Reincarnation

What is Reincarnation
Reincarnation enables players to leverage their existing progress with one of their current player characters and allows them to change certain decisions made in that character's advancement:
 * Lesser Reincarnation allows a character respec, retaining current character level
 * Heroic, Racial and Iconic reincarnation allow the creation of a more powerful hero, starting from level 1 (as a non-iconic) or level 15 (as an iconic)
 * Epic Reincarnation provides more character power and allows a character respec in the current class, returning the character to level 20

Heroic, Racial and Iconic reincarnation are referred to as True Reincarnation (TR), as the character is completely reborn with all Race, Class, Gender and Alignment options available to them, resetting all quest completions, favor and class advancement. Lesser and Epic reincarnations retain a character's progression in heroic levels, quest completions and favor, thus do not count as True Reincarnations.

All reincarnated characters will retain the name and items from the previous character incarnation:
 * If the character is performing a Heroic True Reincarnation, Racial Reincarnation, Iconic True Reincarnation or Epic Reincarnation they will acquire a Past Life feat
 * Heroic Reincarnation will grant a Past Life Feat based on the class that the character is reincarnating out of (or highest class if the character is multi-class)
 * Racial Reincarnation will grant a Past Life Feat based on the race that the character is reincarnating
 * Iconic Reincarnation will grant a Past Life Feat based on the Iconic race AND a Past Life Feat based on the class that the character is reincarnating out of
 * Epic Reincarnation will grant a Past Life Feat based on the Epic Destiny Sphere the character selects during the reincarnation process
 * Lesser Reincarnation provides no Past Life Feats
 * All Lesser Reincarnations allow a character respec, changing feat, skill & spell choices
 * +1 to +20 Lesser Reincarnations allow a character to change classes as they re-level (explained in more detail on the Lesser Reincarnation page)

How to Reincarnate

 * In order to reincarnate, a character needs to speak with the Life-Shaper in the Halls of Heroes
 * The Life Shaper is located in the Reincarnation Grove on the lower floor of the Hall of Heroes, accessed through a door on the North Wall of the Eastern Chamber, and appears as a Lantern Archon (a glowing ball of light)
 * The Character requires a certain type of Heart of Wood in order to reincarnate:
 * Lesser Reincarnation requires a Lesser Heart of Wood (+0 for no class changes, +1 to +20 if class changes are required)
 * Heroic True Reincarnation requires a Heroic True Heart of Wood
 * Racial Reincarnation requires a Heroic True Heart of Blood
 * Iconic True Reincarnation requires an Iconic True Heart of Wood
 * Epic Reincarnation requires an Epic Heart of Wood
 * The Life Shaper guides the character through the relevant Reincarnation process
 * After speaking to the Life Shaper the Character should log off, and the Reincarnate option becomes available on the login screen
 * On choosing the Reincarnate option, characters go through the Character Creation Menu, as with initial character creation
 * Characters undergoing Heroic, Racial or Iconic Reincarnation can now log in to play
 * Characters undergoing Lesser or Epic Reincarnation can now log in, but will arrive on some rocks floating in space in a place between
 * The Life Shaper, now appearing as a blonde human woman, will meet the character in the place between and guide them through the levelling up process
 * For both Lesser and Epic Reincarnations, the character has to speak to the Life Shaper for each level to open the menu, then select options as if they were talking to a class Trainer
 * If the character is changing classes (with a Lesser Heart +1 to +20), they have to immediately make that selection as they level up, or else are stuck with their previous class choice(s)
 * Only once the character has levelled up to their current level can they leave the place between and continue adventuring

How to get a Heart of Wood/Blood

 * A +0 Lesser Heart of Wood is given to every character on first login after initial character creation
 * Lesser Hearts of Wood can drop in chests (extremely rare drop rate)
 * All Hearts of Wood & Blood can be purchased in the DDO Store
 * Heroic True Hearts of Wood and Heroic True Hearts of Blood can be earned by trading at Lahar outside the Tower of the Twelve
 * Iconic True Hearts of Wood and Epic Hearts of Wood can be earned by trading or HS 42
 * Double click the Commendations or Heart Seeds to bring up their respective barter menus

Warning regarding reincarnation!
It is perfectly legal to perform an Epic Reincarnation (from Level 30 to 20), followed immediately by a Heroic or Racial Incarnation (from Level 20 to Level 1 (new heroic) or 15 (new iconic)), HOWEVER, a bug has been observed to occur which can erase much or all of that character's inventory, tomes, etc!
 * To avoid this bug, it is currently advised that you
 * LOG OUT COMPLETELY after speaking with the Life Shaper, closing down the game
 * Wait a few minutes, giving the game time to update any relevant details
 * Use the Reincarnate option to recreate your character
 * LOG OUT COMPLETELY after character generation, closing down the game
 * Wait a few minutes, giving the game time to update any relevant details
 * Log back in and continue
 * There currently is not 100% proof that this will prevent this bug, but a considerable amount of anecdotal evidence points in that direction

Likewise, it is recommended that you DO NOT log out in the middle of any individual reincarnation (only after it is complete)
 * Allow yourself ample time, especially if you need to re-build a complex character

Quick summary
Appearance, abilities, enhancements, feats, skills, and selected spells1 are reset for all types of reincarnation.

Veteran Status has no effect on any Reincarnation.
 * 1 On Lesser/Epic Reincarnation Wizards and Artificers will keep their spell books. They cannot select new/different spells when levelling up. Any additional spells desired need to be learned through scrolls. All other spell casting classes get to re-select spells on Lesser/Epic Reincarnation. For Heroic, Racial and Iconic Reincarnation, spell books will be fully reset, irrespective of class before and after.
 * 2 Due to Drow racial inherent stat bonuses, reincarnations into Drow will only yield 30 point builds (not 34) on 1st reincarnation and 32 (not 36) on 2nd (and higher) reincarnations.
 * 3 If a character/account has achieved Champion status, non-Drow 28 point builds will become 32 point builds on Lesser/Epic reincarnation, otherwise they will remain 28 point builds
 * 4 Adventurers (28 point builds) who Heroic/Racial/Iconic Reincarnate before the account has achieved Champion (32 point build) status will become 34 point builds on 1st Reincarnation and 36 point builds on 2nd; This applies only to those characters and does not grant Champion status to the entire account for new builds if it has not been earned or bought.
 * 5 Reaper XP is not lost during any Reincarnation, but persists and accumulates through every successive life of the character.