Energy Drain - when do you save?


Rules Questions

The Exchange

When you get hit by a wight or a vampire slam, do you get to save against their energy drain? Or is the effect just so foul that it gives you the negative level with no save and then you save at the end of the day, or both?


From the Universal Monster Rules:

Universal Monster Rules wrote:

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 bestows twice the listed number of negative levels. Unless otherwise specified in the creature’s description, a draining creature gains 5 temporary hit points for each negative level it bestows on an opponent. These temporary hit points last for a maximum of 1 hour. 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 the draining creature’s racial HD + the 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 becomes permanent. A separate saving throw is required for each negative level.

Format: energy drain (2 levels, DC 18); Location: Special Attacks and individual attacks.

You save at the end of the day, but when you get hit, you get the negative levels, they are just that foul.

Bear in mind, though, that negative levels have changed a bit. Here is their section:

Quote:
For each negative level a creature has, it takes a cumulative –1 penalty on all ability checks, attack rolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat Maneuver Defense, saving throws, and skill checks. In addition, the creature reduces its current and total hit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses. The creature is also treated as one level lower for the purpose of level-dependent variables (such as spellcasting) for each negative level possessed. Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slots as a result of negative levels. If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies.

So you don't lose casting if you get negative leveled. They are pretty nasty, though, and better avoided if possible.


Waffle_Neutral wrote:
When you get hit by a wight or a vampire slam, do you get to save against their energy drain? Or is the effect just so foul that it gives you the negative level with no save and then you save at the end of the day, or both?

When you are hit you immediately take one or more temporary negative levels depending on the creature--no save.

After 24 hours, if the negative levels have not be removed you must make fortitude saving throw or the negative levels become permanent.

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