Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Xuub Dec 04, 2014 11:10:17	Does anyone have some house rules regarding spells that bring a character back from the dead?  Here is one I have started using. I haven't had any issues with it yet, but my players have just had characters reach level 6 and we've only had two deaths.   Kiss of Death The god of death does not like when mortals leave her realm.  She is greedy to have them return to her.  When a mortal dies and is brought back to life through spells such as Revivify, Raise Dead or even Resurrection, his or her Death Saving Throw increases by 1.   Normal characters have a DC 10 but a hero who has died once would have a DC 11.  Dying 6 times would make the DC 16.  When the DC reaches 20 the character can not be raised via mortal magic.     Another house rule we use:   Catching your breath It doesn’t always take exactly an hour to take a short rest.  Sometimes it takes just a few minutes for a party to catch their breath before moving on.  When the party decides to take a short rest roll 1d6 and multiply the result by 10 minutes.  So it takes 10 to 60 minutes for a short rest.
#2 lawrencehoy Dec 04, 2014 21:05:23	I like both of these house rules. I might have used an old house rule that decreased a PCs CON by 1 each time; but, your rule works better for a more modern feel (mine was before Death Saving Throws existed; and, resulted in an HP reduction).   Thanks for the suggestions.
#3 Timmee Dec 05, 2014 4:29:13	I actually ran a campaign way back in AD&D, in the course of which the gods decreed a new edict: life and death shall be the purview of the gods and no mortal may command that power without express permission. So spells that bring folks back from the dead aren't readily accessible. It can be done, just not as a spell anyone can prepare willy nilly. There's always a greater cost/challenge for the exchange.   I do short rests as whatever seems right. Sometimes it's an hour, sometimes it a few minutes. As long as it seems appropriate for the group to have enough time to apply bandaging and catch their breath, I'm good with it.
#4 OoftaMeg Dec 05, 2014 6:17:56	I base my campaign on the norse mythos where even the gods cannot be brought back from the dead.  Souls of dead mortals still have to travel through Nifleheim (equivalent of the Shadowfell) before they get to Helheim, but once in Helheim they are dead.  So revivify would work and raise dead may open a portal to Nifleheim so the group could try to reunite the body with the soul, but then the group would be trapped in Nifleheim.   There may be exceptions to the rule - the soul somehow stays in Nifleheim longer than normal - but that would be the exception.
#5 Xuub Dec 05, 2014 15:42:58	lawrencehoy wrote:
#6 Illithidbix Dec 05, 2014 17:52:32	Quite tempted in my campaign to only allow Revivify with it's 1 minute window, not the other spells.   - Also there aren't any random NPCs able to cast 5th level spells sitting around happy to cast Raise Dead for money. My NPCs don't do that it they're that powerful. Divine casters that powerful are probably busy leading crusades for or against churches of their faith.
#7 colemcm Dec 06, 2014 7:50:12	I think I prefer a roleplayed limit on returning to life, rather than a mechanical approach. You have to find somebody to cast the spell and then you have to convince them why they should bring the person back to life.   • You may find a cleric that can cast the spell, but he doesn't know anything about the PC or their allegiances. You'd need to convince them that it's the right course of action. • For many priests, death is a part of life. There needs to be a compelling reason for thwarting that cycle. • Some priests may cast the spell if the other PCs agree to perform a service for them. (Fun for darker campaigns.) • If one of the PCs can raise the dead, they still need to convince their god that it's a good idea. especially if the PC being raised worshipped another god or had an opposing alignment.   That's just my personal preference as I think it leads to some very interesting stories.
#8 AndyDay Dec 06, 2014 13:21:03	Illithidbix wrote:
#9 Psikerlord Dec 07, 2014 23:07:39	In my game there is no revivify, raise dead or resurrection (or at least, not available to PCs). If someone dies, that's it, barring a wish or similar uber powerful magic ( I would allow divine intervention ability to do it, if the player pulled off the roll - that would be damn cool in fact).   I very much like the OP's death save house rule. Meaningful and flavourful.