How to be immortal ?

[Dagredhel]

I've often wondered whether astral travel, either magical or psionic, might not provide near immortality. When traveling astrally, the body is left behind in a state of suspended animation, which might be taken to mean that doesn't age while the soul is off gallavanting across the planes. If a character were to spend almost all of her time plane hopping, then there would be very little wear and tear on her 'real' body, extending her lifespan by orders of magnitude.

And how about creating a pocket dimension where nothing ages? Can the creator of a pocket dimension determine that to be a feature of their creation? If so, then combined with astral travel, you could approach true immortality mirroring the gods. Your pocket dimension would be your 'divine realm', and your astral projections would be your 'avatar'.

Now, would it work?

 

[Aloïsius]

I've often wondered whether astral travel, either magical or psionic, might not provide near immortality. When traveling astrally, the body is left behind in a state of suspended animation, which might be taken to mean that doesn't age while the soul is off gallavanting across the planes. If a character were to spend almost all of her time plane hopping, then there would be very little wear and tear on her 'real' body, extending her lifespan by orders of magnitude.

And how about creating a pocket dimension where nothing ages? Can the creator of a pocket dimension determine that to be a feature of their creation? If so, then combined with astral travel, you could approach true immortality mirroring the gods. Your pocket dimension would be your 'divine realm', and your astral projections would be your 'avatar'.

Now, would it work?

Yup. As I said, you just need a rod of security... I already thought about using astral projection from this "realm", the problem is : does it work ? The manual of the plane says that "astral spell usuall don't work in demi-plane, but...". So there is no definitiv answer. Anyway, as soon as one of my PC is of the right level, I will try... I think it's the best way to avoid accidental death, too.

 

[Crothian]

There's a template in Quint Elf that also gives immortality to elves. It's a very powerful template though.

 

[Sixchan]

Or take a wish spell, and make a several-page wish for immortality covering absolutely everything possible that could happen to you. Get your Lawyer to read it.

 

[Hypersmurf]

It also explicitly states in Masters of the Wild that reincarnate can bring back someone who died of old age.

Do you mean on p80?

I'm still skeptical. Age of body has no effect on lifespan in 3E, only on ability penalties. A druid or monk might be 90 years old living in a 28-year-old body, but they still die of old age like anyone else.

In my interpretation, the 'new lease on life' offered by Reincarnate to the aged is the removal of the -6 penalty to all physical abilities, not an extended lifespan.

You're reincarnated in your new young adult body, but you're still an old man, and your mind and spirit are still the same tired, well-worn antiques they were before you got killed.

-Hyp.

 

[Aloïsius]

Do you mean on p80?

I'm still skeptical. Age of body has no effect on lifespan in 3E, only on ability penalties. A druid or monk might be 90 years old living in a 28-year-old body, but they still die of old age like anyone else.

In my interpretation, the 'new lease on life' offered by Reincarnate to the aged is the removal of the -6 penalty to all physical abilities, not an extended lifespan.

You're reincarnated in your new young adult body, but you're still an old man, and your mind and spirit are still the same tired, well-worn antiques they were before you got killed.

-Hyp.

I don't think so. That's not a reincarnation.

 

[Ozmar]

Immortality

Try this on for size:

Cast Hide Life (see Tome and Blood) and remove the appropriate body part. Then cast Temporal Stasis on the removed body part. Hide life prevents you from dying for any reason, and Temporal Stasis protects your finger-phylactery from any harm and (I submit) protects it from aging. Ergo, you don't age. No age and cannot be killed = immortality.

As a DM, I'd allow it. By that level, its not insurmountable. You can still challenge immortal PCs.

Ozmar the Epic DM

 

[Lela]

Re: Immortality

Try this on for size:

Cast Hide Life (see Tome and Blood) and remove the appropriate body part. Then cast Temporal Stasis on the removed body part. Hide life prevents you from dying for any reason, and Temporal Stasis protects your finger-phylactery from any harm and (I submit) protects it from aging. Ergo, you don't age. No age and cannot be killed = immortality.

As a DM, I'd allow it. By that level, its not insurmountable. You can still challenge immortal PCs.

Ozmar the Epic DM

With immortal NPCs for one. And a lich or five. With vampire friends.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't think so. That's not a reincarnation.

You retain your skills. You retain your class levels. You retain your memories.

You retain your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma - racial ability adjustments are removed, but no mention is made of mental ability scores being adjusted for age.

The implication is that you retain your +3 to Int, Wis, and Cha for being Venerable, for example.

The mind is the same, and Timeless Body demonstrates that the physical age of the body is not what determines death by old age.

-Hyp.

 

[Aloïsius]

There is a Prc in Relic and Ritual, integraly based on the reverse assumption.
Plus, what happen if an human is reincarnated in an elf ? Or vice versa ?

If you read the spells, raise dead and even true resurection specificaly says that they can't be used to bring back someone who died of old age. This is not the case with reincarnate. This are the reason why I think it work. Reincarnation is not an application of timeless body. That's something else. Of course, you may have problem with some inevitables (see Manual of the planes)