My worst permadeath run ever: I climbed over one of those piles of rocks that have a 7 AGI check. That character had only base 6 in it but because of the hopper steak I consumed a while ago (temporary +1 AGI) I could climb over. After picking up a few shrooms I was about to head back but the steak wear off leaving me with 6 AGI again. No problem I thought, I'm just gonna eat another one. Nope, I ate the last one previously. Cave hopper gear, junkyard surprise? Nada.
There was no alternative way out, I was stuck. Not dead but also unable to continue I had to abandon the run. I guess the next cave wanderer found a few shrooms and a human skeleton behind those rocks.
Ha! Death by starvation in a game without hunger related survival mechanics is talent. Truly!
No, in all seriousness, I don't even think I could get mad if this happened to me. ...Ahem. Well. Maybe a few heavy disappointed sighs, but after a couple minutes I'm sure I'd be laughing. The primary motivator of playing anything ironman/permadeath format is the sense of accomplishment. The thrill, the excitement, and the risk are also certainly factors - but walking away with a story to tell, win or lose, is really the absolute best!
I've been thinking about trying to play something tanky for once instead of a glass cannon for my first attempt at Ironman in Underrail. Probably some sort of heavy-armored assault rifle user. Maybe I'll try to squeeze in persuasion- without sneak diplomacy would probably be pretty useful.
I've also loved the idea of a Psi-Ops sort of class. Someone trained in espionage but also has forms of psi trickery or raw psionic force to fall back on. Perhaps XCOMish with Psi, an SMG, and a tac vest. Or perhaps go with more of a Starcraft Ghost theme -using a sniper rifle instead.
