Wraith Constitution Drain & Temporary HP

[Mr.Marbles]

Looking at the Wraith's stat block, and I came across something that isn't clear to me. On the "Constitution Drain" supernatural ability, it states:

Constitution Drain (Su) Creatures hit by a wraith's touch attack must succeed on a DC 17 Fortitude save or take 1d6 points of Constitution drain. On each successful attack, the wraith gains 5 temporary hit points. The save DC is Charisma-based.

Do the temporary hit points get awarded on each successful touch attack, or only when the target fails the Fortitude save and suffers Con drain?

[Lab_Rat]

It comes down to a GM call on your personal definition of successful.

Since temporary HP do not stack, I would er on the side of the wraith hitting with the touch attack.

[dragonhunterq]

I would take a different view. The temporary hit points are part of the constitution drain ability, I would say that strictly speaking you only get it on a successful con drain.

That said, Lab_Rat is right the temp HP don't stack so I wouldn't sulk if a GM ruled that it was on any successful hit. It just means they'll have an extra 5 HP pretty much every round instead of every X rounds.

[Mr.Marbles]

Thanks guys. I'm leaning toward temporary HP when the drain is successful, but I definitely seen the argument from both sides.

[Numarak]

Considering that the last sentence refers to the DC of the For save, is my understanding that with 'successful' it means "successful at draining CON". Obviously it can't drain CON if the attack misses, but still might not drain CON even if it hits, if the victim makes her For save.

Also the temporary HP could be seen as a boost due the drained CON; if the target passes the saving throw, makes sense that there is no boost. Some of the life energy from the target goes to the wraith.