Ability score damage

[Strife2002]

From the ability score page in the PRD wrote:

"For every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability, apply a –1 penalty to skills and statistics listed with the relevant ability. If the amount of ability damage you have taken equals or exceeds your ability score, you immediately fall unconscious until the damage is less than your ability score. The only exception to this is your Constitution score. If the damage to your Constitution is equal to or greater than your Constitution score, you die. Unless otherwise noted, damage to your ability scores is healed at the rate of 1 per day to each ability score that has been damaged. Ability damage can be healed through the use of spells, such as lesser restoration. "

Notice the bold part. It specifically says "for every 2 points of damage you take to a single ability". This suggests that even if you had an even numbered score in an ability, and took 1 damage to it, nothing would happen. Example:

A character with 16 Dex takes 1 Dex damage (say from a poison that rolled low). Nothing actually happens, though, because in order to start applying a -1 penalty to stuff, at least 2 points of damage would need to be taken. Am I interpreting this correctly?

EDIT: Also sorry for the repost. I asked this in an ancient (for the internet) thread yesterday and felt maybe it'd be better to just start a new one instead.

[Sniggevert]

You are interpreting it correctly. Ability damage does nothing, except when it adds up to an even amount.

[Grick]

Strife2002 wrote:

This suggests that even if you had an even numbered score in an ability, and took 1 damage to it, nothing would happen.

Am I interpreting this correctly?

Yes. Note this also works the same with temporary bonuses.

For example, a custom spell "Calf's Strength" that gave a temporary +1 enhancement bonus to strength, it would have no effect unless you had another +1 from a different (stackable) source.

Permanent bonuses (and ability drain) actually change the statistic.

[Jiggy]

For further verification, note the language of ability drain, the last thing listed in that section:

Quote:

Ability drain actually reduces the relevant ability score.

This makes it pretty clear that ability damage does not reduce the ability score, and therefore ability drain needed to specify that it worked differently.

[CalebTGordan]

I need a further clarification when it comes to Ability Damage and Penalty when it comes to Strength.

PRD wrote:

Strength: Damage to your Strength score causes you to take penalties on Strength-based skill checks, melee attack rolls, and weapon damage rolls (if they rely on Strength). The penalty also applies to your Combat Maneuver Bonus (if you are Small or larger) and your Combat Maneuver Defense.

It does not say that it affects encumbrance, but it seems that everyone assumes that it does.

My question is: Does Ability Damage affect your light, medium, and heavy loads, and thus your level of encumbrance?

I can't find anything that says that it does.

[Matthew Downie]

Going by Rules As Written, ability damage has no effect on encumbrance.

[Canthin]

I don't know if this should be a new thread or not, but I have a few questions on Ability Damage vs. Ability Penalties.

Ability Damage:

Quote:

If the amount of ability damage you have taken equals or exceeds your ability score, you immediately fall unconscious until the damage is less than your ability score.

Character with 12 Dex. Takes 12 points of Dex Damage, he becomes unconscious (damage = score).

Penalties to ability scores:

Quote:

While in effect, these penalties function just like ability damage, but they cannot cause you to fall unconscious or die. In essence, penalties cannot decrease your ability score to less than 1.

Same character is Exhausted (-6 penalty to Dex), takes 3 points of Dex damage, and then is grappled (-4 penalty to Dex). Is he unconscious? His total damage exceeds his score, and 3 points of it isn't affected by the "...cannot cause you to fall unconscious or die" clause?

If he was Exhausted (-6), Entangled (-4) and Grappled (-4), he would effectively have a Dex of 1 since the Penalties cannot make his score 0, but Damage can cause it to be 0. Do you count Damage first, then Penalties?

If this is the case, what happens if you have a 12 Dex, take 11 points of Dex Damage (-5 to Dex things) and then become Exhausted? Are you now at -8 to Dex things but still have an effective Dex of 1 or does Exhaustion do nothing to you since penalties cannot decrease your ability score to less than 1 and it is already at 1 due to Damage?