FAQ Request - Channel Energy as it reacts with the Dhampir Race


Rules Questions

The Exchange

1 person marked this as FAQ candidate.
Channel Energy (Su): wrote:

Regardless of alignment, any cleric can release a wave of energy by channeling the power of her faith through her holy (or unholy) symbol. This energy can be used to cause or heal damage, depending on the type of energy channeled and the creatures targeted.

A good cleric (or one who worships a good deity) channels positive energy and can choose to deal damage to undead creatures or to heal living creatures. An evil cleric (or one who worships an evil deity) channels negative energy and can choose to deal damage to living creatures or to heal undead creatures. A neutral cleric who worships a neutral deity (or one who is not devoted to a particular deity) must choose whether she channels positive or negative energy. Once this choice is made, it cannot be reversed. This decision also determines whether the cleric casts spontaneous cure or inflict spells (see spontaneous casting).

Channeling energy causes a burst that affects all creatures of one type (either undead or living) in a 30-foot radius centered on the cleric. The amount of damage dealt or healed is equal to 1d6 points of damage plus 1d6 points of damage for every two cleric levels beyond 1st (2d6 at 3rd, 3d6 at 5th, and so on). Creatures that take damage from channeled energy receive a Will save to halve the damage. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 the cleric's level + the cleric's Charisma modifier. Creatures healed by channeled energy cannot exceed their maximum hit point total—all excess healing is lost. A cleric may channel energy a number of times per day equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier. This is a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. A cleric can choose whether or not to include herself in this effect. A cleric must be able to present her holy symbol to use this ability.

Negative Energy Affinity: wrote:
Though a living creature, a dhampir reacts to positive and negative energy as if it were undead—positive energy harms it, while negative energy heals it.

The debate in question is whether a Dhampir is treated as though it is undead for all aspects of the Channel Energy abilities, or if it is only treated as undead for how it reacts to positive/negative energy.

The distinction between these two is that if it is undead for all aspects, then Dhampir's are only hit when a Cleric channels targeting undead, Then all targets are healed by negative energy, or harmed by positive energy. If however the Dhampir is only treated as undead for how it reacts to the energy channeled then a Cleric channeling while targeting Living will hit the Dhampir, damaging or healing as appropriate for undead, while a Cleric targeting undead would not hit the Dhampir at all.


it reacts to the energy as if undead. The energy is targeting living things. Thus the energy would skip him.

Shadow Lodge

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Answered in FAQ.

Quote:

Negative Energy Affinity: How is this ability (Bestiary 2, page 299) supposed to work?

The intent of this ability is that the creature is healed by negative energy (like an undead) and harmed by positive energy (like an undead); this is automatic and has nothing to do with the intent of the target or the energy-wielder. However, as written, the ability is a bit confusing because of the phrase “reacts to,” which doesn’t have a clear definition. This ability will be changed in the next printing of Bestiary 2.

Update: Page 299—In the description of the Negative Energy Affinity ability, replace the current entry with the following:

Negative Energy Affinity (Ex) The creature is alive, but is treated as undead for all effects that affect undead differently than living creatures, such as cure spells and channeled energy. Format: negative energy affinity; Location: Defensive Abilities.

Silver Crusade

What Chess said.

You heal the living with channel positive? Ignore the Dhampir.

You damage the undead with channel positive? You damage the Dhampir.

You heal the undead with channel negative? You heal the Dhampir.

You damage the living with channel negative? Ignore the Dhampir.

Silver Crusade

TOZ wrote:

Answered in FAQ.

Quote:

Negative Energy Affinity: How is this ability (Bestiary 2, page 299) supposed to work?

The intent of this ability is that the creature is healed by negative energy (like an undead) and harmed by positive energy (like an undead); this is automatic and has nothing to do with the intent of the target or the energy-wielder. However, as written, the ability is a bit confusing because of the phrase “reacts to,” which doesn’t have a clear definition. This ability will be changed in the next printing of Bestiary 2.

Update: Page 299—In the description of the Negative Energy Affinity ability, replace the current entry with the following:

Negative Energy Affinity (Ex) The creature is alive, but is treated as undead for all effects that affect undead differently than living creatures, such as cure spells and channeled energy. Format: negative energy affinity; Location: Defensive Abilities.

Wow, a FAQ answered in less than 15 mins. I thought mine got answered fast.

The Exchange

TOZ wrote:

Answered in FAQ.

Quote:

Negative Energy Affinity: How is this ability (Bestiary 2, page 299) supposed to work?

The intent of this ability is that the creature is healed by negative energy (like an undead) and harmed by positive energy (like an undead); this is automatic and has nothing to do with the intent of the target or the energy-wielder. However, as written, the ability is a bit confusing because of the phrase “reacts to,” which doesn’t have a clear definition. This ability will be changed in the next printing of Bestiary 2.

Update: Page 299—In the description of the Negative Energy Affinity ability, replace the current entry with the following:

Negative Energy Affinity (Ex) The creature is alive, but is treated as undead for all effects that affect undead differently than living creatures, such as cure spells and channeled energy. Format: negative energy affinity; Location: Defensive Abilities.

Welp, they need to FAQ/Update that in Advanced Race Guide too. I think it could still be clearer, but with THAT description I do interpret it that the Dhampir is targeted as though it were undead when choosing to channel vs living, or channel vs undead.

Shadow Lodge

I find it useful to Google "Pathfinder FAQ (topic, eg Negative Energy Affinity)" in case the answer is listed under a different book than you'd expect.

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