Aura of Life from Oath Against Undeath

[Kamarok]

This ability appears clear to me, but others are not interpreting it the same way and I am looking for an official ruling, or something in the rules that clarify. It says:

Aura of Life (Su)

At 8th level, the paladin gains a +4 morale bonus on saves against attacks that grant negative levels and saves to overcome negative levels. Each ally within 10 feet of her gains a +2 morale bonus on these saves.

This ability functions only while the paladin is conscious, not if she is unconscious or dead.

This ability replaces aura of resolve.

So does this aura provide the paladin and allies within the aura, a saving throw vs. Energy Drain attacks? It seems to say so. Since so little in the game provides an initial save vs Energy Drain, there is some disagreement. I've looked around and haven't found any discussion of this before. I do understand the part about the bonus to overcome negative levels after the 24 hour period if the level is drained. The initial save is the only part in question.

Thanks.

[willuwontu]

It only helps if there's a save in the first place, it does not grant a save if there would not be one.

It normally doesn't help with avoiding negative levels from energy drain, since energy drain usually inflicts negative levels automatically when a creature is struck. It would help with the save to avoid them becoming permanent though.

[Kamarok]

Hmm, no other comments. So, I am unsure why this archetype has this ability at 8th level, and at the cost of Aura of Resolve. Auras usually have some kind of use in encounters, and this one has none. It only becomes useful, 24 hours later, assuming the player and his allies actually survive after having several levels drained. Does anyone know of a single undead, or other creature for that matter, that drains an energy level and that actually gives a save to resist initially?

[Artofregicide]

So permanent negative levels are nasty... and more likely to stick than death by negative levels.

It's still an very niche ability. It would be better served as an "ignore penalties from negative levels and +4 vs. gaining and removing them." or similiar.

[Diego Rossi]

1) You don't compare a single piece of an archetype against what it replaces. You compare the whole archetype against the base class.

2) Sure, the spells, and monsters that give negative levels generally don't allow you a save when struck, but there are a few. This aura is more useful out of combat, but it is still useful.