2 if it fits the current situation, otherwise 1. I've never had an absent player's PC die, but they do get beat up. I have them retreat at about half HP.

Saying to players, "Are you sure you want to do that?"

That might be a tangent though....

What I hate about stupid dice tricks is when they don't relate to the fiction. The player is spending points and flipping dice and rerolling 1s or whatever, their pc is standing frozen mid sword swing just waiting for the player to finish their yhatzee hand.

I read The Elusive Shift this year. It's less academic than most though. Loved it. I suspect it contributed to my creasing to give a shit about rules in RPGs.

I also read Uncertainty In Games (Costykian). It was fine.

I really struggle with academic reading. I should find out if there is a Suits audiobook.