Enervation and negative levels on bodies in conjunction with Possession and Magic Jar

[evermind]

I am facing a conundrum here - I have a player pretty fond of both Enervation and Magic Jar spells.

A) He intends to take over target bodies by Enervating the target first (imposing a nice penalty to the target's save against that), then taking over the body through Magic Jar. so far, so good...

As that particular question was passed through this forum a few weeks ago, the consenting opinion was, that negative levels were imposed on the life force inhabiting a body, not the (purely corporeal) body itself.
If that holds true, it would mean, the problematic negative levels imposed through Enervation would be gone from the host body when the character successfull "magic jars" it, since they should be linked to the original lifeforce currently forced out of the body. he would hence get use of the body at full capability

B) If it were not true, how would spells like Enervation, Dominate Person/Monster, Charm etc. affect a host + inhabiting lifeforce combo ? Do they affect only the inhabiting lifeforce or rather the corporeal body ? Both ? How would that affect the original lifeforce when it gets chucked back into the body ?

C) How about an inhabiting lifeforce immune to an effect (like say charms if the possessor/magic Jar'er is undead ) while the body is not ? Or vice versa - say a humanoid in a native outsider body getting hit by Dominate Person ?

Thanks for the input... and now bring on the rule-masters, please

 

[werk]

"You keep your Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma, level, class, base attack bonus, base save bonuses, alignment, and mental abilities. The body retains its Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, hit points, natural abilities, and automatic abilities."

"Each negative level gives a creature a -1 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks, and effective level..."

Wow, that's a mess.

Good luck!

 

[Vegepygmy]

Enervation "suppresses the life force of any living creature." When you successfully use magic jar, "your life force occupies the host body, and the host's life force is imprisoned in the magic jar."

Seems pretty obvious to me that enervation's effects follow the life force, not the body.

 

[shilsen]

Enervation "suppresses the life force of any living creature." When you successfully use magic jar, "your life force occupies the host body, and the host's life force is imprisoned in the magic jar."

Seems pretty obvious to me that enervation's effects follow the life force, not the body.

That's exactly how I read it.

 

[evermind]

Well then how about other effects ? Say an undead "lifeforce" inhabiting a moral and living body ? Charms etc. ?

any takers ?

 

[Vegepygmy]

I would classify an undead creature's immunity to mind-affecting effects as a "mental ability." Thus, an undead creature using magic jar to possess a living creature's body would retain its immunity to mind-affecting effects.

 

[Falling Icicle]

B) If it were not true, how would spells like Enervation, Dominate Person/Monster, Charm etc. affect a host + inhabiting lifeforce combo ? Do they affect only the inhabiting lifeforce or rather the corporeal body ? Both ? How would that affect the original lifeforce when it gets chucked back into the body ?

C) How about an inhabiting lifeforce immune to an effect (like say charms if the possessor/magic Jar'er is undead ) while the body is not ? Or vice versa - say a humanoid in a native outsider body getting hit by Dominate Person ?

B) I would apply any effect that targets the creature's physical body or possessions, but not effects that target its mind or soul. So something like enlarge person would still be in effect on a possessed body, but charm person would not. The charm effect would still be in effect on the trapped soul, but would have no effect on the possessor.

C) I would apply the mental immunities that are appropriate to the possessor rather than the body. If an elf possesses a human, he would still be immune to sleep, imo. If a human possesses an outsider, he would not be immune to charm person.

 

[QuaziquestGM]

I think the main sticking point here is hitpoints. If the body is down on Hp due to negative levels, then the possessor is stuck with that situation.

 

[Vegepygmy]

The reduction in hit points is a consequence of the negative level(s) inflicted by the enervation. They should therefore follow the life force, not the body.