Is this an error? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Is this an error? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
LeeAlucard
12-31-07, 06:22 PM When I read the Monster Manual, it stated that the vampire's Blood Drain attack causes 1d4 Constitution drain. From what I read in the Monster Manual, ability drain is supposed to be permanent, yet I would think that losing Constitution from blood loss would be temporary, since blood is replenished naturally, albeit slowly.

Do they instead mean Constitution damage?
Sildatorak
12-31-07, 06:51 PM Nope. The vampire is doing more than just taking your blood, it is sapping your vital essence as it does so.
LeeAlucard
12-31-07, 07:20 PM It doesn't say that, though, it merely says that it is draining blood. If it was sapping life force or "vital essence," it would be using its Energy Drain attack, would it not?
Sildatorak
12-31-07, 07:34 PM I've always just imagined it to be drain to fit with the folklore of vampire victims gradually weakening as if affected by some sickness they couldn't recover from. Describing it as draining vital life force, etc, is just my fluff added on to the crunch to make it fit with real world folklore.
Evil DM Mk3
01-01-08, 03:19 PM First rule of second tier DMing: If the fluff or description does not fit the mechanic take the chance to add flavour and justify it. They are not gaps they are room for decoration.

So well done Sildatorak.
Kouk
01-01-08, 07:10 PM First rule of second tier DMing: If the fluff or description does not fit the mechanic take the chance to add flavour and justify it. They are not gaps they are room for decoration.

So well done Sildatorak.

I agree. You can "justify" about anything in this world after all...
Many times you have to apply your own fluff for mechanics that don't make "sense" and have not been errata'd.

If you can't think of a good explanation for something your players ask you in D&D, some stock answers are:

1) It's magical in nature.

2) Yes, it is a mystery. Perhaps you might be able to research it more later.

3) I'll look it up for next time.

4) It's magical in nature.
weasel0
01-03-08, 09:34 PM It's the same thing, only it sounds different.

4) A wizard did it.
Kuronue
01-04-08, 11:11 PM huh, in my game I changed it to damage. But then, I was throwing vampires at them at rather low levels and wanted to nerf them so they'd have a chance.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
LeeAlucard 12-31-07, 06:22 PM	When I read the Monster Manual, it stated that the vampire's Blood Drain attack causes 1d4 Constitution drain. From what I read in the Monster Manual, ability drain is supposed to be permanent, yet I would think that losing Constitution from blood loss would be temporary, since blood is replenished naturally, albeit slowly. Do they instead mean Constitution damage?
Sildatorak 12-31-07, 06:51 PM	Nope. The vampire is doing more than just taking your blood, it is sapping your vital essence as it does so.
LeeAlucard 12-31-07, 07:20 PM	It doesn't say that, though, it merely says that it is draining blood. If it was sapping life force or "vital essence," it would be using its Energy Drain attack, would it not?
Sildatorak 12-31-07, 07:34 PM	I've always just imagined it to be drain to fit with the folklore of vampire victims gradually weakening as if affected by some sickness they couldn't recover from. Describing it as draining vital life force, etc, is just my fluff added on to the crunch to make it fit with real world folklore.
Evil DM Mk3 01-01-08, 03:19 PM	First rule of second tier DMing: If the fluff or description does not fit the mechanic take the chance to add flavour and justify it. They are not gaps they are room for decoration. So well done Sildatorak.
Kouk 01-01-08, 07:10 PM	First rule of second tier DMing: If the fluff or description does not fit the mechanic take the chance to add flavour and justify it. They are not gaps they are room for decoration. So well done Sildatorak. I agree. You can "justify" about anything in this world after all... Many times you have to apply your own fluff for mechanics that don't make "sense" and have not been errata'd. If you can't think of a good explanation for something your players ask you in D&D, some stock answers are: 1) It's magical in nature. 2) Yes, it is a mystery. Perhaps you might be able to research it more later. 3) I'll look it up for next time. 4) It's magical in nature.
weasel0 01-03-08, 09:34 PM	It's the same thing, only it sounds different. 4) A wizard did it.
Kuronue 01-04-08, 11:11 PM	huh, in my game I changed it to damage. But then, I was throwing vampires at them at rather low levels and wanted to nerf them so they'd have a chance.