I was just reading through the Negative Level and Raise Dead rules, and something struck me as odd:
You can raise a level 1 character. It gets 2 Con drained.
You can raise a level 3 or higher character. They get 2 negative levels.
A level 2 character however:
It's not a 1st level character, so the Con drain part does not apply to it, so it gains the default of 2 negative levels.
Now this part of the negative level rules come into play:
"If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies."
Level 2 = 2 HD which equals the 2 negative levels. Aka he's dead.
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I was just reading through the Negative Level and Raise Dead rules, and something struck me as odd:
You can raise a level 1 character. It gets 2 Con drained.
You can raise a level 3 or higher character. They get 2 negative levels.A level 2 character however:
It's not a 1st level character, so the Con drain part does not apply to it, so it gains the default of 2 negative levels.
Now this part of the negative level rules come into play:
"If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its total Hit Dice, it dies."Level 2 = 2 HD which equals the 2 negative levels. Aka he's dead.
By the rules as written, your interpretation seems correct. I would prevail on the side of logic, however, and split the difference when raising a level 2 character: 1 point of CON drain, 1 negative level.
By extension that would apply to anyone above 3 too if they get raised more than once without receiving Restoration inbetween.
I'm pretty sure it's an oversight, because I doubt it's intented. Maybe I'm missing something.
I would agree that splitting it, or applying the Con drain to level 2 as well would seem the most logical way to go.
Level 2 = 2 HD which equals the 2 negative levels. Aka he's dead.
Except the rules for Negative Levels provides an out:
"A creature whose permanent negative levels equal its Hit Dice cannot be brought back to life through spells like raise dead and resurrection without also receiving a restoration spell, cast the round after it is restored to life." (Pathfinder Core Rulebook, p. 562)
EDIT: Of course, you can continue with this silliness because restoration has a one minute casting time....
You could interpret that as:
If someone died due to negative levels, for example from energy drain, he can't be brought back, unless he receives a restoration the round after.
Reason:
The way that is written it sounds like the creature needs HD = NL before the raise dead is even attempted.
But I guess that's a silly explanation :) Otherwise just raise them, give them the 2 more neg levels, so now the condition is met, and raise them again and use Restoration.
So I guess that's the way out.
However what happens to people with more negative levels than HD?
Level 3 character dies.
Gets raised and gains 2 negative levels.
Dies again.
Gets raised and gains 2 more negative levels.
4 negative levels > 3 HD
Perma dead?
Or would he count as a 1st level char on the 2nd rezz and only lose Con?
Possible, but that means characters with Odd levels have an easier time to get ressed than people with even levels, and that's just about as silly.
I never worry too much about this as I would never try to rez a 1st or 2nd-level character anyway.
You could interpret that as:
If someone died due to negative levels, for example from energy drain, he can't be brought back, unless he receives a restoration the round after.
I would just say the casting must begin the round after they are rezzed. Until then they are just 'mostly dead.'
However what happens to people with more negative levels than HD?
Level 3 character dies.
Gets raised and gains 2 negative levels.
Dies again.
Gets raised and gains 2 more negative levels.4 negative levels > 3 HD
Perma dead?
Or would he count as a 1st level char on the 2nd rezz and only lose Con?
Possible, but that means characters with Odd levels have an easier time to get ressed than people with even levels, and that's just about as silly.
I would implement the you-can't-get-blood-from-a-turnip rule. He can't actually have more negative levels than HD because he dies as soon as they are equal. Raise dead followed by restoration without any loss of Constitution.