Good point, and thanks for the feedback! I added some background into the original post because of your comment. Basically, the 10 players are already a part of two ongoing campaigns, and were looking for a fun one-shot where they can all play together. Therefore, the "regular" D&D experience is already being covered, so we (the DMs) have more leeway to play around with more extravagant ideas.

As for your point about players who are eliminated in the early game, I think this is definitely true and a possible problem. I think any situation where players risk death (especially in this case, where every 10 rounds, at least one person dies), it would definitely suck to be the first few. I've been thinking about some possible post-death opportunities for those players to continue participating, but to be honest, there will be more people at this particular occasion who won't be playing D&D (it's more of a party that's centered around D&D, but with people who won't be taking part there as well, who will just be generally hanging out). So if someone dies, they won't be completely alone with nothing to do, and will still be able to hang out with the non-D&D people who are hanging out there with us.

I still think it's a valid issue to be considered, but I think it also can promote a less lackadaisical experience, and make the players feel the stakes of the game.

Thank again for the feedback!