Dragon Mag Corrupt Spells

[James McMurray]

For those of you who have the Dragon Magazine with Corrupt spells in it or knowledge of the Book of Vile Darkness, I've got a question:

Can undead cast Corrupt Spells?

All of the Corrupt spells have a component requiring the caster to take ability damage. Since undead are immune to ability damageone of three things must occur:

1. They can't cast the spell because they can't pay the component
2. They can cast the spells and do not take any damage for doing so.
3. They can cast the spells, but must give up their immunity to ability damage temporarily to do so.
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   Finally, if they can cast them, can they cast Corrupt spells whose component requires constitution damage?
   
   Thanks!
   
   Edit: fixed spelling errors

 

[Kaji]

Great question!!

Here would be my take. Yes undead are immune to ability damage, but I would not read that to suggest that they cannot willing do so. So, for example, my 10th level Wizard with the Vampire template can tap into corrupt spells and pay the price. You just can't make him lose strength from maybe a Ray of Enfeeblement. Beside, I love the corrupt spell idea way too much to limit my mage/vampires and liches from using them

 

[Kaji]

Oops, I forgot to address one part of your question, about Constitution damage. The answer is eithe "no" or maybe you chose another ability from to sacrifice instead. Because Con is essentially life force energy, and the undead are driven by negative energy, you could also consider having them temporarily lose a power based on negative energy (energy drain) as compensation.

 

[Someone]

I suggest to substitute Con damage for Cha damage. Undead already use Cha modifier to Concentration check IIRC, so there´s some kind of precedent.

 

[James McMurray]

The Cha damage might work. It allows them to still cast the spells, and since most undead abilities are based on Cha for the DC, it would actually be harmful tot hem (ass opposed to losing strength for example when you're a high-leve campire wizard.

Thnks guys!

 

[Caliber]

Just to provide some more evidence, when Undead get into Psionic combat they can still take ability damage, and Con damge converts into Cha damage.