Reincarnate Question

[mmu1]

Suppose someone gets reincarnated as a creature that has a base number of hit dice greater than one - do they get to add their class hit dice to this number, or are they limited to what they get from their class levels? Does a 6th level fighter who gets reincarnated as a wolf get 2d8+5d10 worth of hit points, or just 5d10?

I just read through the spell description, and aside from saying that you get "all natural abilities of the creature" and that you lose a level, it doesn't directly address the issue.

However, since it also says it creates a "normal young body" for the character, I'd be inclined to think that, for HP purposes, you add the base hp and those from character levels. Opinions? FAQ quotes? Thanks...

 

[wolff96]

Opinion, since this isn't well clarified.

You shouldn't get the HD of a new form. You would apply the new constitution modifier.

Otherwise, someone reincarnating into a Centaur or something along those lines just won the lottery.

 

[Drawmack]

I think the spell is very clear on this issue.

A character reincarnated recalls the majority of his former life and form.
...
The character retains his or her Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as any class abilities or skills formerly possessed.
...
The character’s class, base attack bonus, base save bonuses, and hit points are unchanged.
...
The reincarnated character does gain any powers or abilities associated with his new form.

Right there the SRD actually states that their hit points are unchanged. It also states that any class abilities or skills formerly possessed are retained, the hit die is a class ability that's why it's based on the class and not on the race. However their HP should be adjusted based on their new con score.

d% 	Incarnation 	Str 	Dex 	Con
----           --------------               ---            ----           ---
91–96 	Wolf 		+2 	+4 	+4

so the wolf would acctually gain 2 hp/level which means that he will have even more hit points.

But don't forget that there are things he can't do in the new form which will balance this out. Like fighting with a sword, picking locks, casting spells with a somantic component, etc. Every class will take some kind of hit from being in a wolfs body which should balance the hit points just fine.

 

[mmu1]

"Won a lottery" is probably a very good analogy, actually. If you get lucky, you come out ahead, but there are endless ways to lose out.

Inability to use items, wear armor, cast spells, have normal social interactions in most communities... Those are pretty major penalties.

And, for the record, I'm a DM trying to make up my mind, not a player who'd like to reincarnate as a brown bear with double the previous hit points and +15 strength...

Edit: Hmm... I didn't look in the SRD, but I did look through the spell description this morning, and I could have sworn it didn't mention hit points. Maybe I just missed it.

Edit #2: Never mind, I just had another look... That's what I get for trying to read rules before my morning dose of caffeine.

 

[Lucius Foxhound]

We're in a campaign with a high level Druid... and people keep dying. Which means lots of reincarnates. So far we've gotten a human, a black bear, and a wolverine.

It makes for great roleplaying... remember, these are entirely different characters. While you remember some of your past life, you're not that same person anymore.

However, the Bear was mad that he can't use cleric spells with somatic components, but he's making due (lots of Command spells memorized). The Wolverine (Rogue/Shadowdancer) should be happy (he rolled the dice saying, "Wolverine, Wolverine!") but I'm not sure he likes his new form. The human who got reincarnated as a human decided to go insane (its an NPC, so it's okay).

So basically, while the animals are much more powerful, they're not as happy as you'd think.

 

[Stalker0]

It says your hp remain unchanged, so even your new con mod shouldn't effect that I wouldn't think. This is how it works for wildshape, so I believe the same applies here.

 

[0-hr]

I'd have to agree with Stalker. If your hitpoints are supposed to remain unchanged, then you probably should not change them.

With regards to wildshape (where a person becomes an animal), MotW says: "The druid retains her own hitpoints (despite any change in her Constitution score),...".