So lets say I want to incorporate the potion from death becomes her into a pathfinder game. Clearly it makes you undead, but maintains appearance, but one is unable to heal wounds.
How would you write up the potion and the effects therof?
For those of you unfamiliar:
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Here are a couple of options off the top of my head...keep in mind these are not strictly RAW. They're more like "that could work, maybe."
Method 1 (the budget model) - Brew Potion, Bestow Curse, Undead Anatomy 1. The idea being the brewer intentionally curses a potion of Undead Anatomy 1 (form of a zombie) into a toxic, permanent elixir that turns the imbiber into a sentient undead creature (essentially a Juju zombie.)
Method 2 (the deluxe model) - Craft Wondrous Item (CWI,) Create Undead. If Method 1 seems too low-level, dial it up to 11 with an "Elixir (elixirs are usually created with CWI) of Eternal Life" that substitutes Undead Anatomy 1 and Bestow Curse with a full-blown Create Undead (Juju Zombie) spell.
It's been awhile since I saw the movie but the women in Death Becomes Her were pretty close to being Juju Zombies from what I recall. They were newly dead so their flesh was still intact, they had full recollection of their lives and free will. Juju Zombies in-game usually serve a master, but you could handwave that by saying the process of creating the potion/elixir allows the drinker to keep their free will. If you want to toss in the added benefit of appearing forever young, toss a Youthful Appearance spell into the cauldron.
You could also make them unaging Simulacra. That would explain the inability to restore their bodies.
You could also make them unaging Simulacra. That would explain the inability to restore their bodies.
That would also prevent them from healing with negative energy if that's the direction one wants to go.
Here are a couple of options off the top of my head...keep in mind these are not strictly RAW. They're more like "that could work, maybe."
Method 1 (the budget model) - Brew Potion, Bestow Curse, Undead Anatomy 1. The idea being the brewer intentionally curses a potion of Undead Anatomy 1 (form of a zombie) into a toxic, permanent elixir that turns the imbiber into a sentient undead creature (essentially a Juju zombie.)
Method 2 (the deluxe model) - Craft Wondrous Item (CWI,) Create Undead. If Method 1 seems too low-level, dial it up to 11 with an "Elixir (elixirs are usually created with CWI) of Eternal Life" that substitutes Undead Anatomy 1 and Bestow Curse with a full-blown Create Undead (Juju Zombie) spell.
It's been awhile since I saw the movie but the women in Death Becomes Her were pretty close to being Juju Zombies from what I recall. They were newly dead so their flesh was still intact, they had full recollection of their lives and free will. Juju Zombies in-game usually serve a master, but you could handwave that by saying the process of creating the potion/elixir allows the drinker to keep their free will. If you want to toss in the added benefit of appearing forever young, toss a Youthful Appearance spell into the cauldron.
I think I like method 2.
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So do I, but I wasn't sure how soon you wanted to use the idea. The budget model could be made fairly early into a campaign, but the Create Undead (Juju) requires not just Create Undead but Enervation or Energy Drain as well. It might be fun to have the drinker of the deluxe model selling knock-off budget model potions that actually make people their minions though.
So do I, but I wasn't sure how soon you wanted to use the idea. The budget model could be made fairly early into a campaign, but the Create Undead (Juju) requires not just Create Undead but Enervation or Energy Drain as well. It might be fun to have the drinker of the deluxe model selling knock-off budget model potions that actually make people their minions though.
I hear a Plot device. ;-)
So how would one theoretically cure the lesser version? If this happens to PC's you'd want to be sure one could reverse it.
Also I want to add the component that it must be drunk willingly for the magic to work. That seems to be a theme of the movie. otherwise why not just hold someone down and force it into them?
So how would one theoretically cure the lesser version? If this happens to PC's you'd want to be sure one could reverse it.
*stab* resurrection
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So how would one theoretically cure the lesser version? If this happens to PC's you'd want to be sure one could reverse it.
If Bestow Curse is an "ingredient" in the potion, it seems reasonable Remove Curse could cure it. Break Enchantment might also do the trick or even Neutralize Poison if you feel generous. The DC for the caster level check would probably be equal to 10+3(Spell Level for the Bestow Curse) + the caster's relevant stat bonus. Otherwise, you could say the victim is really and truly undead (instead of just faking it thanks to the Undead Anatomy 1 spell.) In that case, only something like Limited Wish or similar magics should cure it.
Also I want to add the component that it must be drunk willingly for the magic to work. That seems to be a theme of the movie. otherwise why not just hold someone down and force it into them?
Drinking it willingly certainly denies the victim any sort of saving throw. I'd think a Fortitude save would be sufficient to protect someone from ingesting or absorbing the potion against their will, but adding a stipulation that it only works on the willing could be part of the curse. Alternately, you could say an unwilling creature who makes a Fort save resists the curse and just gains the benefits of a normal Undead Anatomy 1 potion until it wears off.