Energy Drain and Death [Archive] - Wizards Community

Energy Drain and Death [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Cuindless
02-13-08, 07:54 PM When a character has negative levels, such as those incurred by a vampire's slam attack, then dies due to hit point damage, what happens when they are raised or resurrected? Do those negative levels convert to actual level loss, or do they disappear when the spell is cast? Please direct me to sources as well.
Ace_of_time
02-14-08, 12:41 AM Energy Drain (Su): This attack saps a living opponent’s vital energy and happens automatically when a melee or ranged attack hits. Each successful energy drain bestows one or more negative levels (the creature’s description specifies how many). If an attack that includes an energy drain scores a critical hit, it drains twice the given amount. Unless otherwise specified in the creature’s description, a draining creature gains 5 temporary hit points (10 on a critical hit) for each negative level it bestows on an opponent. These temporary hit points last for a maximum of 1 hour. An affected opponent takes a –1 penalty on all skill checks and ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws, and loses one effective level or Hit Die (whenever level is used in a die roll or calculation) for each negative level. A spellcaster loses one spell slot of the highest level of spells she can cast and (if applicable) one prepared spell of that level; this loss persists until the negative level is removed. Negative levels remain until 24 hours have passed or until they are removed with a spell, such as restoration. If a negative level is not removed before 24 hours have passed, the affected creature must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 draining creature’s racial HD + draining creature’s Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). On a success, the negative level goes away with no harm to the creature. On a failure, the negative level goes away, but the creature’s level is also reduced by one. A separate saving throw is required for each negative level. So unless the spell used says it has a restoration effect he would have to still wait 24 hours or use magic to restore the neg levels.
Cuindless
02-14-08, 03:35 PM But resurrection and raise dead both take away a level anyway. Let me break this down into an example:

13th level dwarven wizard gets attacked by a vampire and takes 2 negative levels. The vampires henchmen then reduce the wizard to -17 hit points, killing him. He then gets raised using raise dead. What leve is he now? 12th with 2 negative levels? 12th with 1 negative level? 11th level period? 10th level?

This post also doesn't seem to be generating many replies, so I'm going to cross post it.
Ace_of_time
02-14-08, 04:48 PM He would be 12th level with 2 neg levels when raised. 24 hours after the neg levels were gained, if he has restored them with magic, he would roll saves to get them back. If he fails then he would be 10 level. There is the chance that the 24 hours are up before the PC is raised. I would rule that the time started when he was raised but don't know if that part is in the rules.

As to the 2nd thing. Some people think if the queation is to simple they and can be found without posting it they don't reply. I say that's what the boards are here for.
Tedronai
02-14-08, 04:52 PM And if it takes more than 24 hours for him to be res'd? He's not there to attempt the save. You can't fail a save you don't attempt, nor can you succeed, yet that 24 hour point is your only chance, ever, of removing the negative levels without recourse to magic.
Ace_of_time
02-14-08, 05:17 PM If that is the case then they would lose 2 levels after 24 hours of being dead and then another 1 from being raised and would need greater restoration to return the 2 levels.:confused:
mvincent
02-15-08, 11:41 AM And if it takes more than 24 hours for him to be res'd? He's not there to attempt the save.I seem to recall hearing about this before. You can:
1) Have him make the saves once resurrected
2) Have his soul (or body) make the saves immediately, then apply them once resurrected
Ace_of_time
02-16-08, 01:02 AM That would not be as bad. The other way just seems like the DM is being mean. (To players)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Cuindless 02-13-08, 07:54 PM	When a character has negative levels, such as those incurred by a vampire's slam attack, then dies due to hit point damage, what happens when they are raised or resurrected? Do those negative levels convert to actual level loss, or do they disappear when the spell is cast? Please direct me to sources as well.
Ace_of_time 02-14-08, 12:41 AM	Energy Drain (Su): This attack saps a living opponent’s vital energy and happens automatically when a melee or ranged attack hits. Each successful energy drain bestows one or more negative levels (the creature’s description specifies how many). If an attack that includes an energy drain scores a critical hit, it drains twice the given amount. Unless otherwise specified in the creature’s description, a draining creature gains 5 temporary hit points (10 on a critical hit) for each negative level it bestows on an opponent. These temporary hit points last for a maximum of 1 hour. An affected opponent takes a –1 penalty on all skill checks and ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws, and loses one effective level or Hit Die (whenever level is used in a die roll or calculation) for each negative level. A spellcaster loses one spell slot of the highest level of spells she can cast and (if applicable) one prepared spell of that level; this loss persists until the negative level is removed. Negative levels remain until 24 hours have passed or until they are removed with a spell, such as restoration. If a negative level is not removed before 24 hours have passed, the affected creature must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 draining creature’s racial HD + draining creature’s Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). On a success, the negative level goes away with no harm to the creature. On a failure, the negative level goes away, but the creature’s level is also reduced by one. A separate saving throw is required for each negative level. So unless the spell used says it has a restoration effect he would have to still wait 24 hours or use magic to restore the neg levels.
Cuindless 02-14-08, 03:35 PM	But resurrection and raise dead both take away a level anyway. Let me break this down into an example: 13th level dwarven wizard gets attacked by a vampire and takes 2 negative levels. The vampires henchmen then reduce the wizard to -17 hit points, killing him. He then gets raised using raise dead. What leve is he now? 12th with 2 negative levels? 12th with 1 negative level? 11th level period? 10th level? This post also doesn't seem to be generating many replies, so I'm going to cross post it.
Ace_of_time 02-14-08, 04:48 PM	He would be 12th level with 2 neg levels when raised. 24 hours after the neg levels were gained, if he has restored them with magic, he would roll saves to get them back. If he fails then he would be 10 level. There is the chance that the 24 hours are up before the PC is raised. I would rule that the time started when he was raised but don't know if that part is in the rules. As to the 2nd thing. Some people think if the queation is to simple they and can be found without posting it they don't reply. I say that's what the boards are here for.
Tedronai 02-14-08, 04:52 PM	And if it takes more than 24 hours for him to be res'd? He's not there to attempt the save. You can't fail a save you don't attempt, nor can you succeed, yet that 24 hour point is your only chance, ever, of removing the negative levels without recourse to magic.
Ace_of_time 02-14-08, 05:17 PM	If that is the case then they would lose 2 levels after 24 hours of being dead and then another 1 from being raised and would need greater restoration to return the 2 levels.:confused:
mvincent 02-15-08, 11:41 AM	And if it takes more than 24 hours for him to be res'd? He's not there to attempt the save.I seem to recall hearing about this before. You can: 1) Have him make the saves once resurrected 2) Have his soul (or body) make the saves immediately, then apply them once resurrected
Ace_of_time 02-16-08, 01:02 AM	That would not be as bad. The other way just seems like the DM is being mean. (To players)