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This is a spin off of this thread where the summoning/binding of Immolation Devils was discussed.
The Immolation devil's Hellfire ability deals half unholy damage. Unholy damage is not defined anywhere I can find (not even unholy blight or an unholy sword deal unholy damage).
Hellfire is also variously defined:
Infernal Duke Pit Fiends can gain a hellfire breath, which deals unholy damage, but it specified to work exactly like flame strike.
Princes of Darkness (not a Rules-line book) defines Hellfire as its own energy type, akin to flame strike, but with some baggage regarding Good and Evil subtypes and protection from evil.
Infernal-bloodline Sorcerers get an ability called Hellfire that merely does fire damage. Similarly the Dumbshow of Garroc says it summons hellfire, but just does fire damage. (These obviously don't bear directly on unholy damage, but they show hellfire is not always exactly the same.)
So how should the Immolation Devil's ability be interpreted?
Is it like the Infernal Duke's ability, and is just flame strike, but known to be from an Evil caster (whereas flame strike needs to accomodate Chaotic, Evil, Good, Lawful, True Neutral and Druidic casters, and so can't say 'holy' or 'unholy'?)
Should it be assumed to work the way Hellfire from Princes of Darkness works, leaving most Evil creatures immune but Good creatures vulnerable?
Hoping this gets clarified. FAQed.
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I treat that as flame strike - untyped damage with descriptive flavor of being caused by pure concentrated evil.
I'll faq it, but I'm under the impression it might be Negative Energy damage.
I'll faq it, but I'm under the impression it might be Negative Energy damage.
I'm curious, what makes you think that? If that were the case, wouldn't it just say that? There's room on the page to say 'negative energy' instead of 'unholy'.
I'd go with the Prince of Darkness definition. I like that a lot more.
I think "Unholy" is the energy type. Basically as a quick way to say "No energy resistance need apply here".
There's "Good divine damage" as well in the books that seems to be just as nebulously defined.
I think "Unholy" is the energy type. Basically as a quick way to say "No energy resistance need apply here".
There's "Good divine damage" as well in the books that seems to be just as nebulously defined.
I think one of the issues is that in Prince of Darkness, it specifically calls out the unholy portion of Hellfire as doing double damage to good creatures. In addition, they are protected by the unholy part of this damage by protection from evil.
I'm alright with the Prince of Darkness definition because I like more crunch, but I do wish it was brought over to the Bestiary.
I'll faq it, but I'm under the impression it might be Negative Energy damage.I'm curious, what makes you think that? If that were the case, wouldn't it just say that? There's room on the page to say 'negative energy' instead of 'unholy'.
Personal opinion mostly that "unholy" is supposed to deal negative energy damage while "holy" should do positive energy.
I think you're unnecessarily conflating morality and positive/negative energy. The alignment-based planes are separate from the energy planes, and good != light, evil != dark, etc.
Why do you think that's the case?
Personal opinion mostly that "unholy" is supposed to deal negative energy damage while "holy" should do positive energy.I'll faq it, but I'm under the impression it might be Negative Energy damage.I'm curious, what makes you think that? If that were the case, wouldn't it just say that? There's room on the page to say 'negative energy' instead of 'unholy'.
That would make it harrd to wallop a demon with a holy sword, since demons and devils are still healed by positive energy.
That would make it harrd to wallop a demon with a holy sword, since demons and devils are still healed by positive energy.Personal opinion mostly that "unholy" is supposed to deal negative energy damage while "holy" should do positive energy.I'll faq it, but I'm under the impression it might be Negative Energy damage.I'm curious, what makes you think that? If that were the case, wouldn't it just say that? There's room on the page to say 'negative energy' instead of 'unholy'.
Yeah, I guess it would. I suppose that does put a damper on that. It's just something I usually equate with holy and unholy. :P
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Yeah, I guess it would. I suppose that does put a damper on that. It's just something I usually equate with holy and unholy. :PThat would make it harrd to wallop a demon with a holy sword, since demons and devils are still healed by positive energy.Personal opinion mostly that "unholy" is supposed to deal negative energy damage while "holy" should do positive energy.I'll faq it, but I'm under the impression it might be Negative Energy damage.I'm curious, what makes you think that? If that were the case, wouldn't it just say that? There's room on the page to say 'negative energy' instead of 'unholy'.
Here are 2 tropes to look at
Just putting it out there.