I think what we are arguing about is the "threshold" of player character death and the reasons why the character died.
1) For many of us, characters have "script immunity" or are basically unkillable. Most of the time, the players can easily succeed against the challanges thrown against them. Even if they screw up, the GM will scramble around and try to save them.
2) Threshold is script immunity with exceptions. For many of us, characters must be "written out". A character's script immunity is revoked for the purpose of brining in a new character, that is "cool". There are times, we note that script immunity is off, letting the players know that in the climax... people can die.
3) For others, the threshold is "Player stupidity". Sometimes, despite your best warning or advice, players pursue a course that is effectively suicidal. Thus they die if the dice determine it.
3b) A variation on the above is the critial wierdness. PCs only die under crits or their own fumbles. Rare enough to keep PCs to keep them alive, punctuating the game with death.
4) For others, the threshold is tactical interaction. Once the dice and game mechanics start flying, the character's life is upto the dice. Most challanges should be equal to the PCs, but most should be less, to ensure the continued survival of the players.
5) For others, the PCs are the adversaries. You are the GM and they are competing against you. Characters die with regular frequency, as both sides have a duel of wits and dice for tactical advantages. The Threshold is tactical interaction, but the situation at the table is more like HackMaster and the two sides are gainst each other.
6) For others, PCs are fodder for your godlike might. The Threshold is stepping into the situation. Munchkin GMs at their worst, or the occasional GM with self image issues.
This forms a continumn from 1 to 6. Everyone is pretty much somewhere inbetween the death threshold 1 to 6. Every level, except the most extreme rank 1s, allow for PC injury and abuse.
What I think is happening here is that we are not agreeing upon what is an acceptable threshold for PC death. Each of us have our own take.
For examples. I am a 2.5 . PCs mostly have plot immunity, except at key times (climax of story arcs... they usually know when the kid gloves are off) and when they do something sooo stupid that I can not conviently save them.
IMO: Ephemeralstability is a solid 1 and some change.
IMO: Agar has been posting against range 5-6 and is probably a somewhere between 1-3, probably 2.
IMO: Ria and Strom Solid 3s, while CP, I would bet is a 4.5, maybe 5
You can post your own threshold and number. (pvt message me if you don't, to let me know how far off I am).
Now you can see why we are arguing. We all have very different opinions on when and why PCs should die, and if anyone should be gloating over a TPK.
