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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Chris_Nightwing" data-source="post: 5862136" data-attributes="member: 882">Hear me out!Back in the mists of time, as the game was forming, I can easily imagine that there was a complete absence of Resurrection/Raise Dead/Reincarnation spells. Given how deadly the earlier editions were, I would have either fudged rolls to avoid too much character death, or have death as an acceptable part of adventuring (see Call of Cthulhu), or perhaps allow for some epic quest to bring back an important character to life.I can see that particularly dogmatic characters (or players) might want life-restoring abilities written down in a clear and transparent manner. This might have led to spells, which over time have become normal, and indeed very much available to all comers.I wonder what the opinion of this board might be then, if I suggested we removed all codified forms of returning characters from the dead. If, instead, death was left as a mystery, up to the DM or group. The default position would become 'Death is Final', with optional suggestions as to how dead characters might return.Why not the present system? After all, a character is penalised for a while, and it costs the party some of their wealth. Quite simply because it's the difficult 'middle ground' (referred to by Morrus in his piece on races) that satisfies, but does not complete this important part of the game. If a player wants their character back in all their glory, then I say it's up to them to negotiate with the DM what this will cost them (if anything - were they reckless enough to deserve it?). Who hasn't seen Mighty Fighter's twin brother, who shared every trait of his brother, join the party after a nasty character death? Let players who don't care about the reason for their return come back, and let those that do use the opportunity. Maybe they play a temporary character on a quest to bring back their original character (for a nice change). Maybe they come back with a debt to pay, or some crippling penalty to work off. Those that want to roleplay can really enjoy themselves in death when the system doesn't make it trivial for their return. Those that don't may as well just have not died.That's my argument, let me hear yours! Cool death stories welcome!</blockquote>

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