Ability Damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ability Damage [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
NightOwl
06-22-06, 01:33 PM I'm looking for ideas on a PC who does ability damage. Does anyone know of a character build who specializes in ability damage and is in turn immune to ability damage?

Thx in advance.
NightOwl
06-22-06, 08:17 PM :bump:
lostone
06-23-06, 01:44 PM I know I've seen people use the Wounding weapon enhancement combined with something from BoVD (bonegrinding maybe?) to get a total of 3 Con per hit damage. They get two short swords and TWF and can easilly kill someone in a single round.

As for being immune to it, that's usually a tougher trick. I know the Voidmind template (+3 LA, from MM3) does it, as does any undead type (but undead opens you up to turning/rebuking). If you're looking for a low LA method though, the Necropolitan template in Libris Mortis is probably the best bet for being immune to ability damage. Or Binders can bind a vestige that gives them what is basically ability damage fast healing (heal 1 ability point per round). I don't remember what level that is at though, I think it might actually be available with a 1 level dip.
Naanomi
06-23-06, 03:27 PM There is also a psionic feat that lets you expend focus to do con damage (Wounding Attack, expanded psionics). Marrowcrushing enchant is only 1 con, but I think there is a greater wounding enchant in one of the books as well... you can use poison to good effect as well, there are several good con damaging poisons in various sourced (which could be made even better with a poisonmaster prestige class... anyone recall which Dragon that is in?)

Edit: Nevermind on greater wounding, it is a bloodloss enchant for damage over time, not a con damage like normal wounding. Puts us at 2con per attack + 1/con round with the right psionics build + poison damage (probably 1d6 con from a natural poison, or maybe 1d8 from truevenom weapon if you continue a psionics theme).
NightOwl
06-23-06, 03:40 PM Thanks for those ideas.

Are there any ideas out there for other ability damaging? For instance, some fighters have huge Con or Str and sometimes low Int or Wis. I'm looking for ideas for a PC who is capable in doing any of all 6 ability damage.
Naanomi
06-23-06, 04:06 PM Other abilities are not as easy to down in my experiance, though there is a ray of enfeeblement type spell for alot of stats in the various splatbook... and of course there is a poison for every ability type I am fairly certian. I fully agree with other abilities being good to damage though, my personal favorite being dexterity (many monsters that are otherwise very scary have weaknesses in that area, I've seen a great wyrm red dragon go down to an unlucky save against a summoned collosal centipede)
Prominence
06-23-06, 04:08 PM Druid, wizard, and clerics are pretty good at it.
Innervation
06-23-06, 04:18 PM Master of shrouds (LM) gets you minions to drain [str or con, mostly] pretty early in the game. You could take some of the other undead feats, divine spells and abilities to get immunities from there.

Or

Incarnum Bladestorm is a 7th-lvl arcane spell that does amazing wisdom damage, Shivering Touches (frostburn) kills dex, and there are plenty other spells that drain and protect if you want to take the caster route.
hogarth
06-23-06, 04:58 PM Thanks for those ideas.

Are there any ideas out there for other ability damaging? For instance, some fighters have huge Con or Str and sometimes low Int or Wis. I'm looking for ideas for a PC who is capable in doing any of all 6 ability damage.
Polymorph into a Phthisic (1d4 Int damage per bite). Use Summon Undead to churn out a bunch of Allips (1d4 Wis drain per touch). Cast Phantasmal Assailants (from Spell Compendium).
Selquist
06-23-06, 05:10 PM the Justiciar PrC gets crippling strike - 1 str dmg per hit on targets denied their dex to ac

Bloodhound gets crippling strike on their mark - 2 str dmg per hit

The Thayan Slaver gets crippling strike - 1 str dmg when damaging an opponent with sneak attack

Also the rogue can get the crippling strike ability - 2 str dmg when damaging an opponent with sneak attack

Probably more out there, but these are the ones I remember
kalstrand
06-23-06, 06:07 PM They updated Greater Wounding in the 3.5 Update Booklet to be a +4 equivalent enchantment that does 2 Con damage per hit.

Sheltered Vitality from either Libris Mortis or the Spell Compendium will make you immune to ability damage.
Tath
06-23-06, 07:37 PM Do Wounding and Greater Wounding stack?

+1 Splitting, Wounding, Greater Wounding longbow would be the best weapon ever.

Rapid Shot + Haste = 36 con damage per full attack? I'll take it.

Throw some +1 Spellstoring arrows in with Poison cast on them.....ouch
SavageTard
06-23-06, 11:21 PM Just looking at some various spells that do ability damage:

Chill Touch - 1 Str
Poison - d10 Con
Mind Poison (SpComp) - d10 Wis
Ray of Enfeeblement - d6+(1-5) Str
Touch of Idiocy - d6 Int, Cha, Wis

And those are just off the top of my head, without searching through splatbooks.
LiamDeclan
06-23-06, 11:42 PM Just looking at some various spells that do ability damage:

Chill Touch - 1 Str
Poison - d10 Con
Mind Poison (SpComp) - d10 Wis
Ray of Enfeeblement - d6+(1-5) Str
Touch of Idiocy - d6 Int, Cha, Wis

And those are just off the top of my head, without searching through splatbooks.

Ray of Enfeeblement and Touch of Idiocy only do penalties not Damage.
Chill touch, mind poison and poison all get saves to negate the spell.
Shivering Touch does 3d6 dex damage with no save :eek:

Soulknife the class gets to do Int, Wis or Cha damage at 13th level.
Nezkrul
06-24-06, 05:51 AM Moonbolt from the Spell compendium does 1d4 str damage / 3 caster levels (max 5d4) fort save for half - to living creatures, against undead it causes a knock-out effect. Can you imagine this scenario: Intensifed Twinned Chained Moonbolt crit... ewww....

Construct creature type is immune to ability damage as well. You can use summon monster spells to summon creatures that have ability damaging attacks/abilities too.
Phaxi
06-24-06, 10:01 AM there's the rattlesnake strike feat from sandstorm too that does 1d3 con damage.
Pinky's brain
06-24-06, 11:37 AM You really want to be able to deal both physical and mental ability damage, since undead are rather common opponents.

The artificer is the master of ray of stupidity use ... but an enlightened fist could also work pretty well with arms of plenty, girallon's arms and spellflower active.
NightOwl
06-25-06, 12:11 PM Those are some great ideas and going to give me a lot of research. So in your minds, are spellcasters (ie dr, cl, so, wi) better at ability damage than psionic characters (ie soulknife, psion)?
RD_Imperialist
06-25-06, 12:25 PM ego whip is the best. Two manifestations should take down anything without ridiculous CHA. Augments up to 5d4, 6d4 with overchannel, and you can do even better with metapsionics. Without metapsionics, thats an average of 15 CHA. No fighter has 15 CHA. Most paladins don't. Or wizards, or druids. Only clerics (shivering touch would be best vs. them) and sorcerers (strength drain) would merit a different ability.
NightOwl
06-27-06, 12:25 AM Granted that Ego Whip may be the best, which psychic class will produce the best result with that. A telepath or wilder?
FiestFan
06-27-06, 11:04 PM I'd go with Wilder, for slightly better durability and ultimately more uses if you're limiting your Powers to those that do Ability Damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
NightOwl 06-22-06, 01:33 PM	I'm looking for ideas on a PC who does ability damage. Does anyone know of a character build who specializes in ability damage and is in turn immune to ability damage? Thx in advance.
NightOwl 06-22-06, 08:17 PM	:bump:
lostone 06-23-06, 01:44 PM	I know I've seen people use the Wounding weapon enhancement combined with something from BoVD (bonegrinding maybe?) to get a total of 3 Con per hit damage. They get two short swords and TWF and can easilly kill someone in a single round. As for being immune to it, that's usually a tougher trick. I know the Voidmind template (+3 LA, from MM3) does it, as does any undead type (but undead opens you up to turning/rebuking). If you're looking for a low LA method though, the Necropolitan template in Libris Mortis is probably the best bet for being immune to ability damage. Or Binders can bind a vestige that gives them what is basically ability damage fast healing (heal 1 ability point per round). I don't remember what level that is at though, I think it might actually be available with a 1 level dip.
Naanomi 06-23-06, 03:27 PM	There is also a psionic feat that lets you expend focus to do con damage (Wounding Attack, expanded psionics). Marrowcrushing enchant is only 1 con, but I think there is a greater wounding enchant in one of the books as well... you can use poison to good effect as well, there are several good con damaging poisons in various sourced (which could be made even better with a poisonmaster prestige class... anyone recall which Dragon that is in?) Edit: Nevermind on greater wounding, it is a bloodloss enchant for damage over time, not a con damage like normal wounding. Puts us at 2con per attack + 1/con round with the right psionics build + poison damage (probably 1d6 con from a natural poison, or maybe 1d8 from truevenom weapon if you continue a psionics theme).
NightOwl 06-23-06, 03:40 PM	Thanks for those ideas. Are there any ideas out there for other ability damaging? For instance, some fighters have huge Con or Str and sometimes low Int or Wis. I'm looking for ideas for a PC who is capable in doing any of all 6 ability damage.
Naanomi 06-23-06, 04:06 PM	Other abilities are not as easy to down in my experiance, though there is a ray of enfeeblement type spell for alot of stats in the various splatbook... and of course there is a poison for every ability type I am fairly certian. I fully agree with other abilities being good to damage though, my personal favorite being dexterity (many monsters that are otherwise very scary have weaknesses in that area, I've seen a great wyrm red dragon go down to an unlucky save against a summoned collosal centipede)
Prominence 06-23-06, 04:08 PM	Druid, wizard, and clerics are pretty good at it.
Innervation 06-23-06, 04:18 PM	Master of shrouds (LM) gets you minions to drain [str or con, mostly] pretty early in the game. You could take some of the other undead feats, divine spells and abilities to get immunities from there. Or Incarnum Bladestorm is a 7th-lvl arcane spell that does amazing wisdom damage, Shivering Touches (frostburn) kills dex, and there are plenty other spells that drain and protect if you want to take the caster route.
hogarth 06-23-06, 04:58 PM	Thanks for those ideas. Are there any ideas out there for other ability damaging? For instance, some fighters have huge Con or Str and sometimes low Int or Wis. I'm looking for ideas for a PC who is capable in doing any of all 6 ability damage. Polymorph into a Phthisic (1d4 Int damage per bite). Use Summon Undead to churn out a bunch of Allips (1d4 Wis drain per touch). Cast Phantasmal Assailants (from Spell Compendium).
Selquist 06-23-06, 05:10 PM	the Justiciar PrC gets crippling strike - 1 str dmg per hit on targets denied their dex to ac Bloodhound gets crippling strike on their mark - 2 str dmg per hit The Thayan Slaver gets crippling strike - 1 str dmg when damaging an opponent with sneak attack Also the rogue can get the crippling strike ability - 2 str dmg when damaging an opponent with sneak attack Probably more out there, but these are the ones I remember
kalstrand 06-23-06, 06:07 PM	They updated Greater Wounding in the 3.5 Update Booklet to be a +4 equivalent enchantment that does 2 Con damage per hit. Sheltered Vitality from either Libris Mortis or the Spell Compendium will make you immune to ability damage.
Tath 06-23-06, 07:37 PM	Do Wounding and Greater Wounding stack? +1 Splitting, Wounding, Greater Wounding longbow would be the best weapon ever. Rapid Shot + Haste = 36 con damage per full attack? I'll take it. Throw some +1 Spellstoring arrows in with Poison cast on them.....ouch
SavageTard 06-23-06, 11:21 PM	Just looking at some various spells that do ability damage: Chill Touch - 1 Str Poison - d10 Con Mind Poison (SpComp) - d10 Wis Ray of Enfeeblement - d6+(1-5) Str Touch of Idiocy - d6 Int, Cha, Wis And those are just off the top of my head, without searching through splatbooks.
LiamDeclan 06-23-06, 11:42 PM	Just looking at some various spells that do ability damage: Chill Touch - 1 Str Poison - d10 Con Mind Poison (SpComp) - d10 Wis Ray of Enfeeblement - d6+(1-5) Str Touch of Idiocy - d6 Int, Cha, Wis And those are just off the top of my head, without searching through splatbooks. Ray of Enfeeblement and Touch of Idiocy only do penalties not Damage. Chill touch, mind poison and poison all get saves to negate the spell. Shivering Touch does 3d6 dex damage with no save :eek: Soulknife the class gets to do Int, Wis or Cha damage at 13th level.
Nezkrul 06-24-06, 05:51 AM	Moonbolt from the Spell compendium does 1d4 str damage / 3 caster levels (max 5d4) fort save for half - to living creatures, against undead it causes a knock-out effect. Can you imagine this scenario: Intensifed Twinned Chained Moonbolt crit... ewww.... Construct creature type is immune to ability damage as well. You can use summon monster spells to summon creatures that have ability damaging attacks/abilities too.
Phaxi 06-24-06, 10:01 AM	there's the rattlesnake strike feat from sandstorm too that does 1d3 con damage.
Pinky's brain 06-24-06, 11:37 AM	You really want to be able to deal both physical and mental ability damage, since undead are rather common opponents. The artificer is the master of ray of stupidity use ... but an enlightened fist could also work pretty well with arms of plenty, girallon's arms and spellflower active.
NightOwl 06-25-06, 12:11 PM	Those are some great ideas and going to give me a lot of research. So in your minds, are spellcasters (ie dr, cl, so, wi) better at ability damage than psionic characters (ie soulknife, psion)?
RD_Imperialist 06-25-06, 12:25 PM	ego whip is the best. Two manifestations should take down anything without ridiculous CHA. Augments up to 5d4, 6d4 with overchannel, and you can do even better with metapsionics. Without metapsionics, thats an average of 15 CHA. No fighter has 15 CHA. Most paladins don't. Or wizards, or druids. Only clerics (shivering touch would be best vs. them) and sorcerers (strength drain) would merit a different ability.
NightOwl 06-27-06, 12:25 AM	Granted that Ego Whip may be the best, which psychic class will produce the best result with that. A telepath or wilder?
FiestFan 06-27-06, 11:04 PM	I'd go with Wilder, for slightly better durability and ultimately more uses if you're limiting your Powers to those that do Ability Damage.