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Playing Dead is a complete ruleset for starting (or continuing) your journey as an undead, including new thematic options for class features, subclasses, spells, magic items, and transcending the limits of undeath itself.

A 100-page player’s companion for keeping that favorite character of yours going, even after that unfortunate moment when you forgot to check for traps.

In this supplement, you’ll find everything you need to become an undead character, including:

  • A new Reanimated Undead trait for your undead player characters.
  • Detailed guidance on becoming undead and reflavoring your spells and abilities to match.
  • Variant Class Features for all 13 official classes, purpose-built for your undead character.
  • 20 brand new subclasses, spread over all 13 classes, such as the druid Circle of the Host and the paladin Oath of the Damned.
  • Prestige Classes Greater Undeath! Everything you need to play as a fearsome undead creature, including the lich, the revenant, and the vampire!
  • Dozens of new feats, spells, and magic items too!

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Reviews (2)
Discussions (10)
Customer avatar
Ashton B September 13, 2022 9:21 pm UTC
In the reanimated dead feature, when in it says you're immune to poison, does that mean only actual poisons like serpent venom, or does count as immunity to poison damage/poison condition, or what exactly? I've been kinda confused on that.
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Customer avatar
Steve F September 14, 2022 12:22 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hi Ashton!

Sorry, I see how it is not clear as written. The intent is poison damage and the poisoned condition.
Customer avatar
Joshua K December 31, 2021 5:38 am UTC
PURCHASER
How are people that are playing Clerics working around not healing or are they adapting with the DM HB spells that can heal the undead? Trying to nut this out now and thinking I might have to make a whole bunch of new spells for a cleric. What do you think?
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Customer avatar
Joshua K December 31, 2021 5:51 am UTC
PURCHASER
To clarify - The cleric on the party is trying to figure out the best way to keep the party of 5 undead alive as he did pre-undead. :-)
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Customer avatar
Israel M January 01, 2022 9:29 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hey Joshua!

The cleric would need to adopt new healing methods, such as through the spells included, the life transference spell from Xanathar's (which actually can heal undead!), or by becoming an Undeath domain cleric. Potions of healing also do heal undead, if I recall correctly.
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Customer avatar
Joshua K January 06, 2022 8:16 am UTC
PURCHASER
Thanks mate. I've worked it out with the party cleric. It should be fun for the whole undead team :-)
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Customer avatar
Jason W September 19, 2022 8:28 pm UTC
Who said clerics are healers? This is a tabletop game, not a video game. Clerics have a lot of roles that are decided by their god and not a preconceived notion that they are only meant to heal. You think a cleric of war, knowledge, the forge, trickery or death gives a damn about healing?
Customer avatar
Joshua K December 02, 2021 8:29 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hey hey. What are your thoughts on how the resting mechanic would work here as undead do not need to sleep?
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Customer avatar
Steve F December 02, 2021 8:31 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hey, great question. They don't need to sleep, but nothing says they don't need to rest. They require the full 8 hours to gain a long rest as anyone else, but aren't required to be sleeping for any of it.

Sort of like an Elf, except Elves can meditate and complete their rest in 4 hours.
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Customer avatar
Joshua K December 04, 2021 11:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
A fine idea. 4 hours+ of being still so their undead flesh can bind itself together again. :-)

I'm still wrapping my head around being a DM for 5 undead party members but I think it will be rather interesting.
Customer avatar
Mathieu G November 16, 2021 6:47 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Just to make sure... Let's say my Swashbuckler Rogue dies and is reanimated at level 4, would I get to keep Expertise, Sneak Attack, Thieves' Cant, Cunning Action, Steady Aim and my ASI, while getting a new feature (Discorporate)?

And for the subclass, as I understand it, it would be better to change it to Frozen Heart or Umbral Stalker, which means I would no longer be a Swashbuckler. Is that right?
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Customer avatar
Steve F November 16, 2021 9:06 pm UTC
CREATOR
Absolutely right, although it's not "better" to pick one of those other subclasses and cease being a Swashbuckler, it's just an option to have a subclass that better leverages being undead.

We created lots of layers to this so users could pick up and use what they want to best fit their wants, and for DMs to feel empowered to allow as much undeath as they feel comfortable with
Customer avatar
Diego S November 09, 2021 12:23 am UTC
PURCHASER
I have a question, if a character become a greater undead, the undead traits replace those of the original race ? (Example: a dwarf become a revenant, I have traits from both dwarf and revenant, or I have only the revenant traits ?)
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Customer avatar
Steve F November 09, 2021 12:49 am UTC
CREATOR
If your character dies and comes back using rules in this book, they are both a Dwarf and Undead. If you also take the Greater Undeath: Revenant option, they are a Dwarf, Undead, and Revenant. + their Class and Subclass!
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Customer avatar
Diego S November 09, 2021 1:13 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you so much
Customer avatar
Shannon T July 28, 2021 1:53 am UTC
PURCHASER
Question: I have created a Druid Circle that plays around with the undead and the concept of undeath. There are 2 spells from your book that I would like to use for their spell list. Specifically Breath of Unlife and Beckon the Rotting Saint. And while - if I read things accurately - according to DMs Guild I don't have to ask, I am asking anyway. I will not infringe anyone's intellectual property. So may I use these spells in my work? If you want to see what I am working on first that can be arranged.
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Customer avatar
Steve F July 28, 2021 5:37 pm UTC
CREATOR
Please feel free. Just, as a courtesy, please cite Playing Dead as your source and hotlink if possible!

Thank you for asking!
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Customer avatar
Shannon T July 29, 2021 4:54 am UTC
PURCHASER
Excellent! Thank you. I will most certainly give you a shout out and a hotlink.
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Customer avatar
Shannon T August 16, 2021 5:24 am UTC
PURCHASER
The work I was speaking of is out. On Coming Forth By Day. Thought you might like to know.
Customer avatar
The Summoner O June 15, 2021 4:44 pm UTC
we need this stuff free
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Customer avatar
Steve F June 15, 2021 8:10 pm UTC
CREATOR
All the content is available for preview in the Full Preview, if you really feel that $14.95 isn't worth it for 100 pages of premium content!
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Customer avatar
Joseph V June 20, 2021 9:39 am UTC
You don't need it free. What you really need is a damn job.
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Customer avatar
Justin V June 25, 2021 5:37 pm UTC
Bruh..... You playing the wrong game.
Hasbro has games you can play for CHEAP.... Maybe Monopoly.... You may learn something.
Or, you could go buy some chalk sticks and make your own games on the sidewalk.....
But.... those chalk sticks cost almost 15 bucks.....
Maybe go take a walk, thats free. Damn, 15 bucks and you hatin.
Customer avatar
Rob T June 10, 2021 4:44 pm UTC
I think this would make a fantastic product for the Fantasy Grounds Virtual Tabletop. If you search my name (Rob Twohy) here on DMs Guild you can see we've done this over 400 times. We offer this service at NO COST. It will be more exposure for your product and a new audience as well. Feel free to contact me in Facebook Messenger (http://m.me/rob.twohy.7) and I will explain how it all works.

ThanX for your consideration.
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Customer avatar
Justin V June 11, 2021 5:34 pm UTC
I would buy this for my players for sure!
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Customer avatar
Grim Press ` July 02, 2021 7:51 pm UTC
Hi Justin,

This title has now been adapted for Fantasy Grounds! You can check it out here:

https://www.dmsguild.com/product/362931/Playing-Dead-Fantasy-Grounds?affiliate_id=3083538
Customer avatar
Chad L May 23, 2021 9:00 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Hi there! Any thoughts about adding this to fantasy grounds vtt? Think this would be a great addition and would love to talk with you about it! feel free to join the grim press discord at https://discord.gg/gyTK9g8QHJ if you have any questions, my name is Engorgio on there.

Thank you
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Customer avatar
Justin V June 11, 2021 5:41 pm UTC
Agree This would be GREAT for my FG group!
Reply
Customer avatar
Grim Press ` June 13, 2021 2:06 am UTC
Hi Justin,

We are excited to announce that this is currently under conversion for Fantasy Grounds! To be notified when it releases, please feel free to join our discord server:

https://discord.gg/N7MM93a
Reply
Customer avatar
Justin V June 25, 2021 5:40 pm UTC
Exciting! Thank you!
Customer avatar
Dylan G May 18, 2021 11:57 am UTC
Do all the authors of content for this work get paid through the purchase of this product on DMsGuild? If not, have the publishers paid all the authors for the content?
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Customer avatar
Steve F May 18, 2021 12:03 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hi Dylan

Designers and Editors on this product are paid royalty shares from each sale.

I hope this answer suffices your question!
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Customer avatar
Dylan G May 18, 2021 12:50 pm UTC
Thanks!
Reply
Customer avatar
Elias G May 18, 2021 2:25 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Thank you for your concern!
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File Last Updated:
May 17, 2021
This title was added to our catalog on May 17, 2021.