Enervation

[Darmanicus]

And makes wights super cheap!

Or clones.........if you consider me a monster, (I'm sure the party does)!

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wait... then a 15th level wizard that hits a 15th level wizard with Maximized Split Enervation effectively reduces the victim's casting ability to casting 4th level spells (Caster Level 8), therefore only needing Globe of Invulnerability to be completly immune to the enemy... nice

Of course, if that enemy had a Globe of Invulnerability in the first place, he'd be immune to Maximized Split Enervation.

-Hyp.

 

[Piratecat]

Heh - my PCs never cast that. Glee...

Would spell turning bounce it back? It wouldn't, right?

 

[Caliban]

Heh - my PCs never cast that. Glee...

Would spell turning bounce it back? It wouldn't, right?

Enervation is "Effect: Ray" so I don't think so.

 

[Land Outcast]

Of course, if that enemy had a Globe of Invulnerability in the first place, he'd be immune to Maximized Split Enervation.

-Hyp.

Be sure to move first

 

[Darmanicus]

I'm not sure about this reducing actual caster levels though with regards to spells?

It mentions DC's, duration etc. and mentions a spell, (per level lost by your reckoning), however not say only being able to cast spells at his reduced caster level ie.

I hit Bob with Enervation for 4 levels of damage and he's an 11th lv mage, (Caster 6th), which effectively strips him down to 7th lv mage, (caster 4th).

The way I read it was that he'd lose his highest 4 spells and take a -4 to loads of stuff, not actually be reduced to only being able to cast 4th level spells?

Could someone please clarify that, assuming what I just typed actually makes any sense?

Cheers.

 

[Land Outcast]

If the subject has at least as many negative levels as HD, it dies. Each negative level gives a creature a -1 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, ability checks, and effective level (for determining the power, duration, DC, and other details of spells or special abilities).

Emphasis mine

but perhaps I'm wrong at implying that it reduces overall caster level (perhaps the 8xennervated 10th level wizard just casts a 2d6 fireball).

 

[Caliban]

And remember, 5th is the minimum caster level for a wizard to cast Fireball.

If you can drop his effective caster level below 5, in addition to losing one spell or spell slot from his or her highest available level for each negative level, you've also dropped his caster level below the minimum caster level for a wizard to cast Fireball...

-Hyp.

If I understand what you saying: a 12th level sorcerer with four 6th levels spell slots takes a single negative level, it drops his effective caster level to 11 and makes him unable to use his 3 remaining 6th level spell slots for casting his 6th level spell.

If that is the case, then I disagree. I don't think dropping his effective caster level is enough to actually stop him from casting spells he still has left. His actual caster level hasn't been reduced, just his effective one.

So you could end up with a wizard casting 4d6 fireballs because his effective level has been reduced to 4, but he still has 3rd level spells left prepared.

 

[Darmanicus]

Thanks for the clarification Cal, that seems to make sense.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I don't think dropping his effective caster level is enough to actually stop him from casting spells he still has left. His actual caster level hasn't been reduced, just his effective one.

So you could end up with a wizard casting 4d6 fireballs because his effective level has been reduced to 4, but he still has 3rd level spells left prepared.

Is the spell cast at caster level 5 or caster level 4?

PHB p171:
You can cast a spell at a lower caster level than normal, but the caster level you choose must be high enough for you to cast the spell in question, and all level-dependent features must be based on the same caster level. For example, at 10th level, Mialee can cast a Fireball to a range of 800 feet for 10d6 points of damage. If she wishes, she can cast a Fireball that deals less damage by casting the spell at a lower caster level, but she must reduce the range according to the selected caster level, and she can't cast Fireball with a caster level lower than 5th (the minimum level required for a wizard to cast Fireball).

Why can Mialee not choose to cast Fireball with a caster level lower than 5th? Because 5th is the minimum level required for a wizard to cast Fireball.

Since it is a minimum level required to cast the spell, it is not merely that one may not voluntarily reduce the caster level lower; if a wizard's caster level is involuntarily reduced below the minimum level required for a wizard to cast Fireball, then that wizard does not meet the requirements for casting Fireball.

If a 6th level wizard takes 2 negative levels from Enervation, his effective caster level is 4... which is below the minimum level required for a wizard to cast Fireball. Therefore, he is presently effectively incapable of casting Fireball.

It doesn't matter if his 'actual' caster level is still 6; the caster level with which he is attempting to cast Fireball is 4, and it's below the minimum. What's his caster level? Effectively, it's 4.

-Hyp.