Energy Drain

[Hypersmurf]

The "Monsters" FAQ states that creature with energy drain attacks can only use them once per round (or twice if Hasted). Where does that rule come from? The description of Energy Drain implies that any melee attack will drain levels (and there's a line in the Main FAQ that seems to take the same view).

I'm looking at the Energy Drain Armor Enhancement from DotF and trying to decide if the power is use-activated (functions on every touch attack), use-activated-but-limited (functions on one attack per round, however many attacks are made), or a standard action to activate and make a single attack (like casting a touch-range spell).

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

The "Monsters" FAQ states that creature with energy drain attacks can only use them once per round (or twice if Hasted). Where does that rule come from?

From the FAQ. How's that for a circular answer.

The description of Energy Drain implies that any melee attack will drain levels (and there's a line in the Main FAQ that seems to take the same view).

What line in the FAQ takes the same view? I'm looking, but you might find it faster than me.

 

[Hypersmurf]

If an opponent provokes an attack of opportunity from you,
you can make only a melee attack or do something that you do
as a melee attack (such as trip the opponent). Note that some
spells, spell-like abilities, or supernatural abilities have ongoing
or automatic effects that will come into play during an attack of
opportunity. For example, if you are already holding the charge
for a touch spell such as shocking grasp or you have a spell
such as produce flame running, you can use the touch attacks
these spells provide as attacks of opportunity. Likewise, energy
drain is a supernatural ability, but it usually works whenever
the creature makes a successful melee attack and will work as
part of an attack of opportunity.

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

I figured that's the one you were referring to. Honestly, I think Skip came to his (incorrect?) ruling by letting himself put his reply out of context of the question. Take a closer look at the question. It's about a vampiric monk, right? Vampires get a energy drain attack. How do they use it? With their slam attack. How many slam attacks do they get? One.

Looks like he replied to the specific question and inadvertantly, or intentionally, blanketed his reply to cover all situations/creatures.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Vampires get a energy drain attack. How do they use it? With their slam attack. How many slam attacks do they get? One.

Well, now, that's debatable.

Firstly, if the base creature has a slam attack, it uses that instead of the templated slam attack. A quick flick through the MM shows that Mohrgs, Golems, Elementals, and Genies all have multiple slam attacks. Admittedly, none of those are eligible for the vampire template, but it does set precedent for the potential existence of a vampire with multiple slam attacks. If we had a vampiric Mohrg-equivalent, which gets two slam attacks, shouldn't the energy drain work on both of them?

Secondly... shouldn't a human's unarmed strike be considered a slam attack? It's battering opponents with an appendage and dealing bludgeoning damage, right?

-Hyp.

 

[LordAO]

Energy Drain is one of those things I hope will disappear in the 3.5 edition.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I'd be... startled, if it did.

-Hyp.

 

[LordAO]

I'd be... startled, if it did.

-Hyp.

Me too, but we can always hope. Honestly, if there is anything I have ever hated about D&D, this is it.

 

[Kerrick]

Secondly... shouldn't a human's unarmed strike be considered a slam attack? It's battering opponents with an appendage and dealing bludgeoning damage, right?

Actually, no, it shouldn't. I had this same discussion with my DM one day (not during the game), and he said that a slam is a natural attack (thus not requiring the Improved Unarmed Attack feat), while a human's unarmed strike is a normal melee attack (which is why they have to take the Improved Unarmed Strike feat to be considered "armed").
The vampire monk, however, does not deal damage with all of his attacks because they're not slams - they're unarmed attacks. He can, however, choose to smack the fighter across the head with a slam attack and deal energy drain as well. It's a fine distinction, sure, but one that doesn't upset the scales.