VelvetViolet
Adventurer
After reading an old Sage Advice column, I've decided to implement a house rule that addresses the inconsistencies of the raise dead and resurrection spells and the undead type description, which contradict each other and are generally written confusingly.
Casting raise dead on undead
Raise dead can be cast on undead creatures to destroy them outright (Will negates). Using the spell in this way does not require a material component. Undead that still possess their original souls, such as vampires and liches, are unaffected.
Raise dead can be cast on the corpse of an undead creature (even if killed by raise dead as above) if it otherwise meets the prerequisites (i.e. time limit, intact) and sanctify corpse is cast on it beforehand. Incorporeal undead, as they are not tied to the corpse, do not need to be killed beforehand unless they are the subject’s real soul (e.g. ghosts); casting sanctify corpse is still required, however.
Casting resurrection and true resurrection on undead
Resurrection and true resurrection can be cast on undead creatures if they meet the time limit (no save allowed). This turns them back into the living creatures they once were. Undead that do not possess their original soul will be destroyed outright (no save allowed) as per raise dead above if the original soul does not want to return.
Resurrection and true resurrection can be used to resurrect a person whose corpse has been raised as an undead creature without requiring that undead creature to be present. This assumes that the creature does not possess the original soul and, in the case of simple resurrection, that the cleric has a piece of the corpse taken from the undead creature or somewhere else. This resurrects the subject as normal but has no effect on the undead creature made from their previous corpse which will continue to exist independently and, in the case of intelligent undead that become aware of the resurrection, may develop an existential crisis (aka the cloning blues) that may well bloom into an obsession with destroying the original. (Note: this situation actually happened in an official WotC published novel, and I prefer it over the official rules because its so much cooler and opens the door for interesting plots.)
Souls and undead
Mindless undead like skeletons and zombies do not have souls period (e.g. magic jar has no effect), while more intelligent undead like ghouls, spectres and wights have developed new souls (made of the memories impressed upon the corpse as shown by speak with dead, the basic feeding urge of the lower brain functions and some all-purpose negative energy antilife-force) to replace their original souls which have moved on to the afterlife. A good rule of thumb is if the undead retains all class levels and abilities after becoming undead then it still retains its original soul, albeit warped by the evil power of negative energy.
Comments? Criticisms?
Casting raise dead on undead
Raise dead can be cast on undead creatures to destroy them outright (Will negates). Using the spell in this way does not require a material component. Undead that still possess their original souls, such as vampires and liches, are unaffected.
Raise dead can be cast on the corpse of an undead creature (even if killed by raise dead as above) if it otherwise meets the prerequisites (i.e. time limit, intact) and sanctify corpse is cast on it beforehand. Incorporeal undead, as they are not tied to the corpse, do not need to be killed beforehand unless they are the subject’s real soul (e.g. ghosts); casting sanctify corpse is still required, however.
Casting resurrection and true resurrection on undead
Resurrection and true resurrection can be cast on undead creatures if they meet the time limit (no save allowed). This turns them back into the living creatures they once were. Undead that do not possess their original soul will be destroyed outright (no save allowed) as per raise dead above if the original soul does not want to return.
Resurrection and true resurrection can be used to resurrect a person whose corpse has been raised as an undead creature without requiring that undead creature to be present. This assumes that the creature does not possess the original soul and, in the case of simple resurrection, that the cleric has a piece of the corpse taken from the undead creature or somewhere else. This resurrects the subject as normal but has no effect on the undead creature made from their previous corpse which will continue to exist independently and, in the case of intelligent undead that become aware of the resurrection, may develop an existential crisis (aka the cloning blues) that may well bloom into an obsession with destroying the original. (Note: this situation actually happened in an official WotC published novel, and I prefer it over the official rules because its so much cooler and opens the door for interesting plots.)
Souls and undead
Mindless undead like skeletons and zombies do not have souls period (e.g. magic jar has no effect), while more intelligent undead like ghouls, spectres and wights have developed new souls (made of the memories impressed upon the corpse as shown by speak with dead, the basic feeding urge of the lower brain functions and some all-purpose negative energy antilife-force) to replace their original souls which have moved on to the afterlife. A good rule of thumb is if the undead retains all class levels and abilities after becoming undead then it still retains its original soul, albeit warped by the evil power of negative energy.
Comments? Criticisms?
