The Death Table

The Death Table is a drop-in replacement mechanic for D&D (or any other system’s) existing character death system. 

• Resolution is instant, not drawn out
• The Death Table is lenient, at first, but punishes risky play with worse odds of survival over time. Eventually, death comes for us all. 
• The Death Table is full of creative but plausible outcomes which evolve your character over time. Be proud of your near-death encounters; you’ve got the scars to prove it! 

Modern D&D makes death absurdly unlikely. Many other indie and OSR TTRPGs intentionally steer hard in the opposite direction with high body-count mechanics. The Death table is a middle-of-the road option.