Death Penalty Explanation?

[JimmaDiemma]

Can someone explain to me fully the death penalty mechanics, or point me in the direction of an explanation in a post or wiki somewhere?

Also, based on the little info I've read about it, assuming the death penalty is super harsh, can you also explain why it isn't considered a game breaking mechanic by many? Because it seems 200+ people are playing some of the time (which is a lot in my opinion), I'm assuming that most of the regulars are at least accepting of the mechanic, if not in favor of it.

I'm not arguing for it or against it. I'm just curious how it works and why those that are okay with it are okay with it.

Thanks in advance.

[Avu]

If you die you're pretty much fucked. Why people accept it is because actions should have consequences.

[JimmaDiemma]

Under what circumstances can someone be killed?

To clarify, what I mean is are there things like safe zones? Can a player only be attacked if he or she is somehow flagged as a criminal? Etc. Or can any player be killed anywhere (with no flags or safe zones or any other protections to prevent the attack)?

[Jorn]

Heres a link to the wiki section on death.

http://havenandhearth.wikia.com/wiki/Death

[JimmaDiemma]

Thank you. I read that, and also the article on murder. Because I'm unfamiliar with the game and mechanics, it's hard to tell just how brutal a death might be.

Only question left is under what circumstances someone can kill you, and it appears that the answer is any (assuming that you don't escape or defend yourself enough).

[Avu]

Yes pretty much any. But it does work in reverse as well. It's risky to attack a stranger especially if you got something to lose. That does break down of course when people stop giving a crap.

[JimmaDiemma]

Thanks for the reply. I played a little and it looks really fun. This won't stop me from playing. I was just curious as to how careful I need to be. :0

[bitza]

don't afk. log out instead. even behind your own wall you're not 100% safe, as someone could be hiding under a tree waiting for you to open the gate, at which time they pop out and attack, or they could be watching you from a distance waiting to put an arrow through your throat and kill you in a matter of seconds...

at first glance this game looks like a merry romp through the wilderness. the sun is shining, lots of pretty trees everywhere, cute little rabbits bouncing through the forest. but when you catch that rabbit, and you right click on him from your inventory, you'll see that the only option there is to "wring his neck". this should illustrate to you that this game is much more than just shiny happy people holding hands and baking bread together online.

if you steal from the wrong person, insult the wrong person in game, or hell, if they just don't like the way you look, you can wind up with your neck wrung just as easily as the bunny.

and if you make a "criminal act" like theft, vandalism, etc, you can be killed even while you are not logged in. people who steal and such generally don't get much sympathy from the community when they are killed for doing so.

dying in this game is literally that, dying. your character is erased and you can have the option to recover 25% of the skills and stats you earned in the form of a descendant of that character. and if you are lucky, the person who wrung your neck didn't take the time to go through your camp and destroy all of your possessions, uproot your crops, and maybe even knock down your house if they are able. if your home is intact, recovering from death will be a lot easier.

one way or another, you will die. we all have. it will either be a swimming accident, animal attack, random passerby ganking you, or one day you will decide to try out the theft skill. or maybe some bizarre glitch in the game that nobody has experienced before will get you. we've all died, and we all will again.

happy hearthing

[JimmaDiemma]

Haha nice, thanks.

[Shask]

It seems a bit cruel really, somebody can kill you with a few clicks but to get revenge on them would require a huge amount of effort (relatively speaking)..