[RPG] Any GM headaches or canon reasons not to let resurrected PCs fight their reanimated corpses

dnd-3.5enecromancypathfinder-1espells

Given that,

  • a character can be dissolved in acid and resurrected

A body isn't necessary for resurrection.

Also, given that,

  • a dark cleric/necromancer can raise a dead body to fight

It seems possible for a PC to be killed, resurrected into a new body and then fight his reanimated corpse.

Is there any reason in Pathfinder or DnD canon why this shouldn't happen? I can always fall back to "He's a wizard and he used magic", but wondered if there were any headaches with this situation as a GM?

Best Answer

The description for Resurrection includes "You can resurrect someone killed by a death effect or someone who has been turned into an undead creature and then destroyed." (emphasis mine) That indicates to me that a) you cannot resurrect someone who has been turned undead until that undead creature has been destroyed and b) that it is possible to resurrect them once that has happened. This phrase is repeated verbatim on True Resurrection, so I'd say that no, this is not possible on a strict reading of the rules. Well, not without time travel, at any rate...