Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies: Difference between revisions
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A lesser form of this trope can target just one particularly annoying player, [[Bolt of Divine Retribution|often with a bolt of lightning]]. Since the GM is the local god, this works even if the target character is underground, in a Faraday cage and wearing a static discharge bracelet. Merely threatening players with lightning can also be effective in controlling players. The first edition Advanced [[Dungeons & Dragons]] Dungeon Masters' Guide even suggested using "blue bolts from the heavens" and "ethereal mummies" on [[PC]]s to keep their players in line.
The webcomic [[Something*Positive]] is generally credited with bringing the phrase to the public conciousness in [https://web.archive.org/web/20131018031908/http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp05032002.shtml this strip]. The underlying concept is rather [[Older Than They Think|older]], having been seen in the extremely deadly AD&D adventure ''[[Tomb of Horrors]]'' in 1975 (and quite likely used by individual DMs even before that). This ending is a [[Tabletop Games]] form of [[Shoot the Shaggy Dog]], or [[Kill'Em All]] when premeditated. A subtrope of [[Total Party Kill]]. When the players decide to detonate the game instead of the GM, it's [[Off the Rails]]. A nigh-unbeatable [[Beef Gate]] used this way is sometimes referred to as a "Grudge Monster" or "Grudge NPC."
Usually the direct inverse of "Dice fall, everyone rocks." Not to be confused with [[Big Rock Ending]]. Or [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMaCq-ocCGc this] [[YouTube Poop]].
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== [[Web Comics]] ==
* A wonderful ''[[Something*Positive]]'' strip that illustrates a proper usage of the idea, and is widely [[Older Than They Think|believed to be]] the [[Trope Namer]]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20131018031908/http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp05032002.shtml She had it coming].
* In the ''[[VG Cats]]'' comic [http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=110 Skittles], a game-mastering Aeris performs what could be considered justifiable Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies.
* The [[Game Master|Dungeon Master]] decides that Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies in [http://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1165 this strip] of ''The DM of the Rings''. He apparently changes his mind though, as they're all fine in the next page.
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