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Message: <blockquote data-quote="slobster" data-source="post: 6006119" data-attributes="member: 6693711">To sythesize what you guys have already said, what sounds best to me is a version of the hit dice drain. Energy drain removes one of the target's hit dice. You roll that hit dice, and the target's max HP is reduced by the amount rolled. The attacking creature then recovers an equal amount of HP.An energy drain attack that hits a target with no more hit dice left inflicts the unconscious condition for the rest of the combat (save resists). Some undead might instead stun or paralyze or even kill the target on a failed save. On a successful save, the target takes disadvantage on attacks and checks for 1 round.Any character reduced to below 0 max hp is unconscious, stunned or whatever for the encounter as though they failed the save.It seems a little clunky, but it's easier than negative levels and pretty flavorful. Any thoughts on how to streamline it?EDITSo basically you'd be inventing a new status effect, energy drained.Energy Drained X: A character who is energy drained has his maximum hp lowered by the amount X. A character whose maximum hp is taken below 0 by energy drain is rendered unconscious until the his energy drain is healed. A character may spend and roll a hit dice to reduce the amount of his energy drain by the number rolled, though hit dice spent in this fashion do not also heal that character.</blockquote>