...I again reference the notion of the Pattern: an individual's metaphysical signature that represents body, mind, soul, and carries resonance from the kind of magic they use (usually based on their paradigm). In a way you could consider it your magical DNA.

Let's say your Life pattern when you were born looked like this: W

And then later in life you get your right arm chopped off, and it looks like this: N

The Regeneration spell seeks to restore your life Pattern to the way it is supposed to be. So someone casts regeneration and it will restore your Life pattern to: W

Unless, of course, you have accepted in your head the fact that you have no arm anymore (mental), made peace with the phantom feeling of it being gone (spiritual - I often suggest that the whole feeling of a phantom limb people experience is a sign of the Pattern, you feeling what it wants to be but isn't), or possibly intentionally flayed your arm (magical paradigm - Palemaster), and then your natural pattern becomes: N

Regeneration will always restore it to N, rather than W.

Let's say you are BORN without a limb. That means when you're born, your pattern is N. I have always rationalized that people born with physical defects can never have them healed. Clerics can rationalize that this is because that is the way the gods willed them to be. Arcanists can use the Pattern example.

Either way, what this interpretation does is justifies the fact that the individual player can rule whether or not his or her scars and wounds and maimings are affected by healing or regeneration or restoration magics. If the player rules that his character has wholly accepted whatever he or she has lost (or in creepier instances, gained), then the player can legitimately say those spells won't work and really stick it to those assholes who non-chalantly tell you you can go get a fixer-upper with a cleric (I despise it when people do that, and I have seen it a lot in Amia).

And to cut off a question about babies: I envision that a baby forming in a mother's womb does have its own Pattern forming in an overlay. It remains separate from the mother's and this is why you can't cast regenerate on a mother to affect a baby inside of her. And why mothers can die while babies still live in their wombs for a short time. Unfortunately, conservatives would appreciate my interpretation here.

I envision that a baby forming in a mother's womb does have its own Pattern forming in an overlay. It remains separate from the mother's and this is why you can't cast regenerate on a mother to affect a baby inside of her. And why mothers can die while babies still live in their wombs for a short time.

If I was a DM, it would be instant miscarriages if I caught you out adventuring, nor could you be certain what you'd pop out if I caught you casting high level magic or shapeshifting as well.

If I was a DM, it would be instant miscarriages if I caught you out adventuring, nor could you be certain what you'd pop out if I caught you casting high level magic or shapeshifting as well.

If I was a DM, it would be instant miscarriages if I caught you out adventuring, nor could you be certain what you'd pop out if I caught you casting high level magic or shapeshifting as well.

I just can't fathom why someone would want to take the leap of RP'ing a pregnancy, only to basically show everyone that you have no respect or care for the life of that unborn child.

IC actions/consequences, though!