Two questions about character death and magic items

[Tharak]

We seem to have more issues every time we play..*sigh*

So first question - does a dead character still benefit from their spell resistance, or does it disappear at the time of death?

Second - Are items on a dead character considered "unattended" for purposes of needing saving throws against area effect spells they are in the area of? (Couldn't figure out a way to word that any better).

Appreciate any help on this - if anyone can point to anything in print to support it would also help..much appreciated!

 

[jeffhartsell]

So first question - does a dead character still benefit from their spell resistance, or does it disappear at the time of death?

Second - Are items on a dead character considered "unattended" for purposes of needing saving throws against area effect spells they are in the area of? (Couldn't figure out a way to word that any better).

1. I'd say that Extraordinary or Supernatural SR is still in effect even for dead creatures. SR from spells or spell-like abilities would be gone once dead since the dead creature is no longer a valid target.

2. Items on a dead creature are unattended because an unanimated object (the dead creature) cannot willfully prevent the items from being affected.

(object): The spell can be cast on objects, which receive saving throws only if they are magical or if they are attended (held, worn, grasped, or the like) by a creature resisting the spell, in which case the object uses the creature’s saving throw bonus unless its own bonus is greater. (This notation does not mean that a spell can be cast only on objects. Some spells of this sort can be cast on creatures or objects.) A magic item’s saving throw bonuses are each equal to 2 + one-half the item’s caster level.

Note that some spells cannot affect objects so in many cases a dead creature does not really need SR. Also, some spells that affect dead creatures do not allow SR.

 

[Tharak]

Thanks for the thoughts..

The actual scenario here was PC Drow killed in combat, later a fireball goes off in the room..

so - if the PC gets to use his SR, does that then mean that his items are protected? Or do they all still have to save as unattended items vs the spell?

 

[Stalker0]

When your dead you become an object I believe, so "technically" he's not a drow anymore

 

[Tiberius]

When your dead you become an object I believe, so "technically" he's not a drow anymore

I concur. He's an unattended object upon death, and if nobody is carrying or otherwise attending him, his corpse gets no save or SR against the fireball, and neither do his nonmagical items and/or cash. Time to look into True Resurrection, I'd think.

 

[RigaMortus2]

When your dead you become an object I believe, so "technically" he's not a drow anymore

What happens if a Ranger w/ Favored Enemy: Drow attacks the corpse? Are you suggesting he doesn't get his bonus to damage!?

 

[Nim]

I concur. He's an unattended object upon death, and if nobody is carrying or otherwise attending him, his corpse gets no save or SR against the fireball, and neither do his nonmagical items and/or cash. Time to look into True Resurrection, I'd think.

The good news is that as an object, his corpse takes half-damage from the Fireball.