I have some rule questions I can't find definitive answers for. Some might be my mind filling in blanks from house rules and/or 3.5 and/or other games. Thanks in advance.
1) if you get hit multiple times in a round from something that level drains (say, a vampire) do you get 1 negative level each time?
2) Monster is under water (lets say 10 feet under). PC in on shore, right above. PC Casts cone of cold. Does:
a) Monster get the benefit of evasion/bonuses to save?
b) Water freeze?
3) Monster is under water (lets say 10 feet under). PC in on shore, right above. Monster casts cone of cold. Does:
a) PC get any benefits?
b) Water freeze?
RAW answers and "no RAW but I would rule....." answers both welcome.
I am the DM, and this is my take:
1) No, that ability from a specific creature can only affect a PC once per round. Multiple vampires can each use it to apply multiple level drains. I forget why I think this way though.
2a) +2 circumstance bonus
2b) No
3) Hasn't happened yet so I haven't needed to rule it.
1) if you get hit multiple times in a round from something that level drains (say, a vampire) do you get 1 negative level each time?
1) No, that ability from a specific creature can only affect a PC once per round. Multiple vampires can each use it to apply multiple level drains. I forget why I think this way though.
For #1, it depends. If the ability that gives the negative level requires a standard action to do, then the monster can inflict only 1 (or more, not all energy drain attacks only deal 1 negative level) negative level per round. Multiple monsters could inflict multiple negative levels.
A vampire, however, can inflict negative levels on not only their slam attack, but all natural attacks. If the vampire had, for example, 2 claws and a bite attack, it could inflict 2 negative levels on each of those 3 attacks, potentially inflicting 6 negative levels on a target in a single turn.
2) Monster is under water (lets say 10 feet under). PC in on shore, right above. PC Casts cone of cold. Does:
a) Monster get the benefit of evasion/bonuses to save?
b) Water freeze?
The rules on attacking into water:
Attacks from Land: Characters swimming, floating, or treading water on the surface, or wading in water at least chest deep, have improved cover (+8 bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves) from opponents on land. Land-bound opponents who have freedom of movement effects ignore this cover when making melee attacks against targets in the water. A completely submerged creature has total cover against opponents on land unless those opponents have freedom of movement effects. Magical effects are unaffected except for those that require attack rolls (which are treated like any other effects) and fire effects.
In the case of cone of cold, the water has no effect. If it was a non-magical effect, a magical effect that required an attack roll, or any fire attack, the creature under the water would gain improved cover (+8 AC, +4 reflex saves).
The spell says nothing about freezing the water, so the water doesn't freeze. Look at the freezing sphere spell, a spell that specifically says it freezes water. If all cold damage spells froze water, that wouldn't be required in the freezing sphere spell.
Unfortunately for #3, the rules don't seem to cover that. There are rules from attacking into the water, but not for attacking out of the water. I would assume that the same rules would apply, however.
1) yes, though poison while similar behaves differently. Maybe that's what you're remembering.
2)
a)A completely submerged creature has total cover against opponents on land unless those opponents have freedom of movement effects. Magical effects are unaffected except for those that require attack rolls (which are treated like any other effects) and fire effects.
so you should be able to blast him fine.
b)I don't think so. Usually spells need to say they burn (or freeze?) to do so.
3)
a) If they can breath underwater than no penalty.
b) same as 2b, I don't think so
it depends. If the ability that gives the negative level requires a standard action to do, then the monster can inflict only 1 (or more, not all energy drain attacks only deal 1 negative level) negative level per round. Multiple monsters could inflict multiple negative levels.
1) yes, though poison while similar behaves differently. Maybe that's what you're remembering.
I think it's a combo of these two...."standard action" versus "if hit", and poison.
And regarding 2 and 3 - thanks for the reality (ha!) check. the goblin didn't make the save with the +2 so it didn't matter, but I'll let the players know that I made that call in error. I didn't let the water freeze as I thought if it did that, it would state it.
Thanks a lot!
Just to be clear the vampire entry states that it triggers only once per round.
Energy Drain (Su): A creature hit by a vampire's slam (or other natural weapon) gains two negative levels. This ability only triggers once per round, regardless of the number of attacks a vampire makes.
So I think the answer to #1 is it depends on the monster in question.
As far as the other question regarding cone of cold, I think an argument could be made that at it minimum you'd create ice shards in the water, not freezing it. The Cerulean Seas Campaign has a lot of details regarding spell casting underwater.
Cerulean Seas Campaign Setting Magic Section Preamble:
Cold Energy Effects: At depths of fewer than 300 feet, spells that create extreme cold also form potentially damaging ice crystals. Below 300 feet, the pressure is too great to form ice from water.
Just to be clear the vampire entry states that it triggers only once per round.
Energy Drain (Su): A creature hit by a vampire's slam (or other natural weapon) gains two negative levels. This ability only triggers once per round, regardless of the number of attacks a vampire makes.
True. I did miss that when making my example. But the overall point does still stand - the creature can inflict negative levels multiple times as long as there isn't something specifically written against it.
Just to be clear the vampire entry states that it triggers only once per round.
Energy Drain (Su): A creature hit by a vampire's slam (or other natural weapon) gains two negative levels. This ability only triggers once per round, regardless of the number of attacks a vampire makes.
So I think the answer to #1 is it depends on the monster in question.
Ah, I think that's what it really was.
I'm actually thinking of a Wight. Re-reading their description, I thought the save occurs 24 hr later, like the vampires.
Also, thanks for the info regarding the cold ice crystals.
I want to point out, that land bound opponents (without freedom of movement) are treated as though they had total cover relative to a completely submerged individual in water. This means you can't even attack them at all.
It doesn't change the answer for the OP's question, because his attack is magical and magic ignores this effect.
I also want to point out that this make it impossible to gig frogs, go spear fishing, or go bow fishing.