My answer to this is simple:
No, thanks.
I'm an inherently optimistic individual. Not unrealistically so, mind you, but I pretty much assume all of my characters are going to get to live to old age. In fact, this is much how it is IRL - once you get past the child mortality barrier, your chances of living to at least 60 are very, very high. This might be lower for adventurers who are consistently in danger, but not many of us actually play characters who are engaged in that sort of activity, and even then, those of us who do usually play them up as at least being competent at their work (because if they were incompetent, they would likely already be dead).
I find it distressingly cynical that so many players think that there is a point where a character's time is 'done' and so they can be offed just like that. It's... jarring, really. Many people IRL live long past their prime. There's nothing saying that, once you're no longer relevant (and, ahem, many of us will never be relevant), poof, you're gone, say your goodbyes and say hello to the dirt. I know that's not exactly how you're treating it, but it's also not far removed either.
Granted, I can understand this in the case that you're just not interested in playing that character anymore, and also don't feel compelled to reroll. In that case it is probably justifiable, if a bit silly from a story perspective ("yeah the writer just got kinda sick of writing for this character, off with her head!"). But offing a character just to make a point, or because it's "realistic" (in a Final Fantasy game?), just feels completely off to me. If someone were to try to convince me to off one of my characters, they'd certainly have to do a lot better than that!
Edit: Okay, I guess I should point out that all of my characters are the type to be at least careful about their decisions, so they are naturally inclined to live longer than perhaps the more rambunctious and hot-headed types. If I did play a character that wasn't so thoughtfully inclined I can see them getting maimed at some point to teach them to stop being dumb, but then again, if you ask me, those types of characters are very likely to die early to begin with, and you should probably consider altering that aspect of the character if you actually want to be somewhat realistic (though, again... in a Final Fantasy game?).
No, thanks.
I'm an inherently optimistic individual. Not unrealistically so, mind you, but I pretty much assume all of my characters are going to get to live to old age. In fact, this is much how it is IRL - once you get past the child mortality barrier, your chances of living to at least 60 are very, very high. This might be lower for adventurers who are consistently in danger, but not many of us actually play characters who are engaged in that sort of activity, and even then, those of us who do usually play them up as at least being competent at their work (because if they were incompetent, they would likely already be dead).
I find it distressingly cynical that so many players think that there is a point where a character's time is 'done' and so they can be offed just like that. It's... jarring, really. Many people IRL live long past their prime. There's nothing saying that, once you're no longer relevant (and, ahem, many of us will never be relevant), poof, you're gone, say your goodbyes and say hello to the dirt. I know that's not exactly how you're treating it, but it's also not far removed either.
Granted, I can understand this in the case that you're just not interested in playing that character anymore, and also don't feel compelled to reroll. In that case it is probably justifiable, if a bit silly from a story perspective ("yeah the writer just got kinda sick of writing for this character, off with her head!"). But offing a character just to make a point, or because it's "realistic" (in a Final Fantasy game?), just feels completely off to me. If someone were to try to convince me to off one of my characters, they'd certainly have to do a lot better than that!
Edit: Okay, I guess I should point out that all of my characters are the type to be at least careful about their decisions, so they are naturally inclined to live longer than perhaps the more rambunctious and hot-headed types. If I did play a character that wasn't so thoughtfully inclined I can see them getting maimed at some point to teach them to stop being dumb, but then again, if you ask me, those types of characters are very likely to die early to begin with, and you should probably consider altering that aspect of the character if you actually want to be somewhat realistic (though, again... in a Final Fantasy game?).
