Holy weapons bestowing negative levels

[Kroisos]

Hi,

The holy magic weapon special ability states:

RAW wrote:

A holy weapon is imbued with holy power. This power makes the weapon good-aligned and thus bypasses the corresponding damage reduction. It deals an extra 2d6 points of damage against all creatures of evil alignment. It bestows one permanent negative level on any evil creature attempting to wield it. The negative level remains as long as the weapon is in hand and disappears when the weapon is no longer wielded. This negative level cannot be overcome in any way (including by restoration spells) while the weapon is wielded.

(Italics by me)

Now, if the negative level disappears when the weapon is no longer wielded, how should I interpret the word "permanent" here?

[Chemlak]

Temporary negative levels allow a save each day to remove them. Permanent negative levels don't.

[Kroisos]

I know what the word "permanent" means, and RAW, you don't really need a save each day to remove these negative levels: you just need to drop the weapon...

What I meant to ask, but maybe I wasn't clear, was: how can these negative levels be considered permanent if all you have to do is drop the weapon? What would be the difference here with non-permanent negative levels?

[Kazaan]

The same way the bonus from a Belt of Strength can be considered permanent after you've worn it for 24 hours. Permanent negative levels would not wear off with time; they only wear off by unwielding the weapon. Temporary negative levels would, by some means, eventually go away while still wielding the weapon. Sometimes, you have to drop the common meaning of a term in favor of the mechanical meaning. How can anything be permanent when your game will eventually end?

[Scavion]

Kroisos wrote:

I know what the word "permanent" means, and RAW, you don't really need a save each day to remove these negative levels: you just need to drop the weapon...

What I meant to ask, but maybe I wasn't clear, was: how can these negative levels be considered permanent if all you have to do is drop the weapon? What would be the difference here with non-permanent negative levels?

Because if it wasn't Permanent it would be temporary which would allow a save to remove each day or become permanent which doesn't allow a saving throw to remove thereafter.

[Chemlak]

As Kazaan and Scavion have intimated, basically. I was in a rush to respond so used the smallest number of words to convey my meaning.

All negative levels fall into one of two categories: temporary or permanent. Temporary negative levels have the feature that, 24 hours after they begin, you may make a saving throw to remove them. Permanent negative levels remain and must be removed by some other means. The most common is the restoration series of spells. Some permanent negative levels (notably those applied by aligned weapons) require other means to remove them (in this case, simply ceasing to hold the weapon).

If aligned weapons applied temporary negative levels, you would be able to remove them simply by holding the weapon for 24 hours (boring, I guess, but so what?) and making a saving throw. That opens up a whole can of worms about picking up the same weapon again that is made vastly simpler by making the negative levels permanent negative levels.

[Kroisos]

Thanks all!