A discussion in
Info about the game mentioned what happens when your character's HP reaches 0 and dies.
Although in most RPGs death is due to combat; it is likely that death in this RPG is due to environmental hazards or stamina loss with some occasions caused by combat.
Now what should the penalties be?
I have compiled a list of what I could think of:
"Realistic death" - character dies and is deleted.
Upshots: Realistic, adds level of challange ,impossible to abuse for rapid traveling
Downsides: Extremely annoying and likely to cause anger.
----------------
Stat drop - character dies and reincarnates at a safe location but loses stats as a penalty
Upshots: less irritating than "realistic death", penalty reduces likelihood of abuse for rapid traveling
Downsides: annoying, could still be abused for rapid traveling
-----------------
Mercy warp - character dies and is reincarnated at a safe spot
Upshots: won't irritate players
Downsides: way too easy to abuse for rapid travel
Mercy warp (variant) - character dies and is teleported a short distance from where they died.
Upshots: won't irritate players, abuse potential is almost nonexistant (character has to travel to safe spot)
Downsides: define "short distance"
------------------
Personally, I think you should lose reputation and all inventory items for death and have a scene where you are chewed out for failing by the dinosaur who gave you the quest.
Also, said dinosaur will not give you any more quests until you successfully complete another quest of similar level from another dinosaur.