Death in tabletop RPGs is a lot like a group project: everyone insists they’re prepared for it, nobody actually reads the rules, and somehow it’s always the wizard’s fault. In this episode, the RPGBOT crew stares straight into the great beyond—death saves, dying conditions, resurrection magic, and those awkward moments when the cleric checks their spell slots and quietly says, “So… about that body.” Whether your character goes out in a blaze of glory or bleeds out behind a crate because no one had an action left, we’re breaking down how death really works at the table—and how to make it memorable instead of miserable.
Show Notes
Character death is one of the most emotionally charged—and mechanically misunderstood—parts of tabletop roleplaying games. In this episode of the RPGBOT.Podcast, the hosts dig into how death mechanics work across popular systems, why they often feel harsher (or softer) than intended, and how players and GMs can turn character death into a powerful storytelling moment instead of a buzzkill.
The discussion covers death saves, dying conditions, instant death effects, and the role of healing magic in prolonging—or preventing—the inevitable. The crew examines how different RPG systems handle mortality, from forgiving safety nets to brutal attrition-based designs, and what those choices say about the kind of stories those games want to tell.
Beyond raw mechanics, the episode explores meaningful death: heroic sacrifices, last stands, narrative consequences, and when resurrection magic enhances the story versus when it cheapens the moment. The hosts also share table-tested advice for GMs on foreshadowing danger, setting expectations, and making sure character death feels fair—even when it’s devastating.
If you’ve ever wondered whether death should be rare, frequent, reversible, or permanent—or why every party suddenly becomes a tactical mastermind the moment someone drops to zero HP—this episode is for you.
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Tyler Kamstra
Ash Ely
- Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games
- Join Ash’s West Marches-style PF2 Game
- Bluesky: GravenAshes
- YouTube: @ashravenmedia
Randall James
- AmateurJack.com
- Bluesky: @JackAmateur
- Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale
