Permanent Neg Levels

[LazarX]

It's a useful way to simplify a post-death modification of the character but unlike the old system which eventually cured the loss with exp you've got a condition on the character which doesn't go away ever.

I would suggest refining this by adding a exp debt which is accrued upon raising. The player can choose to devote some or all of earned exp to paying off this debt which would erase the neg level once done. This is just a preliminary thought, it can no doubt use some tweaking.

[Goblins Eighty-Five]

I remember a very similar rule in AD&D where the neg. levels never vanished. I found that a player would not want his PC brought back from the dead at a -1 level when they could simply make another PC at an equal level to the rest of the party. I mean, who wants to go paying off Sir Swordplay's exp dept to get back to level 10 when he could just make Sir Swordplay's older brother, The Duke of Swordplay, as a level 10 PC? Also, a -1 PC level generally creates an unbalanced party. I know I wouldn't want to go try and kill The Huge Red dragon when I gotta babysit my -1 level Tank or Blaster. Might as well find some kobolds to kill to rake in exp. for the n00b.

[LazarX]

Goblins Eighty-Five wrote:

I remember a very similar rule in AD&D where the neg. levels never vanished. I found that a player would not want his PC brought back from the dead at a -1 level when they could simply make another PC at an equal level to the rest of the party. I mean, who wants to go paying off Sir Swordplay's exp dept to get back to level 10 when he could just make Sir Swordplay's older brother, The Duke of Swordplay, as a level 10 PC? Also, a -1 PC level generally creates an unbalanced party. I know I wouldn't want to go try and kill The Huge Red dragon when I gotta babysit my -1 level Tank or Blaster. Might as well find some kobolds to kill to rake in exp. for the n00b.

Usually the general guideline is that if you're replacing a PC that way they'd start out at one level lower anyhow.

[Goblins Eighty-Five]

I am aware that some DMs have chosen to penalize players for making a new PC, despite the fact that the DMG suggests that this upsets party balance and you shouldn't do it. What I'm saying is that the punishment for dying in a game where if you die there is a good chance it's because a monster rolled really high is ridiculous. You are now effectively punishing the player you making a PC that wasn't a farmer.
"Listen, I'm sorry that you where the one who choose to go fight the dragon, which everyone knows is a suicide mission, and die. You should have stayed home and farmed, just like your old man said. But nooo, you just had to go out and get yourself killed. Well, since you didn't learn your lesson, when you come back, you'll be weaker. I hope you'll be smarter this time and go back and plant beets, or it'll just be another negative level for you,"

Why penalize a helpful spell? This makes no sense. A penalty to something positive teaches you not to do something again, but who ISN'T going to get raised from the dead? And in a game where new PCs come in at lower levels, what lesson are you teaching? Don't die? In D&D, that's like smacking a PC with a -1 to all stats every time they get treasure, because it just can't be avoided. You are effectively punishing the players for playing the game as it's meant to be played.

[Dark Arioch]

Before finding yours I put a post about this subject over on the GM Tools category. Maybe it should of been over here on New Rules Suggestions but anyway...
Go to Energy Drain and Death - Changing the consequences