>>95115835
>where players are never at any risk of dying
It's actually pretty easy to make 5e incredibly deadly; it's just that most DMs and players don't actually like deadly games. They like to feel like they can invest themselves in a character and not have to worry about them dying because of something like bad luck (the primary killer in "deadly" games). But, if a DM wants to run a "deadly" game, that's hardly a challenge.

Fireballs are particularly nasty in 5e. They wanted them to be above-the-curve as far as spells go so that players would enjoy using that iconic spell, but the end result is that they're extremely nasty when used by NPCs. Aside from being able to drop multiple PCs in one go, they also hit downed PCs, and even just one extra tick in the negative direction can lead to an untimely expiration.

Ambushed PCs are also particularly vulnerable, especially when they're taking a rest. Most DMs generally prefer to allow players to take rests relatively unmolested, but we're still talking something that's a matter of preferences.

5e does have plenty of safety nets, because people like safety nets. There's even extra layers of safety nets if players want them, with spells like Death Ward. But, these safety nets are trivially easy to bypass by even mundane considerations. Something as simple as an enemy that is aware the PCs have access to healing magic and will attack downed PCs until they actually die is enough to bring the fear of death into any party, especially if that enemy has multiple attacks.

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>5e can be good if you make a game both the players and DM wantmfw

>5e can be good if you make a game both the players and DM want
mfw