Is petrification same as disintegration?

[NotaNuffian]

So in the case of D&D, petrification is just a state change and it is still possible to reverse its effect of turning flesh to non-flesh.

However, in the cases where the petrified person/ object has its hit points reduce to zero, ie getting smashed to bits, the person/ object is considered destroyed/ dead. It is the same as when you send someone through the woodchipper.

My question is, ignoring magic mumbo, how is the petrified person still considered alive? Is this like the Captain America popsicle moment and being cryogenically preserved? If so, how does one take into account of the lack of any vitals when even the organs inside are minerals?

Also, in the Medusa case, all the brave men before Perseus that got statued are still considered alive in D&D's case?

What happens when you managed to piece back the broken pieces of the petrified person/ object using either superglue or restoration magic, does it return them back from being dead?

 

[Corty]

Whatever the author decides if it is the same or not. This is fantasy stuff, not the real world. Every story can morph how the author likes it or chooses to implement it. There are no actual rules, only the rules the writer makes.

If the author wants to be extremely evil, they can write petrification, like the locked-in syndrome, with a bit of modification.

Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which there is complete paralysis of all voluntary muscles except for the ones that control the movements of the eyes. Individuals with locked-in syndrome are conscious and awake, but have no ability to produce movements (outside of eye movement) or to speak (aphonia). Cognitive function is usually unaffected. Communication is possible through eye movements or blinking. Locked-in syndrome is caused by damaged to the pons, a part of the brainstem that contains nerve fibers that relay information to other areas of the brain.

So to answer your question, you will get as many answers as there are authors.

 

[Cipiteca396]

My question is, ignoring magic mumbo, how is the petrified person still considered alive?

Petrification is entirely magic mumbo jumbo, so you can't ignore it and get any kind of sensible result.

Most of the time, if you turn someone to stone, they are dead.

When magic is involved, the effect can be temporary. If it's not temporary, magic can be used to revive them.

If some of the skin is turned into stone, but not the whole body, then you could still be alive with a little extra armor. Since stone isn't as flexible as skin, it might crack and peel, but that wouldn't kill you... Even if it sounds awful.

Is this like the Captain America popsicle moment and being cryogenically preserved? If so, how does one take into account of the lack of any vitals when even the organs inside are minerals?

Yes, it is like that.

As for the fossilized organs... They're perfectly preserved. The person inside isn't alive in the technical sense and cannot die, but once magic is introduced, they just go back to normal. It makes more sense than actual healing magic, which generates new tissue/life from nothing.

Also, in the Medusa case, all the brave men before Perseus that got statued are still considered alive in D&D's case?

Actually, yes. As long as high level magic is used to revive them. Although at that point, you might actually have real resurrection magic. Coming back from the dead isn't even as strange as being unpetrified.

What happens when you managed to piece back the broken pieces of the petrified person/ object using either superglue or restoration magic, does it return them back from being dead?

The body needs to be intact. If you use stone to flesh on a shattered statue, you'd end up with bloody chunks of flesh. If you repaired the statue first, then you might get a better result... But you'd probably need some healing magic for sure.

 

[georgelee5786]

I do not believe it is

 

[owotrucked]

Petrification is shrodonger status effect: you're both rock hard and flaccid at the same time.

 

[NotaNuffian]

Petrification is shrodonger status effect: you're both rock hard and flaccid at the same time.

Hard yes, flaccid how?