While you can't play an Undead Lord, you could go for an Oracle of Bones if you want a similar flavor.
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.
—Sean K Reynolds, 02/07/12
The language of Negative Energy Affinity has been changed several times since the release of Bestiary 2. Currently Dhampirs are only affected when channeling is used on living creatures. With them taking damage from positive energy, and healing from negative energy.
Using it on undead targets has no affect on Dhampirs, so the undead lord ability wouldn't function for a dhampir.
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The language of Negative Energy Affinity has been changed several times since the release of Bestiary 2. Currently Dhampirs are only affected when channeling is used on living creatures. With them taking damage from positive energy, and healing from negative energy.
Using it on undead targets has no affect on Dhampirs, so the undead lord ability wouldn't function for a dhampir.
resident corrector on this here..;)
Sorry Brian, that is incorrect, Negative Energy affinity has never worked that way, but it is a common mistake.. Yes the wording has changed recently but that was to make it more clear it does not work that way.
Here is the last post by SKR explaining how it works.
Folks, suggesting we go back to how channeling was in the Beta doesn't help the discussion of NEA. We're not going to change how the channeled energy rules work and we're certainly not going to change it back to how it was in the Beta. Let's remained focused on NEA so we can make it understandable, compatible with channel energy as written, and still fit in the 3-4 lines available in the Bestiary 2 appendix.
Here's the example scenario, and how NEA is supposed to interact with channel energy.
You have a cleric PC, his dhampir buddy PC, and an enemy ghoul.
If the cleric channels positive energy to heal the living, nothing happens to the dhampir or the ghoul (because the channel ignores undead).
If the cleric channels positive energy to harm undead, the cleric takes no damage (he's living, the channel ignores him) and the dhampir and ghoul take damage (because they're both effectively undead).And here's the latest revision to NEA:
Is that sufficient, or can we make the NEA wording clearer so "everyone" would interpret the example scenario correctly? I think the problem now is the word "targeted," because channel energy doesn't "target" anyone, it's an area that is tuned to either heal the living or harm undead.
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So, now, a living Dhampyr is undead? So intuitive, so logical, so reasonable, so in keeping with the Channel Energy rules. Not.
Does that mean a Dhampyr can be forced to run away when that Cleric uses his Channel Energy to Turn Undead? How about for Control Undead? Can that negatiuve channeling cleric force your Dhampyr buddy to attack you for, effectively, free?
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So, now, a living Dhampyr is undead? So intuitive, so logical, so reasonable, so in keeping with the Channel Energy rules. Not.
It makes a lot more sense then the other way around..
The other way around were the mistake is made you are both healing and harming with the same Channel, which is not the way Channel works, you can only Heal or Harm.
Negative affinity does not change if the target is living or undead or how Channel energy works just how he is effected by Channel energy, as if he was undead.
I know you don't like the rule kienvon, but at least for me it falls more into how channel energy works.
Edit: Questions about the rule should be brought up in the thread I linked to above.
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I did, and no answer.
The problem, as I see it, is that the Channel Energy definition in the Core rulebook says explicitly that Channel Energy, whether positive or negative, can be chosen to affect either living or undead, not to harm or heal, just to affect living or undead.
Negative Energy Affinity does not conform to said rule as written in the Core rulebook. Shrug. Why I feel it is counter-intuitive.
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Why is it that every time Dhampir comes up so does the argument about how they work with channeling?
It's come up so many times on the PFS forums maybe the FAQ should just state one way or the other, either a PFS FAQ or a normal pathfinder FAQ.
There is one. It is unclear, at least to me, since it doesn't really clarify anything.
So, do we follow the Core rulebook definition for Channel Energy:
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.
Negative Energy Affinity, if SKR was totaly clear on how it works, ignores this whole part of Core.
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I did, and no answer.
The problem, as I see it, is that the Channel Energy definition in the Core rulebook says explicitly that Channel Energy, whether positive or negative, can be chosen to affect either living or undead, not to harm or heal, just to affect living or undead.
Negative Energy Affinity does not conform to said rule as written in the Core rulebook. Shrug. Why I feel it is counter-intuitive.
Actually, that is not what it says.., Sorry for the derail...
Here are some lines..
Channel Energy (Su): 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.
You are always healing are harming, You are either Healing Living or Harming Undead.
What Negative Energy affinity does is though the 'target' is still considered a living creature (This is clarified in the ability so people don't try to find loopholes in other rules that treat living and undead differently) they are treated as undead for the purpose of Channel energy which means when you are trying to Harm Undead they get harmed, ore trying to Heal undead they get Healed.
Why is it that every time Dhampir comes up so does the argument about how they work with channeling?
It's come up so many times on the PFS forums maybe the FAQ should just state one way or the other, either a PFS FAQ or a normal pathfinder FAQ.
I pulled the rules text from the Bestiary FAQ as I wrote my post. Apparently SKR changed the wording again within 24 hours of posting the FAQ in a forum post, and never updated the FAQ to reflect that change.
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I pulled the rules text from the Bestiary FAQ as I wrote my post. Apparently SKR changed the wording again within 24 hours of posting the FAQ in a forum post, and never updated the FAQ to reflect that change.
That is correct, he has not updated the FAQ, which is too bad because the FAQ for that does a terrible job of clarifying it...
The actual wording that went into Bestiary 2 does not match the FAQ as well.
