Risen Martyr Connotations? (DnD 3.5e)

[Venger]

But before that, you were DEAD. And nobody could or would raise you. A player with the dead template is far less powerful than a player who just gained Spiritual Body for free because level 0 is just a placeholder. It isn't a real level.

Well, if that's your metric, then a level in shining blade of heironious is a substantial power boost over being dead. Dying and getting rezd is a normal part of dnd.

Level 0 isn't a placeholder. Look at the chart. It's got ba and saves. You have to take the level like a normal level. It's not a virtual level.