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The party has a lycanthrope. Rather than using the Level Adjustment and buyoff method, we instead borrowed some examples from sources that provided monster class levels (such as Savage Species and Libris Mortis) and designed a weretiger level progression and let the character take a few weretiger class levels. Well, we recently discovered a possible major drawback to doing that -
The question arose, if that character dies and is reincarnated by the party's druid, instead of paying the gold to have him resurrected, how would we handle the loss of monster class levels? If the creature he is reincarnated as doesn't have the same LA as the lycanthrope, should he be allowed to exchange his monster class levels for new levels in classes he already has levels in (another couple levels of ranger, for instance), or should he just lose those levels altogether and be suddenly a few levels lower than the rest of the group? The latter would make more sense realistically, but the former would keep him par with the rest of the group, imo.
What do y'all think?
I'd go one of three ways.
1) Say that lycanthropy is a curse tied into the victim's very soul. Whether reincarnated or raised from the dead the curse will still apply as long as it is the same soul inhabiting that body.
2) Make a special table for the reincarnate that only has entries on it that have at least as high a LA as the Lycanthrope.
3) Let him trade the monster class levels for new class levels.
Personally if he had played up the lycanthrope angle well and it was tied in a lot with his enjoyment of the character I'd go with option 1.
If he liked being a monster but didn't care too much about lycanthropy specifically, and you don't mind taking the time, I'd go with number 2.
In any other case I'd go with number 3.
I would NEVER simply take away the class level. While it might make some logical sense it would be a really crappy thing to do. He earned those level and taking them away like that would leave a very bad taste in my mouth as a GM, and even more if I was a player.
Well since Reincarnate is a granted gift by a god and the character has the option of continuing towards the light or heeding the call and going back to the prime material plan, you could grant the character life but at a cost.
What I mean is he walks to the pearly gates and is just about to enter when he hears his friends calling for him to return. The GOD grants the character the option of returning but in exchange he will be called upon to do a favor in exchange. This favor may or may not come but if it does the character must abide by this agreement and do the favor.
This is always a fun option for it really gives a GM a easy lead in to a future event which he knows the character can't refuse. This also allows the character to keep his levels and place them as he sees fit.
The other option is allow him to keep his lycanthrope levels even though he isn't a lycanthrope. He has those basic animalistic urges which were attached to his soul even though he is no longer cursed. This can be fun for the GM and the player to play out.
Just a few idea's
Put him on one lower level of advancement. He stays the same level just advances lower. If he later is cured of lycanthropy his XP transfers to the faster chart.
I'd put the question to the player. Start by saying this may be an interesting role play situation. I will often interpret rules harshly if I think that's the reality for the player. Sometimes I'm much more tough than the dm. The player should know what they're risking when the risk their characters life. They may want the risk.
It may never happen but you're smart to talk before it happens.
S
RPG Superstar 2013
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The first thing I do is take the reincarnation spell out of the game. Mechanically, that spell sucks and serves no real function. If the reincarnation event is not a big part of the story and local belief, I wouldn't ever bother with that spell.
The second thing I do is make lycanthrope a curse, and if the PC dies, he's cured. He'll gain levels faster is reincarnated or resurrected, and he can choose his own path. If the idea is that the player wants to play a lycanthrope, and wants to remain cursed after being raised, then adopting it as part of the soul is one possibility. Another is curing him with the true rez or whatever and making him work to become what he used to be: adventuring to regain the curse or ability by contracting it again, activating his soul-memory or whatever.
I would burn his character sheet, laughing manically. Then summon hounds to chase him from my property.