Resurrection or Reincarnation?

[Steve B]

I read this statement on this website:

"Resurrecting a champion keeps stats. Reincarnating may lower or raise stats"

This is something I've always wondered about. I've been playing Dungeon Master on and off for the past 10 years. I've always used resurrection to raise a character. I've never used reincarnation for some strange reason. Is it true that characters that have been resurrected are good for the beginning levels in the game because they have higher stats than a reincarnated character? Do reincarnated characters gain experience quicker than resurrected characters? This would make reincarnated characters better in the long run would it not? I'd like your opinions on this subject. I'd like to reach a difinitive conclusion at the end of this thread. :)

What is the best way to raise a character. Resurrection or Reincarnation?

[sucinum]

reincarnated are better.
they get equal to higher stats, and theier life/mana gets higher in every case. and, you can rename then. i vote for reincarnate

[ChristopheF]

Here is my point of view:
The first dungeon levels will be "easier" for a resurrected character than for a reincarnated character (because they have better skills at the very beginning), and the end will be easier for reincarnated characters (because they will have better stats, and a very similar skill level). So yes, reincarnation is better in the long term.

Skills ((fighter ninja priest and wizard)
Generally speaking, reincarnated and ressurected characters will have the "same" skill levels at the end of the game, because a HUGE number of XP points are required to pass a higher level, so the small amount of XP that a character may start with has little impact on his final XP count: the most important part is the XP aquired during the game. As all characters earn XP at the same rate, they will have nearly the same amount of XP (hence the same skill level), with a negligible advantage for resurrected characters (corresponding to their starting XP).
As reincarnated characters lose all their skills at the beginning, they will quickly pass the first exprerience levels, because they only require a small amount of XP. So very quickly, reincarnated characters have nearly the same skill levels as the resurrected characters. That is why the advantage of resurrected characters is only short term.

Statistics (Dexterity, Wisdom, Anti Fire, etc...)
Each time a character passes a skill level, some of his stats are improved (by a small and random value).
Reserrected characters will pass less XP levels during the game than reincarnated characters, because they already start with some skill levels.
So the statistics progression of a reincarnated character will be better than one of a resurrected character.
Of course, this is balanced by the fact that reincarnated characters lose some statistics points at the beginning, but usually you will find that stats of reincarnated characters are better at the end of the game than the stats of a resurrected one.

So in the long term, there is a statistics advantage for reincarnated characters over resurrected ones, and nearly no difference in skill level between them. This reincarnation advantage is balanced by the fact that the beginning of the game will be harder for them because they have lost some stat points and all their skills.

I hope this is clear, let me know if you disagree on any point.
Of course, my explanation is only valid for "normal" players who do not spend hours training their characters. With training, you can make any character stronger than any other, no matter it was reincarnated or resurrected.

[beowuuf]

I thought in dm stats only rose, to balance the decision to lose experience

But yes, that's my view...it makes it a little bit of a slow sometimes to build up those levels, but it makes up for it by the fact you gain much larger ststs, much quicker....you tend to balance out by takign longer to fight, and so gaining more experience anywya, so evn b ythe worm levle you have good enough fighter and wizard/priest skills

[Zyx]

I think in DM stats are raised at the reincarnation, so it's a huge advantage, as when the character reaches again the skill levels it had, his stats are much higher.
In CSB, stats are halved at the reincarnation, but the character will still be more powerful than the resurrected one at similar levels. However, the time to recover these levels will be noticeable. In this case, training in the prison before making a new adventure is necessary.

[Christopher]

I remember seeing a stat or two increase in CSB Reincarnating Talon. His start stats are so low, if you want Talon, you might as well reincarnate him.

[Sundeep Nandra]

In DM stats do increase through reincarnation. They never decrease from what I've seen...though I've really only looked at strength.

[sucinum]

reincarnate also makes it easier to balance the skill levels of the four characters (i dont have specialists, but 4 allrounders in party)