Ok,
So, channeling has to be chosen at the time of the channeling whether it targets living creatures, or undead creatures. I rationalize it not affecting everyone by saying it's being released along the positive or negative fields in the real world. A channel released into the positive energy field of the real world affects living creatures (regardless of the channel energy type), and a channel released into the negative energy field of the real world affects undead creatures (regardless of the channel energy type).
So a negative energy channel released into the positive energy field of the real world damages every living creature in the area. A positive energy released into the positive energy field of the real world heals every living creature in the area. And vice versa for the undead and negative energy field.
My question is about the death domain. So, at 8th level, you get healed by negative energy, like undead. However, you are not undead, so...
If a cleric channeled negative energy to effect living creatures, and another cleric who has Death Domain is in the area of effect. His fighter buddy standing next to him takes, say, 4d6 channel damage. But, the death domain cleric is instead healed for 4d6. Both are affected because they are both living creatures.
Same cleric who channeled energy above instead channels negative energy to affect undead. The fighter and cleric above are both unaffected, because they are not undead. The death domain cleric doesn't heal because the negative energy is not directed at him, even though he's in the area of effect.
That sound right?
If a cleric channeled negative energy to effect living creatures, and another cleric who has Death Domain is in the area of effect. His fighter buddy standing next to him takes, say, 4d6 channel damage. But, the death domain cleric is instead healed for 4d6. Both are affected because they are both living creatures.
Same cleric who channeled energy above instead channels negative energy to affect undead. The fighter and cleric above are both unaffected, because they are not undead. The death domain cleric doesn't heal because the negative energy is not directed at him, even though he's in the area of effect.
That sound right?
Not quite
Death's Embrace (Ex): At 8th level, you heal damage instead of taking damage from channeled negative energy. If the channeled negative energy targets undead, you heal hit points just like undead in the area.
In your example, the negative energy that harms the fighter is not targeting undead, it's targeting living creatures, so the Death Domain ability has no affect. Instead, the Cleric benefits from your 2nd example, where Negative energy is channeled to heal Undead. In this case, the Death domain cleric gets to heal as well.
Ok,
Missed that. But this whole channel undead/living is pretty unwound logically. Because, although he would get healed if it were targeting undead, he would still take damage if it were targeting living creatures, if I read that right.
Very wierd. I may have to house-rule this one.
Ok,
Missed that. But this whole channel undead/living is pretty unwound logically. Because, although he would get healed if it were targeting undead, he would still take damage if it were targeting living creatures, if I read that right.Very wierd. I may have to house-rule this one.
Perhaps a slight change in thinking. Channelled energy can be used for two intents (leaving out additional uses granted by feats for now), either to heal or to harm. However, living and undead exist on different 'frequencies'. The Death Domain's ability allows it to pick up healing energy from either 'frequency'.
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But this whole channel undead/living is pretty unwound logically. Because, although he would get healed if it were targeting undead, he would still take damage if it were targeting living creatures, if I read that right.
According to p 40, a Cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect, so the negative energy channeler can at least not blow themself up when they channel to harm other living creatures.
That said, I really don't like the current set up. I'd rather have less healing / harming overall (1d6 / 3 or 4 levels, or 1d6 + 1 hp / level) and have the effect heal living and harm unliving at the same time (or vice versa, for negative energy channeling).
Combined with the clear superiority of positive energy vs. negative energy channeling, the system bugs me.
But this whole channel undead/living is pretty unwound logically. Because, although he would get healed if it were targeting undead, he would still take damage if it were targeting living creatures, if I read that right.According to p 40, a Cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect, so the negative energy channeler can at least not blow themself up when they channel to harm other living creatures.
That said, I really don't like the current set up. I'd rather have less healing / harming overall (1d6 / 3 or 4 levels, or 1d6 + 1 hp / level) and have the effect heal living and harm unliving at the same time (or vice versa, for negative energy channeling).
Combined with the clear superiority of positive energy vs. negative energy channeling, the system bugs me.
Agreed, it keeps setting my teeth on edge because it flakes out in situations like this. I'm tempted to either switch it to the way I originally posted, or take your suggestion and cut the dice of healing in half and make them affect everyone the same way (Positive heals living and damages undead simultaneously, or negative heals undead and damages living simultaneously).