Is it normal to come back from the dead?

[Hussar]

I said "Never."

In my campaigns, Raise Dead and the like doesn't exist. Economically, it makes little sense. Assassination is useless. There is little compelling reason to raise some vagabond--even a rich one--when there's more to be made by plundering the body, AND leave the king dead.

Sometimes, I can understand it, but only for plot reasons--the PC had to die, and be subsequently brought back to life. Otherwise, nope, not gonna happen.

There's one other reason I can think of: in a game where the world and RP are of little or no consequence. When the challenge is just dungeoneering, then dying in some messy way and having a mechanism to come back makes sense and keeps the game fun. However, I think that videogames can fill this need much more efficiently than a tabletop RPG.

By the way, has anyone introduced a magic device that the PCs can set and then at a later point, rewind time to the set time and continue? In essence, a "Save Game" magic item?

I guess the idea of a do-over that predates video games by a whole pile is suddenly now a video game idea. Raise dead was a spell with a gp price WAY back before video games.

 

[trancejeremy]

I personally can never understand why someone wouldn't, I mean, even if you get tired of a character, you can just have him retire or something.

I can understand why it might not fit some settings - but good D&D settings are designed with common D&D tropes in mind (and Raise Dead goes back to the very early days).

 

[Aeric]

It depends on several things.

Do I want to keep playing that character, or do I want to try something new?

Would my character want to come back?

Sometimes, even if I really like a character, if he died in a suitably dramatic and awesome way, I will just leave him dead. If he went out like a chump, then I will probably ask for him to be brought back.

And of course there're the issues of resurrection, availability, social stigma, etc.

 

[Aaron L]

If the means are available and it isnt specifically against the characters personality, then usually yes. Of course, its up to the rest of the party; in our games its the decision of the survivors and they have to decide. Ive actually had characters brought back that I didnt really want, but the rest of the party were friends of the character and wanted to bring him back. They pooled thier resurces and paid for a ressurection. The character was glad to be back and I kept playing him and before long I was happy I hadnt ditched him.

It also depends on the setting. In a high magic setting like Forgotten Realms where it isnt that uncommon, then its even less of a question; if the means are available then characters get raised. In Eberron it probably wouldnt happen.

But its up too you, and the character. Ive had characters who specifically told the rest of the party that he wasnt to be brought back if he died. Ive even had characters who refused to come back because they were happy in Heaven (or Arvandor, to be specific.)

 

[Aaron L]

Sometimes, I can understand it, but only for plot reasons--the PC had to die, and be subsequently brought back to life. Otherwise, nope, not gonna happen.

So your games are scripted?

I like to think of my characters as if they actually existed and try to portray thier actions accurately to thier personality.

And deal with random events and unanticipated problems, just like real people have too.


Resurrecton is an known quality of the universe in which the characters live. To ignore it is like ignoring armor: its a known defensive tool and very useful health care technique. When Clerics can empirically prove to you what happens after you die, can use magic to communicate with you, and concievably use even more powerful magic to actually go and meet you on whatever plane you end up on, death is just another state of existence and another level of health.

If you want to run a game where resurrection isnt available thats fine, but dismissing the very idea of it as video-gamey and merely a quality of games where setting and roleplaying isnt important and all that matters is dungeoneering and hack and slash, isnt cool at all.
Its fantasy. Fantastic things happen. Greek heroes travelled to Hades to retrieve loved ones. That wasnt video-gamey. Neither is a powerfull spellcaster using mighty magic to raise a comrade back to life.

 

[Numion]

There's no good alternative in the polls. In my games the players might usually raise the character once, and the next time he / she bites the dust it's gone.

It's got nothing to do with me as a DM, I've got nothing against raises. My players just tend to think that the PC wasn't built for adventuring if death occurs more than once, and that the character wouldn't want to come back if raised.

They tend to take dying seriously, even though raises are available. Maybe not for roleplaying reasons, but I think some of my more competitive players might see a dead character as a failure of their playing skills or character build decisions.

 

[MarkB]

IMC I rule that NPCs almost never come back - unless they have some really serious unfinished business, they choose to remain in the afterlife.

For PCs, it's entirely up to the player. If they want their character back, they come back (assuming the rest of the party actually get them Raised).

 

[Gold Roger]

Usually I'd have my character come back.

I like the mechanic of bringing back the dead. It keeps a real penalty and danger to dead (level loss), but it keeps campaign continouity in place. Nothing worse than having a character just nicely integrated into game and party and attached to some personal plotlines and "zwapp", a bad roll, idiotic player decission or BBEG later he bites it without return. Here comes a new PC, new plotlines and everything starts anew.

Really, in a game with more frequent deaths the constant stream of convenient new party members is straining my suspense of disbeliev far more than a well handled ressurection.

 

[Heathen72]

I said "Never."

In my campaigns, Raise Dead and the like doesn't exist. Economically, it makes little sense. Assassination is useless. There is little compelling reason to raise some vagabond--even a rich one--when there's more to be made by plundering the body, AND leave the king dead.

Haven't heard of Morganti blades then?

 

[Heathen72]

Re: the Original Post: I think it's something that you should talk with your GM about so that you can determine the culture in the lands with regards to ressurection, as a way of putting your characters choice into context. Perhaps in a world where 'raise dead' is used it might be highly offensive to refuse it? Not likely, maybe but possible, and how would your character's family feel about your denying them the chance to 'see the colour in your eyes?'

And does your character have any debts, financial or otherwise?

Also, while I very much respect your character concept, and the importance of staying true to it, is it possible that you are being a little difficult? Could it be that you are using your character as a mouthpiece to express your own prejudices about having raise dead in games, and if so, is it fair to the rest of the playing group that you do do so?

Finally, have you considered other ways of expressing your characters reservations about being raised without rolling up a new character (and potentially de-railing some of your GM's plots?). We all have principles, but they can be sorely tested when our lives are on the line.

Could your character chicken out?




Edit: I didn't vote on the poll, but my answer is, Yes, as long as it is a rare occurence, and there is an impact on the character, the caster, and the campaign...