Undead and ability penalties [Archive] - Wizards Community

Undead and ability penalties [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tasslehoff220
07-06-07, 04:10 PM According to the SRD Undead are "Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution),"

I don't have my books on me but I would guess the wording is the same.

Does damage to its ability scores mean something different from ability damage?

I ask because ray of enfeeblement working on undead just conceptually seems stupid to me. As does ray of clumbsiness (Spell compendium) to a lesser extent.

I know I can just say they don't work if I want but I want to know if there is anywhere in the rules or errata that say undead areimmune to ability penalties to their ability scores rather than just damage to their ability scores.

thanks in advance
Kuronue
07-06-07, 04:53 PM Damage to ability scores would = ability damage, but I'd consider it a good houserule that penalties to ability scores also count.
Neutronium_Dragon
07-06-07, 10:59 PM An ability penalty is not the same thing as ability damage, so immunity to the latter doesn't protect you from the former.
Mystic Lemur
07-07-07, 12:30 PM Also, if ray of enfeeblement uses negative energy it would act like a better bull's strength to undead.

OTOH, if it's a necromancy spell (which I think it is), it doesn't affect undead anyway, does it?
Marcus Majarra
07-07-07, 12:58 PM Undead have no special immunity against necromancy effects, although a good number of necromancy effects are either death effects or require a Fort save (or both), against which undead are immune.

Undead are free game for ray of enfeeblement.
Leilond
07-09-07, 03:41 AM Also, if ray of enfeeblement uses negative energy it would act like a better bull's strength to undead.

OTOH, if it's a necromancy spell (which I think it is), it doesn't affect undead anyway, does it?

Wrong. Nowhere is written nothing like that.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tasslehoff220 07-06-07, 04:10 PM	According to the SRD Undead are "Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution)," I don't have my books on me but I would guess the wording is the same. Does damage to its ability scores mean something different from ability damage? I ask because ray of enfeeblement working on undead just conceptually seems stupid to me. As does ray of clumbsiness (Spell compendium) to a lesser extent. I know I can just say they don't work if I want but I want to know if there is anywhere in the rules or errata that say undead areimmune to ability penalties to their ability scores rather than just damage to their ability scores. thanks in advance
Kuronue 07-06-07, 04:53 PM	Damage to ability scores would = ability damage, but I'd consider it a good houserule that penalties to ability scores also count.
Neutronium_Dragon 07-06-07, 10:59 PM	An ability penalty is not the same thing as ability damage, so immunity to the latter doesn't protect you from the former.
Mystic Lemur 07-07-07, 12:30 PM	Also, if ray of enfeeblement uses negative energy it would act like a better bull's strength to undead. OTOH, if it's a necromancy spell (which I think it is), it doesn't affect undead anyway, does it?
Marcus Majarra 07-07-07, 12:58 PM	Undead have no special immunity against necromancy effects, although a good number of necromancy effects are either death effects or require a Fort save (or both), against which undead are immune. Undead are free game for ray of enfeeblement.
Leilond 07-09-07, 03:41 AM	Also, if ray of enfeeblement uses negative energy it would act like a better bull's strength to undead. OTOH, if it's a necromancy spell (which I think it is), it doesn't affect undead anyway, does it? Wrong. Nowhere is written nothing like that.