Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rerednaw 12-27-04, 10:24 PM	The reason why I was asking this is due to the fact that you run into ability drain a long time before you can defend or even heal it. Examples: Allip: 1d4 wisdom drain (touch attack), CR 3. Lamia: 1d4 wisdom drain (touch attack), CR 6. Wraith: 1d6 constitution drain (touch attack), Fort negates, DC 14. CR 5. The wisdom drain from the Allip and Lamia has no save. Also it is very likely that an Allip will go first as it has Improved Initiative. Now what defenses are available to an inconic party of levels 3, 5 or 6? Let's see: Don't get hit (difficult against non-corporeal creatures with perfect), also moderately difficult to raise your touch AC at low levels. Saving throw (there are a few spells, but this only helps against wraiths.) Go before the mobs and kill or otherwise negotiate with them before? How about healing? Restoration, Level 4 spell, 100 gp (diamond dust) per heal. Generally, not available unless you have 'magic shops' or 'healing temples' in your game. And it is very costly if you are running standard wealth. I can see a lucky cleric turning the undead. But against the lamia? Any thoughts on how to deal with ability drain at low levels?
Bringslite 12-27-04, 10:42 PM	Well, keep in mind that abilitiy drain heals at 1 point per 8 hours of rest and 2 for a full day of bed rest IIRC. So even though a drainer is dangerous, keep the numbers down and a party of appropriate challenge rating should be able to handle it. Also make it part of your BBEG battle, hopefully at the end of the adventure. The party may be in need of that bed rest after an encounter with drainers. Other than that they should be able to handle it. At the correct CR.
Cantankerous 12-27-04, 11:05 PM	Exactly. if you're not just throwing encounters at the PC's to be throwing encounters at them, even the iconic (good word ;) ) 3rd level party isn't out of luck. They may have to make tough choices, between pressing on and healing up, but that's part and parcel of the heroic life. Isshia
wildduck 12-27-04, 11:07 PM	Well, keep in mind that abilitiy drain heals at 1 point per 8 hours of rest and 2 for a full day of bed rest IIRC. So even though a drainer is dangerous, keep the numbers down and a party of appropriate challenge rating should be able to handle it. Also make it part of your BBEG battle, hopefully at the end of the adventure. The party may be in need of that bed rest after an encounter with drainers. Bringslite, you are thinking of ability damage, not ability drain. Sadly a low level party has little defense against something like an Allip. My personal advice (unless you just want to be cruel) is to only use these baddies in situations where the party knows about them in advance (e.g. there is said to be and old warriors sword in that mausoleum, but nobody every goes in there because it is guarded by a wraith) or give them someway around it (e.g. they encounter an Lamia, but instead of just fighting them it tries to negotiate something, etc.). This way if the players run headlong into the battle, at least they were warned. If, like my players, they just say "Bring It ON!" well then 'bring it' , they knew what they were getting into. Wildduck
Dash Branaghan 12-27-04, 11:07 PM	Well, keep in mind that abilitiy drain heals at 1 point per 8 hours of rest and 2 for a full day of bed rest IIRC. I had posted an addendum to incorporate Long Term Care, but Cantankerous noticed the difference between ability drain and ability damage, which is accurate. Ability drain does not come back without restoration or some other magic. Dash
Cantankerous 12-27-04, 11:19 PM	I had posted an addendum to incorporate Long Term Care, but Cantankerous noticed the difference between ability drain and ability damage, which is accurate. Ability drain does not come back without restoration or some other magic. Dash No actually I missed it too Dash. The heads up goes to Wildduck. Good save Wild. Isshia
Dash Branaghan 12-27-04, 11:26 PM	Sorry to Wildduck...kudos for catching it. Damn you for taking the same avatar as Cantankerous. Now I have to pay attention to the name beside it. :D Dash
Bringslite 12-27-04, 11:33 PM	Ouch! Bows to esteemed DM's. :)
wildduck 12-28-04, 12:26 AM	Heh, no prob Dash, You, Cantankerous and I just have the good taste to pick avatars from 1st edition books.
Dash Branaghan 12-28-04, 01:07 AM	Heh, no prob Dash, You, Cantankerous and I just have the good taste to pick avatars from 1st edition books. I used to have that same avatar as you...I have both of the books with the avatars we are using (plus the two other 1st ed PHBs). Dash
Cantankerous 12-28-04, 06:52 PM	When I saw this avatar all those old first edition (second version... the City of Brass cover was my original one, but I had to get a second and then a third DMG because I'm a sucker for spending too much money on back ups) I got that old nostalga so strong it nearly floored me. I hadn't seen this pic in better than a decade and a half and just couldn't pass it up, even if it was taken before I got here. Isshia