Gaining a negative level

[Darklone]

Energy drain plus quickened Enervation... yummyummy!

And afterwards you can send the wight at his buddies!

 

[Li Shenron]

I remember when we played OD&D for a while, and level drain was percieved as the ultimate DM's weapon against the characters... some of the players specifically warned the DM that if he used draining monsters (I remember the "Necrospettro" although I really don't know what was the equivalent in english), the player would have planed some serious revenge IRL

 

[allenw]

Also remember that, while it isn't indicated in all mentions of negative levels (such as the Enervation spell and the MM), each negative level results in -5 hp, per the DMG/SRD "Special Abilities and Conditions" sections on the "ENERGY DRAIN AND NEGATIVE LEVELS" ability and the "Energy Drained" condition, which I consider to be the controlling definitions. So, you might die even before your negative levels equal your positive ones, though in that case at least you won't become a Wight.