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.