As Griff mentioned, my character was the first character to die in our 4e adventure, not for lack of trying to take that paladin down!
Even though I'm the DM, I'm playing a character for a few reasons: first, so I can get a feel for the player side of things as we all explore fourth edition; but also because the new standard party size is five characters, and when we started, it was me plus three, so I figured a fourth character would be helpful, especially because no one else seems to play a cleric. Now that we've added two other players, we've actually got a party of six.
I think it's a good demonstration of the new balance of 4e, that my character died. He had a little bit of damage, and was taken down with two high-damaging attacks from creatures that have a synergy-like damage bonus when fighting together, and these attacks came with no time between for Crwth to use one an encounter healing power, which he did have available. This goes to show that Leader is Leader, not Defender, and even when clad in armor and shield, you can't necessarily act as a meat shield.
4e definitely makes it easier to bring back lost party members, however; the cost is much lower than in 3rd edition, and the penalties aren't anywhere near as bad as they were. The fact that a second-level party could afford to bring back their party member is definitely good for the party and players, but it does change the idea of a "dangerous encounter" - excluding a Total Party Kill, the only danger is empty pockets. Had another party member died, we would have been strapped for cash; as it is, Crwth just owes some money to everyone.
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As the plucky paladin, I can attest to the determination used to beat her into a fine mushy paste.
I have mixed feeling over the death and dying. Yes it is cheaper and easier to get a fallen comrade back on their feet, and naturally back in the game. This means someone who in a suicidal attempt to play their role, "marks" every big mean nasty monster available can get chewed up and back into the game fairly quickly.
I suppose I should say my views are a little skewed, as I never really played a great deal of 3.5. Not nearly enough to make me pine for the old system. I suppose I am not as mathematically inclined as others in our group, and was often lost in the minutiae of the rules. Too many times (several for each character)I had to ask for help designing a viable character. I think the simplicity of the new rule set is nice, but I miss the wide variety of feats available. However I am sure more are in the pipe. I want my druid back...
Getting back to my original point, D&D for me is more of a social experience. It is more fun to play, rather than wait for a convenient time for the party to wander into a tavern and recruit a newly made PC. (I am aware going to town the resurrect a fallen member will be the same amount of time - so don't bother pointing it out. Lookin' at you Griff)
But on the other hand, I think smart play should be rewarded, and death is (or at least should be) an important deterrent to many of my careless and reckless actions... (I think my party would pillage and abandon my corpse - and I cringe at what Ragno would do to it...)
I like to make up a goal for my characters, sort of a blueprint for who and what I want to be. Now they can be around long enough to get there - despite our determined DM...
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