Gaining a negative level

[Belares]

In the game last night the group encountered 3 Spectres. At first I was thinking that the rogue got hit by the spectre and gained 2 negative levels, but he made both DC saves to not be affected by it. Then I looked at it again and I think it is that he DOES gain the 2 negative levels and then after a 24 hour period, if he misses the DC fort save then they are permanent. I ruled that he did indeed gain 2 negative levels.

Is this correct? If so does anyone allow in there home game to let them make the DC fort save when they are hit then not after 24 hours?

Once the 24 hour window is up and the save made or missed, then that is when the level loss ACTUALLY occurs. With that said if a restoration is cast on him the next round and takes the negative level away then there is no level loss (well 1 level loss) and no exp loss? Correct? Thanks.

 

[CalrinAlshaw]

Each negative level = -1 attacks, saves, skills checks, etc.
A spellcaster loses their highest level spell slot, or prepared spell (random spell if prepared spells).
If the negative level is not somehow removed via restoration spells or more powerful magic, then after 24 hours the creature must make a fortitude saving throw to "remove" each negative level. And I believe each fort save is made while COUNTING the penalty from Negative Energy Levels. NEL's are nasty. But not nearly so bad as in 2nd Ed AD&D, so no worries eh?

Calrin Alshaw

 

[the Jester]

I like negative levels as written- they are one of the nastiest attack forms available, and they aren't as utterly ruthless as in earlier editions. Good combo, imho.

 

[Belares]

I whole-heartedly agree. The CR 7 spectre is really nasty and almost under rated. Only needs to touch attack you and BAM 2 negative levels and now you are a lot more in trouble than you started. LOL

 

[Li Shenron]

Then I looked at it again and I think it is that he DOES gain the 2 negative levels and then after a 24 hour period, if he misses the DC fort save then they are permanent. I ruled that he did indeed gain 2 negative levels.

Is this correct? If so does anyone allow in there home game to let them make the DC fort save when they are hit then not after 24 hours?

Once the 24 hour window is up and the save made or missed, then that is when the level loss ACTUALLY occurs. With that said if a restoration is cast on him the next round and takes the negative level away then there is no level loss (well 1 level loss) and no exp loss? Correct? Thanks.

I am afraid you are correct on everything. If that scares you & your players too much, the house rule you suggest is a good idea (and if you later find that energy drain does not scare anymore, you can still take the HR away ). Of course restoration can "heal" negative levels at any time before 24hrs expire, but after that you don't have negative levels to restore anymore, and the only way to get the levels back is gathering new XP.

 

[Telperion]

And if I recall correctly if a character gains an equal number, or more, negative levels than that character has remaining class levels then he instantly dies.

For example: a regular 8th level wizard.
Gets hit twice by said Spectre.
Gains 4 negative levels.
Negative levels now equal his character levels.
Instant death.
Some time later said character rises as a spawn that is slaved to the undead that created it (don't recall if Spectres created spawn, but wouldn't be surprised if they did. Wraiths do it.).

Incorporeal undead are a real hazard if you don't have a cleric around. I use them very sparingly as a DM and whenever my players see one they get nervous.

 

[shilsen]

And if I recall correctly if a character gains an equal number, or more, negative levels than that character has remaining class levels then he instantly dies.

For example: a regular 8th level wizard.
Gets hit twice by said Spectre.
Gains 4 negative levels.
Negative levels now equal his character levels.
Instant death.
Some time later said character rises as a spawn that is slaved to the undead that created it (don't recall if Spectres created spawn, but wouldn't be surprised if they did. Wraiths do it.).

Incorporeal undead are a real hazard if you don't have a cleric around. I use them very sparingly as a DM and whenever my players see one they get nervous.

Right. Spectres create spawn in the same time period (1d4 rds) as wraiths. And I agree - incorporeal undead are very scary. The fact that they use touch attacks lets them punch right through the AC of most PCs of an equivalent level.

 

[Darklone]

Incorporeal undead in Unhallow and Desecrated area are pretty nice even if the PCs have a strong cleric around.

 

[Herpes Cineplex]

And if I recall correctly if a character gains an equal number, or more, negative levels than that character has remaining class levels then he instantly dies.

Um...no, you don't recall correctly.

My DMG (3.0) says: "A character with negative levels at least equal to her current level, or drained below 1st level, is instantly slain. Depending on the creature that killed her, she may rise the next night as a monster of that kind. If not, she rises as a wight."

In your example (8th level wizard versus spectre), after being hit twice the wizard is now an 8th level wizard with 4 negative levels, not a 4th level wizard with 4 negative levels. He hasn't lost any permanent levels yet, so he's still 8th level for everything that isn't specifically mentioned as being affected by the energy drain...for example, he's 8th level when calculating experience points earned.

Now, if the wizard survives and then blows all 4 saving throws after 24 hours, the negative levels will become permanent and he'll be a 4th level wizard with no negative levels at all.

--
unless they changed this in 3.5; and if they did, probably they shouldn't have
ryan

 

[Telperion]

My DMG (3.0) says: "A character with negative levels at least equal to her current level, or drained below 1st level, is instantly slain. Depending on the creature that killed her, she may rise the next night as a monster of that kind. If not, she rises as a wight."

Right you are. They haven't changed this part of the rules, so the spectre / wraith / etc. still needs to give eight negative levels to an 8th level character before instant death. Special rules are given under certain undead, so for example "Any humanoid slain by a spectre becomes a spectre in d4 rounds." MM 3.5, page 232.

My bad. Didn't have the MM with me at work.