Reincarnate or "I'm a bugbear now what?"

[Jack99]

I make reincarnees lose everything from their previous race and templates, and gain everything from the new race except for racial HD and LA. It's just simpler that way.

I do the same, except modifiers to Int, Wis and Cha dont change. You are still yourself, just in another body.

 

[Bagpuss]

No, it isn't; Darkvision is a racial trait. A bonus is a positive modifier.

So +1 skill rank a level is a bonus? A bonus feat at first level is or isn't a bonus?

But being able to see in the dark isn't a bonus.

 

[Hypersmurf]

So +1 skill rank a level is a bonus? A bonus feat at first level is or isn't a bonus?

No, those are racial traits as well.

A +2 racial bonus to Listen checks is a racial bonus.

A +2 racial bonus to Dexterity is a racial bonus.

A +1 racial bonus on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids is a racial bonus.

A +2 racial bonus on saving throws against spells and spell-like effects is a racial bonus.

A +4 dodge bonus to Armor Class against monsters of the giant type isn't a racial bonus; it's a dodge bonus.

A -2 racial penalty to Charisma isn't a racial bonus, it's a racial penalty.

-Hyp.

 

[Storme]

Well, aside from quibbling over words, the description (and shear logic) of the spell is simple.

A dwarf that dies and comes back as a human NATURALLY would not have darkvison. Human's don't have darkvision.

If a human died and came back as a dwarf, he'd HAVE darkvision.

Similarly if the dwarf came back as a gnome, he'd be able to speak to animals once a day.

It sucks, but there it is.

The spell changes your race. My character is a changling. It would SUCK if I got reincarnated...changling isn't on the list.

Better than being dead though.

 

[Fifth Element]

So +1 skill rank a level is a bonus? A bonus feat at first level is or isn't a bonus?

But being able to see in the dark isn't a bonus.

"Bonus" has a particular meaning in 3E. Yes, seeing in the dark may be called a "bonus" in everyday speech (though I would say something like "benefit" instead), but it's not a "bonus" for 3E purposes.

Humans don't get "bonus" skill ranks or feats. They gain "extra" skill ranks and an "extra" feat, presumably to avoid the use of the word "bonus", since it has a particular meaning in the rules and using it in another sense might cause confusion.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Humans don't get "bonus" skill ranks or feats. They gain "extra" skill ranks and an "extra" feat, presumably to avoid the use of the word "bonus", since it has a particular meaning in the rules and using it in another sense might cause confusion.

Of course, a lot of creatures do get bonus feats - Weapon Finesse for a lot of animals, for example

-Hyp.

 

[eamon]

The spell changes your race. My character is a changling. It would SUCK if I got reincarnated...changling isn't on the list.

I'd suggest the DM make a different list if he's not playing the "default" D&D setting. If your setting doesn't contain bugbears, but does contain changlings, say, it sure would be odd to reincarnate a creature and have it come back as some unknown race, never seen before (though that itself could be an interesting campaign hook).

 

[Thurbane]

I've seen many debates on this topic, and it would seem the popular opinion, while perhaps not precisely RAW, is that a reincarnated character gets the physical traits of the new form, but retains his mental traits, such as languages, weapon familiarities, favored class etc.

 

[Bagpuss]

What about things like the three racial hit dice (which grants bonus feats and skill ranks) and +1 Level adjustment? And the change in ECL either for XP or balancing encounters?

 

[Nifft]

Ugh. My elf cleric got bugbear'd once. The DM tried to saddle me with the LA, the extra hit dice, etc., all of which were depressing prospects since I already hated losing aprox. 1.5 levels -- yes, I was just about to level up when I got sent back to the half-way mark of my previous level.

We decided that the mutual annoyance really wasn't worth it after a session or so, and retired that PC. Next I played a Psion.

Reincarnate better not be coming back.

Cheers, -- N