At present, I would define a living creature as being a creature that is not categorized as either an undead or construct.
This is my understanding as well. Hopefully we get an actual definition in the Bestiary.
At present, I would define a living creature as being a creature that is not categorized as either an undead or construct.
In the 3.5 SRD under creature types it does sort of list this information. For example an Outsider Type it says "Outsiders breathe, but do not need to eat or sleep (although they can do so if they wish). Native outsiders breathe, eat, and sleep." I go with anything breathing as being alive and Native outsider eat, breathe and sleep which is pretty much the definition of being alive.
Don't see any reason such information will change in PFRPG.
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I go with anything breathing as being alive
That would exclude elementals, for the record, and elementals are specifically described as being living.
Everything not undead or construct was my understanding as well. Having a constitution score like James mentioned probably helps with the whole "living" thing, lol.
This would imply that constructs are immune to channeled energy though...
Keeps Artificers and Spell Comp. "REPAIR spells" in business, other than just for Warforged. Warforged despite being "living" would still only heal for half from a Channel Energy IMO. Assuming someone uses such things. :D
So what about oddball creatures like the Scaeduinar? They're entirely empowered by / composed of negative energy, but in their own way, they're 'alive'. If undead don't count as living creatures, the scaeduinar would likewise seem to not be counted as 'alive', but channeled energy would very very -very- much heal or harm them, being what it is.
Yay for things that don't easily fit ;)
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So what about oddball creatures like the Scaeduinar? They're entirely empowered by / composed of negative energy, but in their own way, they're 'alive'. If undead don't count as living creatures, the scaeduinar would likewise seem to not be counted as 'alive', but channeled energy would very very -very- much heal or harm them, being what it is.
Yay for things that don't easily fit ;)
That's where specific stat block variations on the monster come in to save the day. If we end up making these guys alive (which makes sense), they'll probably get a special ability/weakness like:
Negative Energy Infused (Ex) This creature is affected by positive and negative energy as if it were an undead creature.
Negative Energy Infused (Ex) This creature is affected by positive and negative energy as if it were an undead creature.
I want to take a second and point out the genious of this. It's quick, it's easy, and you can tack it onto just about anything to have some fun new monster, without even having to apply a template!
Think about: Golem controlled by a ghost? Shaman channeling a spirit from the negative energy plane? Human born and raised on the negative energy plane?
All of these simply tack that line on and you got something rather neat to use.
So what about oddball creatures like the Scaeduinar? They're entirely empowered by / composed of negative energy, but in their own way, they're 'alive'. If undead don't count as living creatures, the scaeduinar would likewise seem to not be counted as 'alive', but channeled energy would very very -very- much heal or harm them, being what it is.
Yay for things that don't easily fit ;)
That's where specific stat block variations on the monster come in to save the day. If we end up making these guys alive (which makes sense), they'll probably get a special ability/weakness like:
Negative Energy Infused (Ex) This creature is affected by positive and negative energy as if it were an undead creature.
And this sort of thing is why you are cool. :)
Negative Energy Infused (Ex) This creature is affected by positive and negative energy as if it were an undead creature.
Shadow creatures, from the elemental plane of shadow... have always had something similar to this as well.
EDIT: Or are they from the Negative Material Plane? I don't remember.
Negative Energy Infused (Ex) This creature is affected by positive and negative energy as if it were an undead creature.Shadow creatures, from the elemental plane of shadow... have always had something similar to this as well.
EDIT: Or are they from the Negative Material Plane? I don't remember.
Somewhat depends on setting, but in the Great Wheel for instance, shadow creatures were living beings native to the Plane of Shadow, but shadows were undead beings (I don't think they were actually native to any plane, since they tended to be created or spawned rather than natural).
Golarion's cosmology makes things tidy by having the plane of shadow linked to the negative energy plane, so there's no longer that thematic disconnect at times.