Ability Damage/Temporary Ability Damage...huh?

[kreynolds]

What's the difference? I've been seeing this so-called "temporary ability damage" thing popping up more and more, mostly in third party books. Is it different from Ability Damage? As far as I can tell, it isn't, seeing as how Ability Damage is inherently temporary in the first place.

 

[CRGreathouse]

What's the difference? I've been seeing this so-called "temporary ability damage" thing popping up more and more, mostly in third party books. Is it different from Ability Damage? As far as I can tell, it isn't, seeing as how Ability Damage is inherently temporary in the first place.

WotC used to refer to ability damage as "temporary ability damage" and ability drain as "permanant ability drain". Personally, I hated it; it's just too verbose.

In short, they're the same.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

WotC used to refer to ability damage as "temporary ability damage" and ability drain as "permanant ability drain". Personally, I hated it; it's just too verbose.

In short, they're the same.

Yup.

The problem is there is 'ability damage' and 'ability drain' are too similar. What they want to say is 'temporary ability damage' and 'permenant ability damage'. Except 'permenant' is not exactly permenant...only sort of.