Well since we are telling about dumb deaths now let me tell you one.

This is from the original game, you know just plain ole' D&D

A first level fighter tired from his days riding sits under a nearby tree for a bit of shade. He had already been adventuring that day and he and a companion had barely survived a cave where they found that they were well outnumbered by bugbears. If not for their trusty swords and fast horses outside they would have certainly become supper that evening.

But back to the character he sits leaning against the tree just taking a short break. All of a sudden a thin vine from the tree reaches down and grabs him around the neck and begins to pull him up the side of the tree.

The brave fighter quickly pulls his sword and begins hacking at the barky vine that is tightening around his throat. he finally chops through it just in time to be trapped by 4 more vines. The vines are pulling at his clothes grabbing his legs but all the time he is able to keep his hands free.

The fighter manages to alert his companion who immediatly begins to hack at the vines entrapping his comrad. But in short order he too finds himself being pulled up into the tree.

Before long the first fighter passes out from lack of oxygen and is being pulled into the tree. His friend soon follows. The hanging tree strikes again.

When it is all said and done the GM says, "Look in your stuff and see if there was anything that could have helped you.."

Neither player sees anything, so the GM points out, "Torches"

"I left your hands free the entire time and it took you more than 10 rounds to die. if you had lit a torch and began burning the tree it would have let you go..."

And thus was the end of two young mens first ever D&D character.

How do I know this story? the first fighter to be attacked by the hanging tree was me:o Way back in 1988...

BTW my next character was a 1e AD&D drow sorcerer, who I am glad to say is still alive at 14th lvl...