Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Prom 06-22-07, 09:24 PM	Hi All, I have a question about the Dragon Shaman energy shield aura. The PHB2 states that any creature striking the Shaman or any ally with natural or non-reach melee weapons is dealt energy damage. So if an NPC attacks the Shaman or ally with more than one attack in the same round, does the NPC recieve extra damage from the energy shield? Example: Hydra attacks Dragon Shaman with six heads all heads hit and cause damage to the Shaman, does the Hydra get damaged 6 times from the energy shield? Prom
Nom 06-22-07, 09:56 PM	Yes.
pukunui 06-23-07, 05:59 PM	Hey Prom, I see you've already started asking for help on rules matters. You might get more responses if you ask this question in the Classes forum (and you're allowed to post the same thread in two different forums, in case you didn't know). Cheers, Jonny
Prom 06-24-07, 12:25 AM	Hi All, Ok, Pukunui. I have another question. If a Dragon Shaman gets hit by 6 attacks in one round by the same hydra that kill's him is there any damage effect from the energy shield to the Hydra? Or do you have to work out how many attacks struck before the Dragon Shaman is unconscious, to find out how many times the energy shield damaged the Hydra? Prom
pukunui 06-24-07, 12:41 AM	Being the DM who was running the hydra in question, my answer could probably be considered biased, but I'll give it a go anyway ... I would rule that the six heads all struck simultaneously. There might be one or two heads that are a little faster than the others, but there's no way you'd be able to differentiate that sort of thing within the current rules. So the answer would be: the energy shield either activates for all hits or for none of them.
Nom 06-24-07, 01:23 AM	By PH pg 143, multiple attacks are always sequential, and you can see how each turns out before assigning the next. Hyrdas are a slightly odd case, since they can make multiple attacks as a standard (as opposed to full round) action. However, I see no reason to apply an exception. Therefore, RAW, you would fully resolve each attack (including the effects of any damage, such as the aura going away) before moving on to the next. If the DM chose to resolve all the attacks "at once" and thus your PC either suffered overkill or dealt energy damage that he strictly shouldn't have, I wouldn't recommend complaining too loudly. Side point: note that if the attacker had energy resistance then they will likely take no damage since the resistance will apply to the energy for each hit.
pukunui 06-24-07, 04:35 AM	By PH pg 143, multiple attacks are always sequential, and you can see how each turns out before assigning the next. Hyrdas are a slightly odd case, since they can make multiple attacks as a standard (as opposed to full round) action. However, I see no reason to apply an exception.That might be so, but I have to say I can't really picture a hydra attacking with one head after another. All the heads would lunge together and strike together (assuming they all hit, of course). Just thinking in terms of in-game visual effects. I personally feel that it would be micromanaging the game a little too much to have to figure out which of several heads on a particular monster struck the PC first. It's easier if the PC is being struck several times with the same weapon but not so easy with a monster that has several heads attacking all at once. Just my thoughts.
primemover003 06-24-07, 08:55 AM	I agree with Nom, you have to resolve each hit to determine when the Shamans Aura goes down (when they become unconscious). Before that time the Hydra takes Energy damage. I do have to say that Energy Shield is quite a useful aura...
Nom 06-24-07, 11:17 AM	That might be so, but I have to say I can't really picture a hydra attacking with one head after another. ... I personally feel that it would be micromanaging the game a little too much to have to figure out which of several heads on a particular monster struck the PC first.Quite possibly. It's not in any way "wrong" to do it as you suggest, especially if it makes your game work better. It's merely not in accordance with the rules. The OP asked for a rules interpretation. How your group does it is up to you (plural).
pukunui 06-24-07, 04:10 PM	OK, well, that's interesting to know. I don't think it would have changed the outcome of the encounter much. The hydra would have taken a bit more damage, maybe enough to kill it sooner, but not enough to save the dragon shaman. He was more or less doomed when the hydra finally hit with more than two heads ... :rolleyes:
GrondGala 06-27-07, 02:01 AM	Hydra has six attacks. Hits the Dragon Shaman 5 times, after which he drops, then attacks another party member. Hydra would take the energy shield damage for each of his hits on the DS, INCLUDING the one that dropped him (he was conscious when the attack hit). When the hydra lands his last attack, the DS is dead/unconscious, so he would NOT take energy shield damage for that attack.