Baleful Resurrection

[ChimericDream]

What do you think of this spell?

Baleful Resurrection
Conjuration (Healing)
Level: Clr 9
Components: V, S, DF
Casting Time: 1 full-round action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature Touched
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Will negates
Spell Resistance: Yes

This spell functions as raise dead, except that it can restore life to a creature who has been turned into an undead creature. You force the creature's soul back into its undead body. Undead creatures with turn resistance may add that bonus to their Will save to resist this effect.

An undead creature who is resurrected in this way loses all of its undead abilities and returns to its previous form.

A creature raised in this way loses 2 levels (or 2 Hit Dice). If this would reduce it below level 1 (or 1 Hit Die), it is simply reduced to level 1 (or 1 Hit Die).

 

[Nifft]

Not sure I understand it. Is this sort-of an Awaken Undead (to near previous class levels)?

Some undead are already "awake", like liches & vampires. Some undead don't have a body, like shadows & wraiths. Some undead are both "awake" and lack a body, like ghosts.

I think that, at the minimum, you need to make the Target more specific.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Not sure I understand it. Is this sort-of an Awaken Undead (to near previous class levels)?

Some undead are already "awake", like liches & vampires. Some undead don't have a body, like shadows & wraiths. Some undead are both "awake" and lack a body, like ghosts.

I believe that the OP intends for the spell to remove all traits bestowed by being undead.

For example aan elven lich, would have the lich template removed and would revert back to their previous living state.

 

[ChimericDream]

I believe that the OP intends for the spell to remove all traits bestowed by being undead.

For example aan elven lich, would have the lich template removed and would revert back to their previous living state.

Yeah, that's the intent. Basically this spell gives the opportunity for a cleric to remove an undead from the equation by forcing them to rejoin the ranks of the living.

Any advice on how to word it better? I wrote this up fairly quickly, and my computer screen is currently looking like a big bag of letters... probably time for bed right now.

 

[Nifft]

I believe that the OP intends for the spell to remove all traits bestowed by being undead.

For example aan elven lich, would have the lich template removed and would revert back to their previous living state.

Oooooooo! That's cool then.

The level loss is a bit harsh, then, particularly if it's your friend who got turned into a Dread Wraith last session, who you could have true resurrected without level loss; and it's even worse for the BBEG who not only lost two to four points of CR, but also might not have the DM's favorite 9th level spell available any more...

Basically, IMHO, returning someone to life is "punishment" enough for that person.

I'd also add back the expensive material component. It's a balancing factor.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Wolfwood2]

I would have the creature possess 1 hitpoint per caster level (up to their max) upon being returned to life. Refiguring out hitpoints in the middle of battle would be the most annoying thing from a DM perspective, so make it so the DM doesn't have to.

I might also make it so that non-templated undead (such as ghouls and wraiths) are unconscious for 1D4 hours after being restored to life. Again, this is a contrivance to prevent DMs from having to figure out, "So who was that Devourer before he died?" in the middle of a fight. The explanation would be that non-templated undead are so far removed from their previous selves that returning them to the living causes massive system shock. Templated undead retain a much closer connection to who they were when they were alive.

Oh, and keep the level loss and lack of an expensive material component. I like that a 9th level spell can improve over Ressurection in not needing the component. If the party wants to avoid the level loss they can kill the undead, pay the material cost, and cast True Ressurection.

 

[Ltheb Silverfrond]

I don't think Unconsciousness or reducing hit points is quite "fair" for what this spell does. Its casting time indicates it is a difficult spell to cast in combat, but is possible. Adding unconsciousness and a hit point reduction just means that all of the defenses undead enjoy will mean nothing at this level.

I would allow the former undead to keep their previous hit point total, but if their current HP is more than their new max, then the excess becomes temporary hit points. (which should dissipate in about an hour)

Also, I don't think changing the range to "Close" would break this spell too much.

It's a cool spell, possibly even one I wouldn't mind seeing at a lower level. (I can imagine a 3rd level one that only affects non-sentient undead up to a certain hit die, a 6th level version that works like this one but only affects a certain number of hit die, and this one would make for a good 9th level spell.)

 

[Wolfwood2]

I don't think Unconsciousness or reducing hit points is quite "fair" for what this spell does. Its casting time indicates it is a difficult spell to cast in combat, but is possible. Adding unconsciousness and a hit point reduction just means that all of the defenses undead enjoy will mean nothing at this level.

Well on a non-templated undead the fight is likely going to be over at that point even if they are conscious, as the newly resurrected being will probably have no interest in carrying on the fight. They may even turn to fight with the PCs... or not. Basically it's an entirely new NPC, and I think dropping them unconconscious is overall simplest.

Even many templated undead may not be interested in fighting once restored to their living selves. Did that vampire dude ask to be a vampire? Surely ghost dude is satisfied to no longer be a ghost. Did lich archmage really understand what it would be like when he chose lichdom?

You appear to be thinking of this as a "debuff" spell. My point of view is that it's an "death effect" type of magic that basically kills the undead being you were fighting and replaces him with someone else. If he was your only opponent, fight is probably over. If there were multiple opponents, the DM has to consider the possibility that the former undead will turn around and fight with the PCs instead.

I would allow the former undead to keep their previous hit point total, but if their current HP is more than their new max, then the excess becomes temporary hit points. (which should dissipate in about an hour)

Fine, as long as it can be quickly handwaved.

Also, I don't think changing the range to "Close" would break this spell too much.

I don't know, it's pretty powerful offensively. Close range would remove a lot of the pain of having it be a full round action as you don't have to start the round next to the mummy.

It's a cool spell, possibly even one I wouldn't mind seeing at a lower level. (I can imagine a 3rd level one that only affects non-sentient undead up to a certain hit die, a 6th level version that works like this one but only affects a certain number of hit die, and this one would make for a good 9th level spell.)

Oh, third level seems too low. A spell of this type shouldn't be lower than 5th level, when you can actually Raise Dead normally.

 

[CleverNickName]

I've heard of people using a wish or miracle to strip an undead monster of its undead status and restore it to life (sort of like what happened to Imhotep in "The Mummy.") It's never come up in any of my games yet, but I'd probably handle it like Wolfwood suggests...a creature that is no longer undead is probably no longer evil. This spell (or a wish used in this manner) would be a game-ender if the BBEG of the whole campaign is an undead monster. After the "dear me, what have I done?" speech, you mop up the henchmen and go home.

Liches and their ilk would be an exception...you have to be evil in order to make the phylactery, and you have to make the phylactery in order to become a lich...there are no "accidental liches." So it is safe to assume that your typical ex-lich is every bit as insane and wicked as a bone-fide lich*, and will be quite upset at being "inconvenienced with mortality" once more. The ex-lich would probably flee, build another phylactery, become a lich once more, and then exact revenge at a later date (probably 500 years later, on the descendants of the heroes who crossed him).

*get it? Bone-fide? BONE-a-fied? nevermind...

 

[theredrobedwizard]

I came to this thread thinking that it was going to be a 6th level spell that returned someone to life (after being dead) regardless of whether or not they wanted to come back. That'd be cool, and a good way to kill the BBEG as well as being able to turn him in to the authorities.

Kill BBEG, Baleful Resurrection (-2 Levels). Repeat until BBEG is Level 1. Feeblemind newly low level BBEG. Turn BBEG over to the authorities. Win.

-TRRW