I have a question about any number of abilities that allow you to reincarnate (as the spell) in a safe location somewhere within X miles of where you died.
The spell leaves you naked, nameless, and alone... right? That is to say, the spell creates for you a new young adult body of [insert random race here] and brings you back to life, but it does very little else. You have no gear (not even clothes), you have no past (at least no one will recognize you), and you are alone (not even a familiar or companion will be with you).
How do you come back from that? Do you wander naked into a civilized area and maybe beg for clothing? Do you Minecraft yourself some new starting gear by punching down trees? Do you try to find your body like in WoW?
Survival strategies, please!
If you are playing the druid archetype that does it automatically (which is going to be a prereq for this discussion since usually the answer would be 'your friends saved your pants'), then you could go around using wildshape.
Essentially, live as a crow for a few days until you find some pants to steal. Going back to the scene of the crime would be a bad idea, since either someone stabbed you to death (in which case they might have learned what you are, and decided to keep stabbing you until it sticks), or some big scary thing ate (in which case you want to avoid it too).
Since there is a recharge time before you are safe again too, I think just living as a squirrel for a week might also be a wise idea.
I have a question about any number of abilities that allow you to reincarnate (as the spell) in a safe location somewhere within X miles of where you died.
If you have such an ability it would behoove you to make preparations to take your reincarnation into account:
1. If you have trusted companions, tell them in the event of your death you will reincarnate after x hours and come find them. Give them a passphrase or some such so the new you can properly identify yourself to them.
2. Prepare an emergency kit with clothing, weapons, money, scrolls, and whatever else you need and stash it nearby whenever you're going somewhere very dangerous. That way you can retrieve it in the event of your death.
As an aside, I created an absolutely diabolical man-behind-the-man type BBEG based around this ability. Haven't decided if I want to unleash him against the PCs in my campaign, though, because he's a pretty right bastard who would frustrate them greatly.
Craft yourself a Club, Quarterstaff, and Sling instantly and for free. Maybe a Wooden Stake? Craft several slings into rudimentary clothing? They are little strips of leather. Maybe just wander naked into town and insist bandits robbed you. Don't dump Wis so you can take 10 on Survival and feed yourself while moving half speed. Really depends on stat distribution. Cha lets you charm others out of their pants, Wis lets you not need pants, Int... well, invest in something that helps.
Slings as clothing? Sounds great if you roll an elf (it would be easy to charm someone out of their pants)....not so much if you roll a bugbear.
Hmmm....Legolas.....it doesn't matter where your interests fall when elves are involved....
Get clothing, go to town, sell your spells for cash, gear up, gain vengeance.
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Pull a terminator and be like, "I need your clothes, your boots, and your warhorse."
Unfortunately, even infinite slings will not be able to cover your naked body, since slings have a cost of zero and even the cheapest peasants outfit has a cost of 3 1/3 cp to craft.
Seriously though, you can do magic. I'm sure you can cope fairly easily.
Presumably you're a 5th level Druid. Use survival to fashion yourself something out of natural materials. Like the hippy you are.
Alternately, Wild shape until you can find some pants.
Pull a terminator and be like, "I need your clothes, your boots, and your warhorse."
"You didn't say please..."
Also it's not like you'll need to prove your identity to a bank in order to retrieve stored wealth you have stashed away. So it's an even better reason to have some supply caches hidden around.
Might be tricky when it comes to titles and land, but magic can complicate things.
If you really want to give yourself options take Eldritch Heritage Rakshasa bloodline. The level 15 power gives you Alter Self at will for an unlimited duration, so as soon as you reincarnate you can just change back to your previous form.
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Also it's not like you'll need to prove your identity to a bank in order to retrieve stored wealth you have stashed away. So it's an even better reason to have some supply caches hidden around.
Might be tricky when it comes to titles and land, but magic can complicate things.
Magic can also de-complicate things like proving your identity, as long as you can find a mid-level caster of some stripe. Aside from the usual truth-verification, or spells like Commune, Scry and Locate Creature should continue to locate you in your new body.
However, depending on local customs, you might not have a right to titles and land after reincarnating.
If you really want to give yourself options take Eldritch Heritage Rakshasa bloodline. The level 15 power gives you Alter Self at will for an unlimited duration, so as soon as you reincarnate you can just change back to your previous form.
...or get the same thing (Thousand Faces) as a Reincarnated Druid at level 13?
Also it's not like you'll need to prove your identity to a bank in order to retrieve stored wealth you have stashed away. So it's an even better reason to have some supply caches hidden around.
Might be tricky when it comes to titles and land, but magic can complicate things.
Magic can also de-complicate things like proving your identity, as long as you can find a mid-level caster of some stripe. Aside from the usual truth-verification, or spells like Commune, Scry and Locate Creature should continue to locate you in your new body.
However, depending on local customs, you might not have a right to titles and land after reincarnating.
If you really want to give yourself options take Eldritch Heritage Rakshasa bloodline. The level 15 power gives you Alter Self at will for an unlimited duration, so as soon as you reincarnate you can just change back to your previous form....or get the same thing (Thousand Faces) as a Reincarnated Druid at level 13?
In the meantime get a hat of disguise. Not a perfect solution, but it'll do until level 13.
In the meantime get a hat of disguise. Not a perfect solution, but it'll do until level 13.
Wouldn't that be much more expensive than having a set of standard gear staches. Especially since you still have to go get the damn hat.
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Wouldn't that be much more expensive than having a set of standard gear staches. Especially since you still have to go get the damn hat.In the meantime get a hat of disguise. Not a perfect solution, but it'll do until level 13.
Still simpler than getting to level 13. Besides, Hats of disguise are relatively cheap as far as magic items go.
Yes, but it still won't gear you up. A stash of mundane weapons and clothing in strategic places is far better and cheaper for that not naked feeling.
You mean a hat of "oops, I'm sitting back with all my other things at that last place I died?"
:-P
Yes, but it still won't gear you up a stash of mundane weapons and clothing in strategic places is far better and cheaper for that not naked feeling.
I think we're talking about two different things.
Clearly not being naked is better than being naked (with some notable exceptions).
I was talking about impersonating your previous body. If you were an elf and now you're a lizard folk, for example.
Yes, but it still won't gear you up a stash of mundane weapons and clothing in strategic places is far better and cheaper for that not naked feeling.I think we're talking about two different things.
Clearly not being naked is better than being naked (with some notable exceptions).
I was talking about impersonating your previous body. If you were an elf and now you're a lizard folk, for example.
Ahh, yes. That would be a point, but that wouldn't help overly much if you changed size.
Ahh, yes. That would be a point, but that wouldn't help overly much if you changed size.Yes, but it still won't gear you up a stash of mundane weapons and clothing in strategic places is far better and cheaper for that not naked feeling.I think we're talking about two different things.
Clearly not being naked is better than being naked (with some notable exceptions).
I was talking about impersonating your previous body. If you were an elf and now you're a lizard folk, for example.
I believe everything on the reincarnate list is either Medium or Small. Well withing the range of disguise self.
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the Reincarnate Chart sucks if you are not a core race, whether you are a planetouched or even a humanoid of an exotic subtype. sure, Reincarnating as a lizardfolk gives nice physical bonuses, but that Sylph has no way of even returning as a Sylph with this spell. thus forcing noncore races to have to sit out 2 levels for Raise Dead instead.
we need multiple Variant Reincarnate charts for say Planetouched and related noncore humanoids. at least the ones that physically can be raised, however, this needn't include say Wyrwood and similar artificial races.
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I'd also like extended reincarnate charts, especially since RAW you return as a creature of your type so a native outsider must return as a native outsider, not a humanoid.
That said I don't think that having no chance to return as your original race means you should sit out Reincarnate. The whole point of Reincarnate is that you're unlikely to come back as your original race (though we did have one NPC get lucky) and there are a range of different possible body types. Is being reincarnated as an orc really that much worse for a sylph than for an elf?
I'd also like extended reincarnate charts, especially since RAW you return as a creature of your type so a native outsider must return as a native outsider, not a humanoid.
That said I don't think that having no chance to return as your original race means you should sit out Reincarnate. The whole point of Reincarnate is that you're unlikely to come back as your original race (though we did have one NPC get lucky) and there are a range of different possible body types. Is being reincarnated as an orc really that much worse for a sylph than for an elf?
being Reincarnated as an Orc sucks pretty badly both for sylphs and elves, but at least an Elf has the chance of coming back as an elf if they are lucky, the Sylph has no chance of coming back as a Sylph. regardless of luck.
the social stigma against your newly reincarnated race as well as the risk of losing 2 or more points of your primary attribute can force you to desire to retire your character, as can being reincarnated as a race that you as a player cannot stand. few people deal with Reincarnate because the Random chance of not being your original race is a huge character breaker and some characters use their race as a highly defining feature, especially if they are one of the gimmick players.
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If you feel that the random chance of not being your original race is a character breaker, Reincarnate is not for you whether or not your original race is on the table. You've got no more than a 15% chance of your original race and roughly a 30% chance of being something really different - like one male half-orcish monk who turned into an elven woman. I would not play those odds with my character concept at stake.
The argument for extended Reincarnate tables is completeness and having a RAW Reincarnation option for native outsiders, not to make Reincarnation more palatable for non-core races.
i think Reincarnate shouldn't have even been a spell, we should have instead given druids Raise Dead and cleric level healing and condition removal progression, because clerics have enough niche protection as healers.
i think Reincarnate shouldn't have even been a spell, we should have instead given druids Raise Dead and cleric level healing and condition removal progression, because clerics have enough niche protection as healers.
Or let characters reincarnate into a new random young adult body of their original race. You still keep the "I have to prove it is really me." aspect of the spell without the stat juggling, character concept "gimping", and non-standard race sitting-outing.
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Reincarnate is supposed to have significant disadvantages compared to Raise Dead. That's why it's a spell level lower and 1/5 the price. Having to prove your identity is not a significant disadvantage, especially under the circumstances in which an adventurer is typically reincarnated (using the spell with allies present to ease the transition and vouch for identity). It's only a significant problem when you reincarnate automatically without assistance. And in that case, you've hopefully planned for it both from an RP point of view and a mechanical one and have minimized the risks.
Curious though - your OP asks about "any number of abilities that allow you to reincarnate (as the spell) in a safe location somewhere within X miles of where you died." But the only such ability I can think of (and the only one mentioned in the thread) is the Reincarnated Druid ability. Was there another case you were thinking of?
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I'd also like extended reincarnate charts, especially since RAW you return as a creature of your type so a native outsider must return as a native outsider, not a humanoid.
That said I don't think that having no chance to return as your original race means you should sit out Reincarnate. The whole point of Reincarnate is that you're unlikely to come back as your original race (though we did have one NPC get lucky) and there are a range of different possible body types. Is being reincarnated as an orc really that much worse for a sylph than for an elf?
being Reincarnated as an Orc sucks pretty badly both for sylphs and elves, but at least an Elf has the chance of coming back as an elf if they are lucky, the Sylph has no chance of coming back as a Sylph. regardless of luck.
the social stigma against your newly reincarnated race as well as the risk of losing 2 or more points of your primary attribute can force you to desire to retire your character, as can being reincarnated as a race that you as a player cannot stand. few people deal with Reincarnate because the Random chance of not being your original race is a huge character breaker and some characters use their race as a highly defining feature, especially if they are one of the gimmick players.
For a humanoid creature, the new incarnation is determined using the table below. For nonhumanoid creatures, a similar table of creatures of the same type should be created.
and
Sylph
Medium outsider (native)
Not a humanoid, so she don't use the table in the reincarante spell.
Paizo can't make a table for each possible creature. I suspect you would feel cheated even if your sylph returned as a Oread as they are antithesis, so, if you are playing a non standard race and get reincarnated you need to consult with your GM and he should make an ad hoc table.
the Reincarnate Chart sucks if you are not a core race, whether you are a planetouched or even a humanoid of an exotic subtype. sure, Reincarnating as a lizardfolk gives nice physical bonuses, but that Sylph has no way of even returning as a Sylph with this spell. thus forcing noncore races to have to sit out 2 levels for Raise Dead instead.
we need multiple Variant Reincarnate charts for say Planetouched and related noncore humanoids. at least the ones that physically can be raised, however, this needn't include say Wyrwood and similar artificial races.
In my games people who are reincarnated and roll human come back as their original race. If their original class is on the chart rolling that makes them come back as humans.
The Sylph has no chance of coming back as a Sylph. regardless of luck.
A sylph should come back as a sylph.
Reincarnate rebirths you in a new corporeal body, but you (your soul) remains the same. An outsider's soul and body serve as one unit tied to a non-material plane. A native outsider is a special exception in that they are essentially mortals with the soul of an outsider. Since planetouched is a property of your soul, not your body, a native outsider should reincarnate as the same or very similar native outsider. That sylph might reincarnate as a fusion of an elf/djinn or bugbear/djinn, but they should always end up as some kind of air planetouched mortal.
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Paizo can't make a table for each possible creature. I suspect you would feel cheated even if your sylph returned as a Oread as they are antithesis, so, if you are playing a non standard race and get reincarnated you need to consult with your GM and he should make an ad hoc table.
Here's a possible idea to deal with the lack of a chart for native outsiders. Not all native outsiders are a cross with humans; so if a player is willing use the standard chart to determine the humanoid ancestry but keep the character as a native outsider with ancestry of the type rolled. Only adjust stats & movement if there is a change in character size (dwarven ancestry keeps the movement in armor at speed 20). That makes the change largely cosmetic but keeps the role play aspect.
Since the planes-touched are so closely connected to their outsider heritage they keep that part but replace the human heritage. You used to be a sylph of human ancestry, but due to reincarnate now you are a sylph of lizardfolk ancestry. It's not an option for everybody, but it is an interesting option that some might consider fun.
Edit: I see Cyrad had a very similar idea. Ninja'd again!
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Since planetouched is a property of your soul, not your bodyThat is an unsupported postulate. Why can't planetouched be a factor of the body? If it was purely a soul issue than a character's ancestors would not be an issue.
Character's ancestors aren't an issue except for size and some cosmetic features-- the only reason PFS appears to make an issue of it is not wanting to have size S plane-touched critters running around (there is NO other game/mechanical effect derived from being born to other than human parents-- you're still strictly plane-touched, not some kind of hybrid for game purposes). That point is in the sidebars in "Blood of Fiends" and "Blood of Angels", and seems fairly well implied in "Blood of Elements".
The "linked to soul" idea also better covers how a character may be born 'plane-touched' without having direct, by-blood planar ancestry.
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There's no reason that the dominance of planetouched traits can't be explained by (1) genetic dominance in the case of ancestry or (2) overwhelming physical/magical transformation in other cases. There's no need to assume that because non-human planetouched don't have the physical traits of their humanoid race the outsider heritage is fundamentally part of their soul.
Now, normally outsiders' bodies and souls are identical, but this also normally means that outsiders can't be raised or reincarnated; the latter is described in the outsiders' text as a direct consequence of the former. Native outsiders can be raised or even reincarnated, which suggests that unlike other outsiders, their body and soul are NOT identical. (Logically, if "Body=Soul" implies "cannot be raised," then "can be raised" implies "Body =/= Soul")
Relevant rules text:
Unlike most living creatures, an outsider does not have a dual nature—its soul and body form one unit. When an outsider is slain, no soul is set loose. Spells that restore souls to their bodies, such as raise dead, reincarnate, and resurrection, don't work on an outsider. It takes a different magical effect, such as limited wish, wish, miracle, or true resurrection to restore it to life. An outsider with the native subtype can be raised, reincarnated, or resurrected just as other living creatures can be.
To be reincarnated like other living creatures means a large chance of coming back not as your original race - not just in flavour but mechanically.
So why are planetouched outsiders at all? Look at the initial definition of the type:
An outsider is at least partially composed of the essence (but not necessarily the material) of some plane other than the Material Plane. Some creatures start out as some other type and become outsiders when they attain a higher (or lower) state of spiritual existence.
A planetouched could (and logically should) have a body that is partly composed of another plane without having a soul partly composed of another plane.
Of course, all of this is also a good argument for turning planetouched into humanoid (planetouched) instead of outsiders, which I houseruled in my current game. That means that planetouched races are affected normally by charm person, enlarge person, etc, and that the game doesn't need to write exceptions like "can be raised" or "needs to sleep" into the native outsider type just so planetouched will function like all the other humanoids.
Aren't all souls in Golarion the result of the Positive Energy Plane? Or is that just for most of the races?