I know it would stop the negative energy, but what about the drain?
By the rules it is not listed as a negative energy affect so I would say no.
Mmm. Seems like a rider on the negative energy. I would say yes.
Reasoning is a Viper deals 1d2-2 damage plus poison but if you reduce the damage to zero through DR or some other way the poison won't come into effect.
I'm pretty sure it's a general rule that any time a damage would be reduced to 0 any rider effects do not trigger.
Aha! Not quite the right wording, but I found it:
A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.
A Wraith's Con Drain is a secondary effect to its negative energy touch attack. If you're immune to negative energy damage, it won't be able to Con drain you.
Death Ward makes you immune to negative energy.
I'm pretty sure it's a general rule that any time a damage would be reduced to 0 any rider effects do not trigger.
Aha! Not quite the right wording, but I found it:
A creature with immunities takes no damage from listed sources. Immunities can also apply to afflictions, conditions, spells (based on school, level, or save type), and other effects. A creature that is immune does not suffer from these effects, or any secondary effects that are triggered due to an immune effect.A Wraith's Con Drain is a secondary effect to its negative energy touch attack. If you're immune to negative energy damage, it won't be able to Con drain you.
Death Ward makes you immune to negative energy.
I forgot about that.
OP:If you are the GM just give it caster levels to dispel deathward.. :)
I'm pretty sure it's a general rule that any time a damage would be reduced to 0 any rider effects do not trigger.
Disagree...
It has been pointed out that a Stirge's CON drain will work even if the target has DR.
An Incorporeal creature needs only to TOUCH not overcome DR or armor.
Death Ward won't stop the CON drain it will only stop the negative energy.
I'm pretty sure it's a general rule that any time a damage would be reduced to 0 any rider effects do not trigger.
Disagree...
It has been pointed out that a Stirge's CON drain will work even if the target has DR.
An Incorporeal creature needs only to TOUCH not overcome DR or armor.
Death Ward won't stop the CON drain it will only stop the negative energy.
Rider affects depend on damage being dealt. As an example if a monster has poison, but DR means no damage is taken the poison is not applied.
The stirge does not depend on damage to do its con damage so it is not a rider affect. It is the main affect, and DR has nothing to with this case so it is a nonfactor. The point is the application of damage being neccesary for the 2nd effect to kick in. It is not so much that deathward stops con drain. It stops the negative energy, and that is what allows the con drain.