Making death change characters

[Kahuna Burger]

One problem I have with D&D is about ressurection. Unlike most, however, my complaint isn't that its too easy, but that characters are not significantly changed by what would normally be seen as the incredibly significant proccess of death and return. My feeling is that being dead and coming back from that should be a big deal in a magical world.

My personal preference is for reincarnation for that reason, but that sort of change is a little much for some. So I'm considering house rules to make resurection significant. (bear in mind, I don't just mean worse. I have nothing againt characters gaining minor perks from such a significant event.)

What I've thought of so far are:

1) ability changes due to the experience either broadening your mind or, well, breaking it. Say a change of up to +/- 3 points to wisdom and charisma.

2) for spellcasters, making minor alteration to their spell list based on either the god/power bringing you back or general shadow/light death experience. Maybe even adding very low spell like abilities for non casters if they are low enough level that it wouldn't be game breaking.

Any other suggestions on how a big deal back from the dead experience could be mechanically represented?

 

[Cabral]

I don't think abillity modifiers are a good idea, however, you may want to look at Spelltouched Feats. Instead of granting automatic bonuses and penalties (aside from the level/constitution loss), create some spelltouched feats and/or Traits that have death and ressurection (and/or possibly, the number of ressurection times) as a prerequisite.

The Life Leech spelltouched feat is a good example of what these feats could look like

 

[Kahuna Burger]

The Life Leech spelltouched feat is a good example of what these feats could look like

Live My Nightmare actually jumped out at me as appropriate.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Make up a prestige class that has the flavor you want for someone who has come back from the dead. Then when characters lose a level when raised, you give them a level of this class in exchange for the lost level.

It should probably have 3/4 BAB and reasonable spellcasting (7/10 levels, perhaps). Abilities that improve the character's survivability would also be a good idea, as well as ones that hint at being touched by the grave.

 

[Mouseferatu]

At the risk of being accused of pimping my own work--which, to be fair, I am doing --there's a section on just this topic in Heroes of Horror. It's not a long section, but it does include a number of suggestions, as well as a random chart, on how to subtly (or not so subtly) "tweak" characters who come back from the dead.

 

[Cheiromancer]

At the risk of being accused of pimping my own work--which, to be fair, I am doing --there's a section on just this topic in Heroes of Horror. It's not a long section, but it does include a number of suggestions, as well as a random chart, on how to subtly (or not so subtly) "tweak" characters who come back from the dead.

What kind of things? I imagine appearance would be part of it; pallor, cold skin. Maybe they eat less? Sleep less?

 

[DarrenGMiller]

At the risk of being accused of pimping my own work--which, to be fair, I am doing --there's a section on just this topic in Heroes of Horror. It's not a long section, but it does include a number of suggestions, as well as a random chart, on how to subtly (or not so subtly) "tweak" characters who come back from the dead.

I have it in my house rules list for my upcoming dark fantasy campaign. Thanks Ari!

DM

 

[Sir Draconion]

in Heros of Horror there a whole section on character death and side effects pg.78-80
with a random table of effects as minor as roleplaying changes to swapping out feats to
extra taint or even the body being possest by the wrong soul or demon spirit

 

[Mouseferatu]

What kind of things? I imagine appearance would be part of it; pallor, cold skin. Maybe they eat less? Sleep less?

Well...

in Heros of Horror there a whole section on character death and side effects pg.78-80
with a random table of effects as minor as roleplaying changes to swapping out feats to
extra taint or even the body being possest by the wrong soul or demon spirit

What he said.

Some of them are purely roleplaying alterations, while a few have actual mechanical effects on the character, or cause various haunting types of effects. A few involve the taint mechanic, but if you're not using that in your game, it's easy enough to either swap those out for ability drain, or just ignore/reroll those results.

 

[Pyrex]

A couple of times in our tabletop game we've had coming back from the dead have a dramatic impact on the character; in some cases allowing (appropriate) switching of classes, feats, spells, etc.

For Example: Due to extenuating circumstances when my Sorcerer character died his soul was drawn into the Far Realm. When Resurrected his four PrC levels had been removed and replaced with Alienist levels (which required swapping a few skill points and a couple feats).