Resurrection and permanent spells.

[Pseudonym]

I'd like opinions on this situation.

Say a wizard has used the Permanency spell to fix a few spells on their body, like Protection from arrows, dies. The dead wizard is then brought back to life. Do the permanent spells remain when the wizard is ressurected?

The player of the wizard argues that since the gaining of the permenant spells involved the expendature of xp, the spells are more a part of him that the spells he had cast upon himself at the time when he died ( Fox's Cunning and Mage Armor), thus they should still be a part of him when he is returned to life.

I'm inclined to rule that once you die, all bets (and spells) are off, but I'm curious as to what others think. Has there been any official errata or Sage Advice that addresses this situation?

 

[Arcanus]

I would rule w/o question that all bets are off.

The only thing i can recommend is to look in the DnD FAQ on the WOTC website.

If there isn't anything there that explains permanecy spells for when you die, just use the example of what happens when you polymorph other. When you use that spell any supernatural abilities that target creature had are lost, it does retain spells, spell like abilities, and extraordinary powers, and this is a permanent spell. So when a polymorphed other creature dies IT RETURNS TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM. SO this permanent spell goes bye-bye when death occurs, so any permanent spell cast on said wizard would also be no longer in play.

 

[Henrix]

Permanency changes the spell's duration to Permanent.
Permanent spells can be dispelled, but are not in any way affected by whether the caster lives or not.

 

[Crothian]

For me it depends on how the body survives. Sure the person is dead, but as long as the body is realtively intact then so would the Permaent spell.

 

[Dimwhit]

I'd say that if, when a character is resurrected, they retain all memorized spells, why shouldn't permanancy stay intact. It doesn't appear to disrupt much, other than losing a level.

 

[dvvega]

The spells remain. If being dead stopped spells from working, then Gentle Repose wouldn't work on a dead body.

A rock is essentially dead, you can cast spells on it that continue to operate (everburning torch rock) ... so spells stay operating on the caster, unless they require concentration to keep up.

 

[Xeriar]

I would have to say that as long as the spell could realistically apply to a nonintelligent/nonliving (you know what I mean) object, then the spell survives the death of the character. Otherwise, the spell goes buh-bye (ie, kepp Mage Armor but lose Fox's Cunning, in your player's case).

Just my two koku.

 

[Tiberius]

I've ruled for my campaign that since casting Permanancy on a spell requires substantial expenditure of XP, Permananced spells are treated like magic items (e.g. dispelling shuts them down for a while rather than popping them) and remain after death & resurrection. Otherwise, I don't see Permanancy having much use.

-Tiberius

 

[Macbrea]

First, I must ask: Does the person have the original body that the spell is cast on? If a totally new body was created then the spell would still be on the corpse. As spells do not transfer like diseases. Now, as to wether the permanent spell should end on death. Ask yourself the following:


Long ago, the ancient evil warlock cast a spell on this tower, during the great clash he died but his spells still exist..........

Does this only apply to your plot or does it really occur in your game. Are your players wizard with the ability to put lasting spells on the game or are they just fleeting charlatons with limited knowledge how to make spells that cannot last. Permanent should mean that....Permanent.

In my campaigns, which are very high magic, if a permanent spell is cast upon something it is permanent until the magic is broken in some method.


Just my thoughts on the matter,