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My "favourite" 3.5 designer is on the roll again.
Kobold Quarterly has a website column where Skip answers rules question. The column is supposed to be about Pathfinder Q/A, yet today I noticed this:
“But I was so much older then…”Q: Our group has noticed that the enervation spell deals 1d4 temporary negative levels (so far so good). The spell description also gives a list of what those negative levels do, and that’s the problem. A negative level usually imposes -5 hp, and that’s missing from the spell description. Also missing are the 5 temporary hp the attacker gains when bestowing a negative level.
Is this an oversight? Or a deliberate change to rein in the spell’s power?
While I generally advocate sticking closely to the rules when they’ve defined something, that’s not quite possible here.
By definition, a negative level gives a creature a -1 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks, and effective level (for determining the power, duration, DC, and other details of spells or special abilities). In addition, a spellcaster loses one spell or spell slot from his or her highest available level, and negative levels stack. That is where the enervation spell’s list of negative level effects end.
A negative level also reduces the subject’s hp by -5. (Most energy drain special attacks also grant the attacker +5 temporary hp per negative level bestowed, but that’s a feature of the energy drain attack, not of negative levels.) After 24 hours, a creature afflicted with a negative level must succeed at a Fortitude save to avoid permanent level loss.
Negative levels from an enervation spell don’t quite fit the definition. They don’t last 24 hours and there’s no chance for permanent level loss. In light of that, it’s not much of a stretch to conclude that they also don’t reduce the subject’s hp and don’t impart temporary hp to the spellcaster either.
Both the question and the answer clearly refer to the 3.5 version of the spell, which was poorly worded and listed only partial list of negative level effects. The Pathfinder version simply points out to the Appendix 1, where rules for negative levels are presented.
So either the column is about 3.5 rules, or Skip didn't do his homework.
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As the person that asked that question, I was asking about the 3.5 enervation due to a discussion that had cropped up on the WotC board.
I asked that a while ago too, when he posted that up I think it was a mistake because he'd already posted it previously months ago.
I also like his decision that it didn't give a wizard a way to get 5-20 or more temp hit points as icing on the cake of handing out negative levels. It wasn't a partial list, it was the list of what enervation's negative levels did.
I'm sure any Pathfinder RPG questions he answers will be acknowledged as belonging to the Pathfinder Game, Mr. Williams has answered a number of my questions ranging from 1st edition AD&D to 3.5 D&D.
Skip Williams is a fine designer and was a good Sage. While I didn't agree with every interpretation he made, I never found any of them to be game breaking or ill-advised, and the vast majority were spot on the money.
Wolfgang,
Just wanted to say that I've been reading some back issues of KQ, and I'm very impressed.
I'll be subscribing shortly.
Keep up the good work.
Jacob
Ack! I throw myself upon the broken, rusty, makeshift sword. I am but a lowly kobold, after all. Smoke too many of the goofballs, and look what happens. (Take this as a warning to all you would-be goofball smokers out there.)
The post has been fixed! (Huzzah!) There is now a disclaimer, lest someone get hurt using unfamiliar mechanics, and a more appropriate image. Alas, however, this will be the last of the 3.5E version of the column for the foreseeable future. (Ahh...)
But wait! The first of a hopefully long line of the Pathfinder version of "Ask the Kobold" is coming soon. (Ooh, ooh! When? WHEN?) OK, tomorrow. It'll be up tomorrow. (Unless I hear the call of the goofballs, again.)
Come back tomorrow, I say, and prepare your questions for the mighty Skip Williams, for there might be a kobold treat in store for a lucky reader. (I leave it to your nightmares to decide what a "kobold treat" might be. ;P)
Of course, that is, if I can get this sword out of my gut. Nurse!
Wasnt Skip Williams the one that answered a question about polymorph back in 3.5 days that he used it to turn into high con creatures for the extra HP?