Negative level clarification question

[Amazing Mumford]

Ran into some undead yesterday, just wanted to ask about a negative level issue-- in the PHB and the SRD it states

"-1 effective level (whenever the creature’s level is used in a die roll or calculation, reduce it by one for each negative level)."

So what if, for example, a 3rd-level mage had cast a 1 min/ level duration spell, and shortly thereafter gets attacked by a wight and gains a negative level? Does the spell duration change or not, because it was cast prior to the undead attacking?

Also, what about a barbarian's rage? If a barbarian goes into a rage, then a round later gains a negative level, does his rage duration remain the same or does it get reduced??

Thanks for the help!

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I'd say that the level he had when he cast the spell is what determines those things.

And...how does level loss affect Rage? The duration is 3 + con mod rounds.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, maximum duration is determined during the casting. It does not change afterwards.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Amazing Mumford]

Cool-- thank-you for your replies, we did actually rule it that way, I just wanted to double-check. Now we just have to see if that 3rd-lvl Wizard can make a Fort save in 24 hours...