Reincarnation's contradictions: hey, wait a sec!

[Piratecat]

From the SRD:

A character reincarnated recalls the majority of his former life and form. He retains his Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores, as well as any class abilities or skills he formerly possessed. His class, base attack bonus, base save bonuses, and hit points are unchanged. Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores depend partly on his new body. First eliminate the character’s racial adjustments (since he is no longer of his previous race) and then apply the adjustments found below. The character’s level is reduced by 1. (If the character was 1st level, his new Constitution score is reduced by 1.)

Ermmm... so, if your BAB stays the same (as does your hit points and saves), what happens when you lose a level? Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks!

 

[Caliban]

You are re-incarnated with all the same stats, class levels, and BAB, then you lose a level. Or vice versa, if you prefer.

 

[gfunk]

Ermmm... so, if your BAB stays the same (as does your hit points and saves), what happens when you lose a level? Am I missing something obvious?

Thanks!

I would assume that when you are reincarnated you immediately lose a level, thereby modifying your hit points, BAB and saves downwards. So although you do keep your "original" scores they are slightly lower b/c of the level loss.

 

[Viktyr Gehrig]

Easy fix-- it's not the resurrection/reincarnation that makes you lose a level, it's dying in the first place.

That would mean, though, that you'd have to strip a level from any PC or NPC that became undead. Seems like a fair tradeoff.

 

[kreynolds]

Easy fix-- it's not the resurrection/reincarnation that makes you lose a level, it's dying in the first place.

That's not really a fix. That "fix" would break True Resurrection.

 

[Dark Dragon]

Yep. A character does not lose a level because he dies. It is the spell power that decides if he loses a level or not.
After the rule, the PC comes back in a new body first, and THEN he loses a level (BAB, HP, saves, and so on are lowered).