Killing off your character in 1x1s

Cresion Breezes

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Hi, so recently in a few of my RPs I planned to kill of my character, but most RPs die before the action can get to that point. Now while I do want to kill off my character in a RP I generally planned to give them a successor, whether it's a family member or an overlooked NPC. The main issue with groups is that it's hard to execute complex plot points before the RP dies off, so I been dabbling in 1x1s.

So people who do 1x1s, tell me if your partner killing off their character will turn you off from the RP? Since I know a lot of them are romance based it seems less appropriate even if you do have a "replacement".
 
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I get super attached to characters in a roleplay, both mine and my partners, so I'm quite wary of character death. If my partner just sprung a character death on me, it would definitely put me off, but if it was well woven into a great plot, I could see myself being okay with it. But the key is definitely a well written, meaningful character death, and it's definitely a 'your mileage may vary' thing. If you're up front about your desires you could probably find a partner.
 
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Death for all~! But not too often. Too often, and it gets to be depressing.
 
So I'm totally down with character death in a roleplay, as long as it makes sense for the plot and doesn't feel like it's being done just for shock value. However, I would be pretty cautious about doing that in a one-on-one; you're spot on that because most people are looking for romance, this sort of thing can cause problems. People get very attached to characters and I think most people would be mad if they didn't know it was coming.

My advice is, talk to your partner first and find out ahead of time how they personally feel about character death in one-on-ones (and in general). You could also start a partner request thread stating specifically that you're looking for a roleplay where you get to kill off your character; that way anyone who replies will know what they're getting into ahead of time.

It might take a while, but I'm sure you'll find someone who's down for what you have in mind. Good luck hunting!
 
I don’t know if I have much to offer for this topic. Outside of a favor for a friend and setting up encounters as a GM, I have never created a character specifically to kill them.

Please excuse me if I end up misunderstanding. However, my knee-jerk reaction is to advise counseling. If you want something like a one on one fight just for the sake of that sweet RP violence, then that is one thing. But wanting a game just to see your character die, to me, speaks of something not quite right.

I hesitated to reply to this for a while. Maybe I’m off the mark. I do acknowledge that I do not know all of the details.
 
Please excuse me if I end up misunderstanding. However, my knee-jerk reaction is to advise counseling. If you want something like a one on one fight just for the sake of that sweet RP violence, then that is one thing. But wanting a game just to see your character die, to me, speaks of something not quite right.

Would you say that an Author who plans out their novel knowing certain characters are intended to die also needs counseling?

Roleplay is story telling! Just like throwing in those violent fight scenes, character deaths or any other tragic event is all part of creating an interesting and fun story. It's important not to blur the lines between the story teller and the events in the story and assume that what a person wants to explore in their writing is a reflection of their mental state or personality.

But this is a GREAT example of Astaroth's advice to make sure to talk to your partners about story elements you're interesting in writing and exploring! With one on one roleplays especially, players are always seeking different things. Some people love adding tragedy to their stories, and others can't stand it.

Myself, I loooove tossing in tragedy and death when it fits the tone of the rp. But I would definitely get mad if my partner killed off the love interest without giving me context clues or a warning. O: I wouldn't stay mad, especially if it was an awesome scene, but I do get attached to characters and the initial shock would make me cry. I am a big fan of happily ever after stories, so being able to plan with my partner about those tragic events and where to go after is important for me.
 
Sometimes, yes. George R. R. Martin comes to mind. Edger Allen Poe probably could have used a couple more hugs in his day. Stephan King. Mental instability (or sadism, in some cases) does not preclude somebody from making a compelling story. Sometimes they make the best stories.

I would ask that you not misrepresent me. Writing a compelling story that involves the “facts of life” is one thing. Wanting to connect with a character that you intend to kill for no other reason than to kill them speaks to me of more than innocent story telling.
 
I would ask you not to misrepresent others by making assumptions that they need counseling for the type of scene they want to write? You did tell the OP that you think they need counseling, and also admitted that you didn't know all the details and might be off the mark. I just wanted to remind everyone not to make assumptions based just on a roleplay interest. :)
 
What I wrote speaks for itself. I am confident in my words.
 
I don’t know if I have much to offer for this topic. Outside of a favor for a friend and setting up encounters as a GM, I have never created a character specifically to kill them.

Please excuse me if I end up misunderstanding. However, my knee-jerk reaction is to advise counseling. If you want something like a one on one fight just for the sake of that sweet RP violence, then that is one thing. But wanting a game just to see your character die, to me, speaks of something not quite right.

I hesitated to reply to this for a while. Maybe I’m off the mark. I do acknowledge that I do not know all of the details.

To reassure you that I am sound of mind and is simply looking for a more unusual form of story telling, I'll explain to you the reason why I have plans of killing off characters and the nature of those characters that I kill off.

Firstly, I never kill characters for the sake of killing them, nor for shock factors, I make my best effort to develop and flesh out every character I intend to use. While I do not plan to kill them when I begin to create them, I do ask questions like "what is something they are willing to die for?" and what will their state of mind be when faced with death in various circumstances. Because I believe that unless the character is made specifically to be immortal (which comes with a whole other bouquet of questions), their views of life and death is important, especially in genres where death is common place.

Now that I've covered "genres where death is common", such as post apocalyptic, dystopian, grimdark or war, another common occurrence in RPs is plot armor for player characters, as group RPs tend to treat all PCs like the protagonist. While there is nothing wrong with that (as many above stated, many people get attached to their characters), I often feel like it takes away from the idea of it, as if death is just a backdrop. Once again that does not mean I'm going to kill off someone for the sake of it, I still carefully consider whether the death makes sense, whether it will have an impact on the plot, and how it will effect other player characters.

One thing I would like to make more clear (as I already stated this in the original post) is that to me, the death of a character doesn't mean the end of the story. One of my favorite aspects to explore in storytelling is succession, that stories and people don't exist in a vacuum. Whether it's a family that lives to keep it's traditions, androids roaming wastelands still wanting to carry out orders given by humans, thousand year curses or even the classic dead parents trope. Every single character who I planned to kill off, I also planned them a successor, someone who will continue the adventure and pass the torch on to someone else. There are many plots out there that focuses on a multigenerational timeline, except the transition phase is something that is rarely in the spotlight. Those who had passed before seems like artifacts of the past instead of living breathing people with their own aspirations, hopes and motivations. I simply want to break that mold and instead give equal chances to predecessors and successors, developing both of them as my protagonists.

Or, to simply clear up your misconception, I do not want a game just for making a character die, I am interested in the things they do in life, which is what decide the things they leave after death. As someone who is a fan of more bitter sweet endings, what I want are stories about what one can do before, and legacies that people can pass on despite the fact that death is inevitable.
 
I would also like to add that I made the thread with the purpose of wanting to learn more about 1x1s and how is character death usually seen in those, so I did not adequately explain the reason why I want to explore character death because that is not the focus of the thread and more something I would discuss with specific participates of various RPs instead, I apologise for not making it clear that I'm not just a psychopath addicted to fictional violence, thank you.
 
Ah.

In that case, I will say what I think makes sense. I've never been big on the one-on-one scene so I might not know the etiquette. Sorry for the confusion on my end and thank you for the thoughtful reply.

I mean... I guess just make it clear that you are looking for a long-term RP that spans multiple generations where death is possible. I personally would not be offended by the idea that "shit happens" in an RP as I do tend to enjoy gritty scenes. I'm not the biggest fan of killing off player characters but consent does stop many crimes.

As far as finding that right person or group of people to play with... Best of luck to you. Fishing for a good RP has never been an exact science.
 
If the death of the character makes sense or doesn't seem like it's forced for the sake of shock value, I am totally for it. I just feel like if it's something you need to discuss with your partner. A quick "Hey how do you feel about main character deaths?". Even if you never do it, I think it's best to really understand what both of y'all want from the story and make sure everyone's happy.
 
I've written a 1x1 where my partner surprised me with character death, but it was beautiful and perfect for the plot - I would have it no other way. The story we crafted together still remains one of my top memories of roleplay and while there was some elements/hints of a budding romance, it was just so heartbreakingly beautiful. I do get attached to my partners, and I don't like cheap deaths. If they are written well, there is very little that can match it!
 
I think by wanting to create an ongoing legacy, as you stated about creating a successor, it wonderful. Sometimes tragedy leads to the best story arcs and greatest character development. I do agree with those above about caution and choosing the right partner though. While I tend to get attached to my characters, I can also let them go if the story calls for it. Not everyone wants to let go, so I think it's an individual thing singular to that pairing. Communication is the key to all good roleplay...talk it out.
 
It really depends. Character death usually strikes the end of the roleplay, so bear that in mind that most people didnt come to romance a side character but the main you played. If there isnt romance, I think it would be okay.

A player of mine made a bait and switch kill, but brought him back later. It was very hard for us to continue with my character being so bitter over it, that was why theh brought him back. She never was able to find a way to attach herself to others the same way.

So, when we did a plot to bring him back -- my character had serious ptsd and thought she should murder him. It should definitely ad something to the character losing the other and you would have to replace him/her with an equal or better than the one you played.