How to detect negative levels?

[RoseCrown]

Is there an (preferably easy, reliable) way to detect if a character/creature has negative levels?

[FractalLaw]

There's nothing specifically in the rules for that that I'm aware of, but I'd personally allow a heal check, DC 25 or so, to detect them.

[RoseCrown]

Hmm. I might have to invent a spell for that then.

[Lady-J]

same way you detect ability dmg/drain i would think

[RoseCrown]

Never mind, I found a work-around

[Sammy T]

Level 2 Cleric spell Status

[RoseCrown]

Sammy T wrote:

Level 2 Cleric spell Status

That was my first idea, but it lists a lot of conditions it can detect and that list does not include negative levels, so I'm not sure if that would actually work.

[Matthew Downie]

Status spell wrote:

You are aware of direction and distance to the creatures and any conditions affecting them: unharmed, wounded, disabled, staggered, unconscious, dying, nauseated, panicked, stunned, poisoned, diseased, confused, or the like

Seems good enough to me.

I'd also allow a Heal check.

[Sammy T]

Status wrote:

You are aware of direction and distance to the creatures and any conditions affecting them: unharmed, wounded, disabled, staggered, unconscious, dying, nauseated, panicked, stunned, poisoned, diseased, confused, or the like

Under the lengthy list of conditions on the PRD:

Quote:

Energy Drained: The character gains one or more negative levels, which might become permanent. If the subject has at least as many negative levels as Hit Dice, he dies. See Energy Drain and Negative levels for more information.

So, Status is your solution.

[Kayerloth]

Agree with Sammy T Status would definitely detect negative levels. And likewise I think FractalLaw's and Matthew Downie's suggestion of allowing a Heal check is perfectly reasonable if not strictly mentioned within the text of a Heal skill check.

[RoseCrown]

If Status works, that's all I'll need, thanks! :)