History Main / LazyBackup

* ''LostOdyssey'' has this. In this case it's probably for the best since some of the characters are [[Immortality immortal]] and will always automatically revive after a while, so it would be ''impossible to lose the game'' otherwise.

In {{RPG}}s with an ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, your traveling party may sometimes be too large for the game. However, when you fight with your arbitrarily reduced team size, and then you lose, you still get a game over even though the rest of the characters are still up. Sometimes the characters you ''do'' put in your party are LazyBackup as well; in this case you lose if the main character (the player's avatar in-game) is killed, even when the rest of the party is still alive ''and possesses means of resurrection.''

* Justified in ''MassEffect'' series, because Commander Shepard is a mandatory party member and his/her death ''does'' [[OneRiotOneRanger mean the ultimate doom of the Galaxy]], regardless how many squadmates remain on the ''Normandy''.

* Less obviously justified in ''DragonAge: Origins'', where the Warden is likewise a mandatory party member: at least one Gray Warden is ''required'' to stop the Blight by the rules of the universe, and [[TheLancer Alistair]] (the only other Warden among the Companions [[spoiler:unless you replace him with Loghain]]) just doesn't have what it takes, as the ''Darkspawn Chronicles'' {{DLC}} shows. ''Origins'' has [[NonLethaKO another problem]], though...

* Justified in ''MassEffect'' series, because Commander Shepard is a mandatory party member and his/her death ''does'' [[OneRiotOneRanger mean the ultimate doom of the Galaxy]], regardless how many Companions stay at the camp.
* Less obviously justified in ''DragonAge: Origins'', where the Warden is likewise a mandatory party member: at least one Gray Warden is ''required'' to stop the Blight by the rules of the universe, and [[TheLancer Alistair]] just doesn't have what it takes, as the ''Darkspawn Chronicles'' {{DLC}} shows. ''Origins'' has [[NonLethaKO another problem]], though...

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* In ''GuildWars'', a wipe is triggered if all PC members of your party are dead and no NPC members have a resurrection skill they can use. While this is normally alright because those NPCs aren't going to last long on their own anyway, it can be annoying in situations where finishing off the enemies you were fighting ? which may not be beyond their capability ? would trigger a cutscene and/or recharge their Resurrection Signets.

** Though this is generally because the guys not fighting don't have a prayer of going up against the BigBad and are essentially risking their lives just to be moral support. And when the guys doing the fighting can casually destroy planets, you'd want to stay clear of either of them inadvertently hitting you when aiming for somebody else. Jumping in [[Understatement isn't a very good idea]].

* Not only are most of your LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters in ''InfiniteUndiscovery'' stuck off-screen during the action, but if the PlayerCharacter dies and the party members' ArtificialStupidity [[LuckBasedMission doesn't feel like using the resurrect item/spell]] in just a few seconds (you can't order it) it's GameOver even if all the other guys were still going strong.

** Though this is generally because the guys not fighting don't have a prayer of going up against the BigBad and are essentially risking their lives just to be moral support.
*** Not only that but when your allies and enemies can destroy planets, you'd want to stay clear of either of them inadvertently hitting you when aiming for somebody else. Jumping in [[Understatement isn't a very good idea]].

** Though this is generally because the guys not fighting don't have a prayer of going up against the BigBad and are essentially risking their lives just to be moral support.

* Averted in the mech battles of ''Xenosaga'' 3. If one mech gets knocked out a backup mech will automatically jump in and replace it. Unfortunately there's only one backup mech so any other KOs are down for the rest of the battle.

* Weird example from [[{{Lufia}} Lufia 3: Legend Returns]], every characters enter a battlefield at once, but only 3 characters are allowed to attack per turn at max, and if the 3 front line characters are knocked out, it's game over despite that the others are still up and well.

* ''FinalFantasyVI'': Mostly averted. Your extra party members are left behind in Narshe or the airship, and you can't switch unless you go back there; no instant switch zones.

* ''FinalFantasyVI'': Generally played straight, e.g. if you take a party of one member off of the airship and they are [=KOed=] two squares later, it is GameOver.

* Not only are most of your LotsAndLotsOfCharacters in ''InfiniteUndiscovery'' stuck off-screen during the action, but if the PlayerCharacter dies and the party members' ArtificialStupidity [[LuckBasedMission doesn't feel like using the resurrect item/spell]] in just a few seconds (you can't order it) it's GameOver even if all the other guys were still going strong.

* Happens in ''MS Saga'', a ''{{Gundam}}'' {{RPG}}. You have three front-line fighters at a time but up to six characters in your party total (and, toward the end, you can have seven or eight allies at once!). It's game over if all three of your front-liners die, even if your three in the back are fine (to say nothing of anyone not actually in your party at all).

In {{RPG}}s with an ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, your traveling party may sometimes be too large for the game. However, when you fight with your arbitrarily reduced team size, and then you lose, you still get a game over even though the rest of the characters are still up. Sometimes you lose if the main character (the player's avatar in-game) is killed, even if the other characters are still alive ''and possess means of resurrection!''

In {{RPG}}s with an ArbitraryHeadcountLimit, your traveling party may sometimes be too large for the game. However, when you fight with your arbitrarily reduced team size, and then you lose, you still get a game over even though the rest of the characters are still up.

** The plot of ''FinalFantasyXIII'' stresses teamwork and the power of {{Nakama}}, but you can only have three guys in your party at once in each battle. Paradigms make up for this discrepancy, however.