As a DM, I don’t think you should be using Power Word Kill at all. “I’ve set up this awesome encounter that you’re all going to love. Except you. You’ll have to sit this one out.”
Makes for a great BBEG move to use against a favorite DMPC or other beloved party companion, though. You don’t use it on a player, you use it on their feelings.
Can make for some epic moments depending on the party and setting and fight etc. My character in the first stage of the final fight of the campaign got power word killed after getting the BBEGs lair action enabling staff away from him, because taking the staff hurt him enough to put him under 100. Incredible narrative moment, didn’t expect the disarm to work and he passed it off with his dying breath. Got revived in a later stage once reinforcements started showing up
There are ways. You could, for example, set up a bbeg where that’s his whole deal. The townsfolk are scared of this guy because he has the supernatural power to just kill you, straight-up. Maybe the questline leading up to their encounter involves the players finding defenses or counters or sabotaging his supply of spell components or whatever, such that, if they DO get power-word-killed, it’s because they had ample opportunities to not, and failed to take them.
If it is to see whether it takes effect I think it is fine if it is to know whether or not to target them I completely agree that it is not fun or fair.
I also didn’t downvote, but maybe you would want to convey the information to your players that creatures here can use that spell without outright killing a PC in the first battle? Like “you guys should really watch your health points in this area” type of thing
As a DM you should not be asking your players about their HP totals directly in order to target them with Power Words (or Sleep)
As a DM, I don’t think you should be using Power Word Kill at all. “I’ve set up this awesome encounter that you’re all going to love. Except you. You’ll have to sit this one out.”
Makes for a great BBEG move to use against a favorite DMPC or other beloved party companion, though. You don’t use it on a player, you use it on their feelings.
It’s definitely one of those things that you shouldn’t just throw out there. Gotta plan for it
Can make for some epic moments depending on the party and setting and fight etc. My character in the first stage of the final fight of the campaign got power word killed after getting the BBEGs lair action enabling staff away from him, because taking the staff hurt him enough to put him under 100. Incredible narrative moment, didn’t expect the disarm to work and he passed it off with his dying breath. Got revived in a later stage once reinforcements started showing up
There are ways. You could, for example, set up a bbeg where that’s his whole deal. The townsfolk are scared of this guy because he has the supernatural power to just kill you, straight-up. Maybe the questline leading up to their encounter involves the players finding defenses or counters or sabotaging his supply of spell components or whatever, such that, if they DO get power-word-killed, it’s because they had ample opportunities to not, and failed to take them.
If it is to see whether it takes effect I think it is fine if it is to know whether or not to target them I completely agree that it is not fun or fair.
Yeah, of course you need to know to resolve the effect
I agree. The enemy considering using the spell doesn’t know the HP totals. Why should the DM controlling that enemy?
from what i understood, the dm asked to know if the spell would have effect, not if the creature was going to use it or not
Yeah, that’s what PM_Your_Nudes_Please said, and I hadn’t thought of that until they did. But you’re both right.
Because the DM needs to know if the spell succeeds before they can narrate anything.
I suppose if they’re already using the spell regardless, yes.
Whoever downvoted, I’d be interested in hearing why you disagree.
I also didn’t downvote, but maybe you would want to convey the information to your players that creatures here can use that spell without outright killing a PC in the first battle? Like “you guys should really watch your health points in this area” type of thing
Hmm, true