As implied in the title, I've been looking over the spell Sculpt Corpse of late, and I must say the rules of the spell seem to fly in the face of how magic "typically" works in the game.
As an instantaneous spell, the magic that alters the corpse to appear as something else has come and gone (ie: the corpse is not subject to an ongoing magical effect after it has been altered). Yet, a Will saving throw is required to notice it has been altered (ie: you must resist a mental/magical effect to notice something is amiss). Maybe I'm a little old-school, but this just feels "icky" to me. Requiring a Will save to notice something like this just seems counter-intuitive.
I have 2 suggestions to "fix" this spell:
1) Ditch the Will saving throw entirely, and replace it with a Perception skill check to notice something awry (the smell is wrong, it's visually off a bit, weight is not-quite-right, etc...). The DC of the check would be what the Will save DC would be (10 + Spell Level + Modifier), or alternately, the DC would be the result of a Disguise skill check made by the caster.
I prefer this solution myself (with Skill Check DC = Will save DC). I would have also alternatively suggested a Spellcraft skill check (to notice something has been altered/created by a magical effect), but apparently that was only a 3/3.5e convention.
2) Change the duration from instantaneous to permanent (so there is actually some magical effect to save against). I might even go so far as to add the Mind-Affecting descriptor, or change the spell type to Illusion (Glamer), though it may not be necessary to do so.
I dislike this solution as it still feels a little clumsy to me, and it adds further complications to the effect of the spell.
Opinions?
Opinions?
#2. 'cause as the spell is now, you can turn a dead mouse into a dead mammoth with just a few castings.
Or your dead team-mate into a dead Tarrasque, before bringing him back to life...
I'd make it a Heal check, rather than a Perception check:
I like the idea of the Heal check as well, but I think that either skill would make more sense than a Will save.
I have to agree -- with the caveat that I'd hate to make almost ANYTHING that calls for a Perception check -- if you're doing that, you might as well make it a straight level check and be done with it.
I'd make it a Heal check, rather than a Perception check:
Hmmm, hadn't thought of using Heal. I like it. Seems fitting.
#2. 'cause as the spell is now, you can turn a dead mouse into a dead mammoth with just a few castings.
Or your dead team-mate into a dead Tarrasque, before bringing him back to life...
Good point. Personally, I'd keep it instantaneous; Though I'd add a caveat that further castings are ineffective, unless used to return the corpse to it's original (natural) state.
The spell is clear about Raise Dead and the like though: You would return to life as your original appearance.
Dot.