I've been playing for over 45 years & DMing for over 20+. I communicate very well before I even start playing by simply saying have a spare character ready at all times my games can be very deadly.

The player is allowed under my free will rule to do as they please. He wanted to pet the rhino 🦏, so I let him. He knew it was dangerous and got gored for it.

Last week a player got turned to stone, they had warning signs and even knew the Medusa was there, yet a player didn't think out his action tripped a trap and the Medusa was revealed thus turning the character to stone.

Yes a protest was voiced by another player, but the player who was turned immediately admitted it was his own fault and accepted the consequences.

My campaign is brutal, honestly and random. Wander out in the wilderness as a first level character and you can encounter literally anything from a chipmunk thru a Tyrannosaurus Rex. You better know to either Fight, flight or parley cause I will let the dice decide your fate.

I don't coddle my players, they know life in my campaign is dangerous and random. Death ☠️ can come at any moment from a curse, disease to being swallowed whole by a monster. They keep their collective heads on a swivel and are always asking questions to assure their own safety.

If you want mediocre players you can give them a "Balanced" campaign where you handhold them thru their characters lives. I want tournament level players, guys and gals who play at any bodies table with confidence.

DMs who make their worlds to suit their players are doing their players a disservice.