CONSTITUTION

Constitution is a term which encompasses the character’s physique, fitness, health, and resistance. Since constitution affects the character’s hit dice and chances of surviving such great system shocks as being changed by magic spell or resurrected from the dead, it is of considerable importance to all classes. Constitution scores of above a certain number are necessary for becoming certain sub-classes of characters. Effects of Constitution are given on the table below.

This character ability rating is a general heading under which falls the character’s physique, health, resistance, and fitness. An individual who catches cold if exposed to a slight draft has a Constitution of 5 or less in all probability. Rasputin had an 18 Constitution!

It is of utmost importance to understand that a character’s initial Constitution score is also the maximum number of times the character can be raised from the dead/resurrected, and that each such revivification reduces the character’s Constitution score by 1. Although a character’s Constitution can be restored to its former score, or even raised above this number, by magical means, this in no way alters the initial score limitation, nor does such magical change in Constitution restore to the character additional chances for revivification. Thus, if a character has an initial Constitution of 15, he or she can never be brought back to life by a raise dead or resurrection spell more often than 15 times. Note that a rod of resurrection is considered the same as a spell of the same sort. The 16th death is final and irrevocable without use of some other magical means such as a wish.

NOTES REGARDING THE CONSTITUTION TABLE

Hit Point Adjustment indicates the subtraction from or addition to each hit die for a character. (1)

Note that subtraction can never reduce any hit die below 1, i.e. if a die is rolled and a 1 comes up, or if a 2 is rolled and the penalty due to Constitution is -2, the die is read as 1 (hit point) regardless of subtractions.

Note also that the only class of characters which is entitled to bonuses above +2 per hit die is fighters (including the fighter sub-classes paladins and rangers ). Thus, even though a cleric, magic-user, or thief has a Constitution of 17 or 18, the additional hit points for each hit die due to superior constitution is +2.

System Shock Survival states the percentage chance the character has of surviving the following forms of magical attacks (or simple application of the magic): aging, petrification (including a flesh to stone spell), polymorph any object, or polymorph others. 

Example. The wicked necromancer polymorphs (others) his hireling into a giant roc, with the rather foolish agreement of the changee; the hireling must make a saving throw based on his Constitution score using the table above. Assuming he survives, a further saving throw would have to be made if he was again polymorphed or dispelled back to original form. The saving throw must be equal to or less than the percentage shown.

Resurrection Survival shows the percentage chance the character has of being successfully raised from the dead or resurrected by a cleric. The score of the percentile dice must be equal to or less than the number shown on the table, or the character fails to be revivified and is completely and totally dead forever. Remember that a character can never be raised from the dead/resurrected a total number of times in excess of the character’s initial Constitution score.

BRINGING BACK THE DEAD

Certain spells will bring the dead back to life. In order for the magic to work, the body of the person must be whole, or otherwise missing parts will still be missing when the person is brought back to life (the use of powerful magic, such as wish-type magic, may be allowed by the DM to create a whole body from a fragment). Also, the resurrected person must make a special saving throw to survive the ordeal (see Constitution) and will possibly be weaker. Furthermore, creatures with a Constitution score have a limit on the number of times they may be brought back from the dead. Certain creatures have spirits instead of souls (such as elves or half-orcs), and cannot be raised or resurrected, but may be brought back using reincarnate or wish. Note that newly made undead, excluding skeletons, which fall within the days (or years) of being dead limit are affected by raise dead/resurrection spells cast upon them. The effect of the spell is to cause them to become alive, providing their Constitution survival check succeeds; otherwise, they are simply dead. 

* The additions to each hit die are for Fighters, Paladins and Rangers only; all beings without one of these classes can receive no more than 2 bonus points per die. The other modifications to the dice are applicable to any class. The notation "no 1s rolled" indicates that any 1s rolled when hit points are being figured should be counted as 2s. At 21 and 22 Constitution, 1s and 2s are counted as 3s, and so on.