Can You Deliver Energy Drain with Spectral Hand? [2005 thread]

[Aluvial]

I have a Dread Necromancer (Heroes of Horror) Vampire encounter soon. Can I deliver a energy drain through a Spectral Hand?

Thanks,

Aluvial

 

[Artoomis]

Nope.

For as long as the spell lasts, any touch range spell of 4th level or lower that you cast can be delivered by the spectral hand.

Energy Drain
Necromancy
Level: Clr 9, Sor/Wiz 9

 

[Hypersmurf]

I think he means Energy Drain [Su]:

Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a vampire’s slam attack (or any other natural weapon the vampire might possess) gain two negative levels. For each negative level bestowed, the vampire gains 5 temporary hit points. A vampire can use its energy drain ability once per round.

The answer's still no, since a Spectral Hand isn't a natural weapon.

-Hyp.

 

[Aluvial]

I think he means Energy Drain [Su]:

Energy Drain (Su): Living creatures hit by a vampire’s slam attack (or any other natural weapon the vampire might possess) gain two negative levels. For each negative level bestowed, the vampire gains 5 temporary hit points. A vampire can use its energy drain ability once per round.

The answer's still no, since a Spectral Hand isn't a natural weapon.

-Hyp.

You were correct about the type, it is the Vampire's ability (Su). If you can attack with it to deliver the other Dread Necro's abilities, I'm not sure why you can't attack with it.

From the SRD,

The spell gives you a +2 bonus on your melee touch attack roll, and attacking with the hand counts normally as an attack.

Aluvial

 

[Hypersmurf]

If you can attack with it to deliver the other Dread Necro's abilities, I'm not sure why you can't attack with it.

Ah - does the Dread Necromancer have a class feature that alters the behaviour of Spectral Hand?

Do you have the text of the ability? I don't have Heroes of Horror available.

-Hyp.

 

[Aluvial]

Ah - does the Dread Necromancer have a class feature that alters the behaviour of Spectral Hand?

-Hyp.

Well I'm not sure. You can pass Charnal Touch (1d8, +1 per 4 class levels) (which mimics a lich's touch attack when it hits 20th level, when you actually become a lich), Scabrous Touch (which gives Contagion, as the spell), and Enervating Touch (which actually drains 2 levels), through the Spectral Hand. Since Spectral Hand allows a Melee Touch Attack, and Enervating Touch allows you to drain levels, I would say that if my Vampire Dread Necromancer would allow the Energy Drain too.

There isn't text that supports that the Dread Necromancer changes Spectral Hand in any way except for those three (Su) abilities where it specifically says that you can use Spectral Hand to pass those on.

My point is that the Spectral Hand counts as a Melee Touch Attack (from the SRD) and the Energy Drain of a Vampire is through a Melee Touch Attack. Since these are the same, and I have the Dread Necromancer ability of Enervating Touch also, I don't really see why not.

Aluvial

 

[Hypersmurf]

My point is that the Spectral Hand counts as a Melee Touch Attack (from the SRD) and the Energy Drain of a Vampire is through a Melee Touch Attack.

It's not - it's through a Slam (or other natural weapon). That's a normal melee attack, not a touch attack.

But even if it were through a touch attack, you still couldn't deliver it through a Spectral Hand. The Hand delivers spells; the Dread Necro gets the added ability to channel those three specific Su abilities through it. A DM might rule to allow certain other abilities, but as written, it's not possible.

-Hyp.

 

[frankthedm]

The Devourer has a special ability to use its energy drain through its spectral hand.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The Devourer has a special ability to use its energy drain through its spectral hand.

How appropriate that this is a thread about a Dread Necromancer...?

-Hyp.

 

[frankthedm]

How appropriate that this is a thread about a Dread Necromancer...?

Just pointing out that there was precedence in the ruleset for mosters getting extra benefits from Spectral Hand. The Angel of the Dark / Dread Necromancer does get to use the class's energy drain though their spectral hand, so it is not inconcievable. The main issue is will it be too deadly for the CR to let a vampire use its double negative level slam through the touchy-touchy.