Energy Drain - Optional?

[Centaur]

Are the energy rain abilities of some monsters optional. IE could a Vampire use his slam attack and choose not to energy drain you? Or could a Succubus kiss a PC and for some reason choose not to energy drain that person?

Or is the energy drain always on and unavoidable?

Thoughts?

 

[dcollins]

That may not have a clear answer in the rules. To my knowledge the answer would be "nothing in the core rules says these powers can be turned off".

 

[Scion]

Quite a few supernatural abilities can be 'turned off', such as gaze attacks and spell resistance. But they specifically say so at least one place. I've never seen one for energy drain, but I would assume that it could be and would rule it so in my game unless specified otherwise somewhere official.

But I dont believe it is said anywhere that it can be, which normally defaults to it cant.

 

[0-hr]

The SRD says "a vampire can use it's energy drain ability once per round." That wording seems to imply a choice.

It elsewhere says "Most energy drain attacks require a successful melee attack roll—mere physical contact is not enough" which indicates some consious effort on the part of the attacker.

And by the simple rules of logic "A succubus must kiss a victim in order to drain energy" does not necessarily imply that every kiss drains energy ("A requires B" does not prove that "B causes A"). And if it doesn't say it, there's no reason to assume it (unless it helps the DM advance the story).