Resurrection - House Rule

[Wolfwood2]

What does that mean?
Raise Dead is now a spell specific for creating undead. When you raise dead they are converted to a basic undead type (zombie for example) and the spell is available one spell level sooner. For people want to dabble in the arts of Necromancy, this is a great change.

How is this any different from the Animate Dead spell, which is already available to clerics? Is there any difference?

My suggestion would be to instead make Raise Dead into a last minute super-healing spell. Like Revivify, but maybe extend the time you can cast it out to a minute per level instead of a just one round. Basically the idea is that the recipient's heart may have stopped, but they're not "really" dead yet. Their soul hasn't left the body or anything, so a super-duper body repair spell can still fix them. (This works well with Raise Dead's requirement that the body remain intact. Doesn't work if their head was bitten off.)

It's not much different in effect really, but I think it preserves the flavor you're looking for that coming back from the dead is a huge deal while still providing some of the cushion against an unfortunate crit causing a loss of character.

Also, I see you completely left off discussing Reincarnate. Everybody forgets the druidic ability to restore the dead to life (sorta). So how does that work?

 

[Ingot]

How is this any different from the Animate Dead spell, which is already available to clerics? Is there any difference?

My suggestion would be to instead make Raise Dead into a last minute super-healing spell. Like Revivify, but maybe extend the time you can cast it out to a minute per level instead of a just one round. Basically the idea is that the recipient's heart may have stopped, but they're not "really" dead yet. Their soul hasn't left the body or anything, so a super-duper body repair spell can still fix them. (This works well with Raise Dead's requirement that the body remain intact. Doesn't work if their head was bitten off.)

It's not much different in effect really, but I think it preserves the flavor you're looking for that coming back from the dead is a huge deal while still providing some of the cushion against an unfortunate crit causing a loss of character.

Also, I see you completely left off discussing Reincarnate. Everybody forgets the druidic ability to restore the dead to life (sorta). So how does that work?

I'll be giving those suggestions some thought.

As for Reincarnate, it wasn't forgotten, just not altered. The idea that you can come back as a kobold is enough for me. Though I wouldn't mind hearing suggestions on this either.

 

[Joker]

Revivify isn't quite True Ressurection, though. It doesn't restore you to full HP, it brings you to -1 (and stable). Important distinction.

Whoops. I don't have any books which hold the spell so I was just going off of (faulty) memory. Thank you.

 

[Gort]

If you're going to do this, you'd better nerf all those spells that are save or die down to save or dying. (-1 hp, or lower if you like. I saw one house rule that put you on -spell level hps. (so a level 8 save or die spell puts you on -8 and bleeding)

Otherwise you'll be permanently killing characters every other session. Unless the intent of your party is to become a thoroughfare of members...