I said that’s how the game is played and we should follow the house rules. Besides we were about to meed a childhood friend of my character, and I was curious to see how this would work out. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/19 "2018-08-06T18:31:57Z")
Never been a huge fan of critical misses, especially not in D&D family of games. If you have an army of soldiers there’s no way at any given time 5% of them are hitting friendly targets and adventurers are supposed to be way better than an average soldier. That said if it works for your group, then it works. Just a bit too much like deadly slapstick humor for me. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2018, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150/20 "2018-08-06T18:57:33Z")
> [@Panther\_Modern](#): > > Add a “Jr.” to the end of your character’s name. Congratulations, you are playing your previous character’s child, who is seeking to avenge is slain father. All my characters are named “\ Montoya”, for just this eventuality. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-killed-me-d-amp-d/819150.md?page=2)