Homebrew Resurrection Rules

## Overview

Resurrection is more costly than in base D&D

I borrow from the 13th Age Resurrection rules, which are - you can only resurrect:

* once per level
* a limited number of times in your life

Aside from the additional limits and costs below, the 5e resurrection spells (Revivify, Raise Dead, Reincarnate, Resurrection, True Resurrection, Wish) operate as written :)

## Lifetime Limit

### First Time Resurrecting

The first time in your life you resurrect someone, the spell you use functions as normal but you deduct one highest-tier spell slot until your next long rest *after* a level-up.

### Second Time Resurrecting

The second time you resurrect someone, the spell takes a minimum of 3 rounds. It also costs you half of your total HP and inflicts one point of exhaustion (disadvantage on ability checks). Also incurs tier one effects.

### Third Time Resurrecting

The third time you resurrect someone must be as a ritual. Your HP is reduced to one hit die + Con modifier. Until you finish a long rest you cannot cast spells again. You incur three points of exhaustion (disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, speed halved). Deduct two spell slots until your next level up, one from your highest tier and one from your 2nd highest tier.

Regardless of the spell used, your target also suffers the effects of *Resurrection*: The target takes a −4 penalty to all attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks. Every time the target finishes a long rest, the penalty is reduced by 1 until it disappears.The target takes a −4 penalty to all attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks. Every time the target finishes a long rest, the penalty is reduced by 1 until it disappears.

### Fourth Time Resurrecting

The fourth time you resurrect someone, it nearly kills you. Begin rolling death saving throws. Incur all prior penalties as well.

The person you resurrected will also be a mess for 1dx weeks (x = # of hit dice of resurrected), regardless of other curative magic. They have the *Resurrection* sickness with the addition of their total HP reduced to one hit die (regaining each remaining hit die at the end of long rests, until they are all recovered.)

### Fifth Time Resurrecting

The fifth time you resurrect someone, that is the end of your story and you die. There is only a 50% chance the magic works this time as well. You can not be resurrected outside of Wish magic, so spent is your vessel of channeling life beyond the grave.

## Repeated Returns From Beyond

**If the Target of your resurrection magic has been resurrected more times than you have cast the spell**, there is a 50% chance the experience will play out using their higher number of resurrections instead of the number of times you have cast the spell.

## Regarding Sacrifice

Resurrection magic costs life to pull a soul from the realm of Inata’s influence. A cleric can choose to siphon this energy from other sentient creatures or places of great life. Doing so reduces the negative consequences of Resurrection by one tier. The sacrifices must be either willing or restrained or both, and their souls must hitherto be uncommitted. They experience the regular effects of the resurrection magic tier, while the caster and subject experience the consequences of one tier lesser. Much scholarly debate exists over the amount of sacrifices necessary for different spells, what makes a high quality sacrifice, etc. This short reference is not an index of that research besides what has already been widely agreed upon, as outlined above.