RAISE DEAD: get rid of it and make D&D better

[Emirikol]

I've seen a lot of patches, band-aids, and math in regards to RAISE DEAD. It seems though that the game would be substantially BETTER if this wasn't an option.

No more calculating the amount of gold, spell components, or whatever.
No more whining about the loss of level.
MORE players using their noggins knowing that they're not going to be able to run back to daddy to get resurrected.
MORE players having to come up with more than one character concept in their lifetime.
LESS worrying about death.
MORE DM's having to come up with more diversity in plots than "dead-character..oh, whatever now shall I do that my entire campaign revolved around you?" I say this tongue in cheek because I do it

The drawback that I can see, that would probably bug me though, is that player demands of magical item escalation and overpower would be on the rise. Can magical item dependence in D&D get any higher than it already is?

I think the loss of RAISE DEAD (and it's ill-begat ilk) would put a lot more power back into the game's themes..and fear back into players' eyes..and more memories.

I bring these concepts up not to poke fun, but to really ponder the idea. I've already done away with it in one of my games..but I had to overcome some fear to do it.

What are your pro's and con's of the elimination of "bring back your dead" entirely?

jh

 

[green slime]

Well if you're removing raise dead the use of "save or die" spells to retain a sense of desperation in a battle needs to go, and instead accept that battles taking longer than 4 rounds is actually a good thing.

 

[Wye]

Interesting, I've been thinking about dropping it myself.

I already use action points, slightly modified from Unearthed Arcana, so deaths are reduced right there. I think that is enough to get rid of Raise Dead.

I'd like to hear opinions of people who have actually dropped it, does it have any ill effects not apparently seen?

 

[I'm A Banana]

It seems though that the game would be substantially BETTER if this wasn't an option.

Wrong.

Next?

 

[Grithfang]

I don't see what the problem is? If you don't like raise dead then get rid of it. Just because it is core doesn't mean you have to allow it.

*shrug* If it is a permission thing, then you have my permission.

 

[Doug McCrae]

The drawback is either a slower game or higher PC death-rate which means less campaign continuity and less incentive to create detailed PCs.

On the plus side, more verismilitude.

 

[Wye]

Well if you're removing raise dead the use of "save or die" spells to retain a sense of desperation in a battle needs to go, and instead accept that battles taking longer than 4 rounds is actually a good thing.

Well these are the modifications I have for action points regarding that:

When conscious, if you are damaged and would die instantly because of it, you instead are at -9 and stable. This costs 2 action points, if you don't have enough you die.

When conscious, if you receive a save or die effect and fail, you instead are at -1 and bleeding. This costs 2 action points, if you don't have enough you die.

 

[Jim Hague]

Sounds good...for your campaign. For D&D? Not so much.

 

[Wormwood]

I think the loss of RAISE DEAD (and it's ill-begat ilk) would put a lot more power back into the game's themes..and fear back into players' eyes..and more memories.

That really isn't one of my goals as a DM.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I don't see what the problem is? If you don't like raise dead then get rid of it. Just because it is core doesn't mean you have to allow it.

*shrug* If it is a permission thing, then you have my permission.

Yeah, that's my thinking. Just because it's in the books doesn't mean it has to be in one's game. Given the "4e" tag on the thread, I'm assuming this is something the original poster wants removed from a new edition of D&D. I think that kind of change is one best done at one's own table, rather than removing the option for everyone playing the game.

All that said, it's an interesting variant. I've seen that spell removed from various campaigns over the years, and it definitely changes the feel at least a bit. Settings like Midnight and games like Conan or Iron Heroes have removed that option, lending the settings in question a more gritty feel.