Post/Author/DateTime	Post
blargney the second 06-20-07, 02:16 PM	Fell Drain is a metamagic feat in Libris Mortis. Someone who takes damage from a Fell Draining spell also takes a negative level. If used with chill touch, do you do the negative level every round? -blarg
tarkin 06-20-07, 03:56 PM	Fell drain is clear, it is once per victim spell, not once per victim every time you take damage. It does not say every time or each time, it says any one that is damaged gains a negative level. So it does not matter how many times you do the damage with that particular spell, you still only gain a single negative level. It works well on area spells, not so good on an Acid Arrow spell.
cwslyclgh 06-20-07, 04:05 PM	I agree with tarkin about fell drain being once per victim per spell.
blargney the second 06-21-07, 01:33 PM	Shoot. I was gonna have some fun with that one! :)
Father Dale 06-21-07, 03:11 PM	Fell drain magic missiles against multiple targets is pretty nifty.
Unknowntyper 06-27-07, 05:51 PM	The "grammar" could be read to assume the targets gain a negative level every time the take damage from the fell draining spell. Basically; you think it through like this: "you alter a spell that deals damage to foes so that any living creature that is dealt damage also gains a negative level" Fell drain X (where X is a damage dealing spell), The spell is cast at the target and you ask this question "were you damaged by the spell X?" Yes = 1 negative level No = No negative level Fell Drain Y (where Y is a damage dealing spell, w/ additional damage /round) The spell is cast at the target and you ask this question "were you damaged by the spell Y?" Yes = 1 negative level No = No negative level Next round begins and you ask this question "were you damaged by the spell Y?" Yes = 1 negative level No = No negative level This makes perfect sense and is not grammatically refutable. However; There is a blatant glaring intent in this feat's text. It appears to me that the feat was intended to cause one negative level per target per spell. It falls under the "you know what I mean" clause. Logically; the multiple negative level form is amazingly powerful and almost ridiculous. But if you are arguing the text; the line in question is "...any living creature that is dealt damage also gains a negative level". So it is true that it could NEVER be that two or more negative levels are gained from one round of damage, but this idea that grammatically, the prepositional phrase "every time" is needed is also ridiculous. Having it say "... EVERY TIME any living creature is dealt damage FROM THE SPELL it also gains a negative level" would make the spell irrefutably strong and end the argument, but so would having it say "... any living creature that is dealt damage also gains a negative level FROM THAT SPELL ONCE". So, even though I believe that it was meant to be used the "lighter way", I have to concede that there is a strong argument for the "Heavy way" to use the feat. Regardless of how obvious it seems to you it is not, unfortunately, grammatically certain to the point of being irrefutably one way or the other. So ultimately it is up to the DM's discretion. Really though, it is implied that it a negative level is gained to any living creatures damaged by the spell PERIOD. Think of it like an umbrella that covers all forms of damage (Damage, damage over time, etcetera), its whether it damaged the target, not how. So did the spell damage you? Yes? Okay lets move on. On an other note, it makes cantrips hellishly powerful... if you manage to hit a level 20 anything 20 times with ray of frost, it dies, period. So Sorcerers get a nice boost from it either way. A nice time stop and multiple Fell drain spells would easily murder at higher levels, hell even if the fighter survives bonk him with your staff, he has few hp and less strength than you. Hope this helps.