Is Ray of Enfeeblement too good?

[Enkhidu]

Holy Moly! An Arcane Trickster with Greater Invis and Chill Touch is a one PC wrecking crew!

 

[Hypersmurf]

What about it?

Well, it's key, for a start.

And very clear, apparently

-Hyp.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Oh! That makes perfect sense, now. Thanks for explaining it, Hyp!

 

[kenobi65]

I think the key wording is "Negative energy"

As well as the actual term of "ability damage"

 

[Tatsukun]

What do you suppose WOTC is trying to say in that sentance when it talks about negative energy from spells that inflict "ability damage" ?

Exactly that, negative energy from spells that inflict ability damage. As has been noted, RoE does not inflict ability damage, it imposes an ability pennalty.

I'm at work / too sleepy right now to think of any spells that DO inflict ability damage, but I am pretty sure others can help me there.

-Tatsu

 

[Shadowdweller]

What do you suppose WOTC is trying to say in that sentance when it talks about negative energy from spells that inflict "ability damage" ?

Or more literally, perhaps? WotC is saying that when you sneak attack with an Enervation spell you do NOT deal extra negative levels or ability damage (+5d6 if we're talking 10th level rogue, again) because that would be BROKEN.

 

[Caliban]

I think the key wording is "Negative energy"

No, the key word you are looking for is "damage".

If it doesn't do damage, it can't be used to sneak attack.

Negative energy spells can do damage, but not all negative energy spells do. Negative energy alone does not allow you to make a sneak attack with it.

 

[ARandomGod]

Chill Touch
A touch from your hand, which glows with blue energy, disrupts the life force of living creatures. Each touch channels negative energy that deals 1d6 points of damage. The touched creature also takes 1 point of Strength damage unless it makes a successful Fortitude saving throw.

-Hyp.

Holy Smurf!

So, with that chill touch, if the person fails their fort save and you've got, say, 5d6 worth of sneak attack goodness, would they then take 6d6 worth of HP damage and one strength, 1d6 worth of HP damage and 5d6+1 strength damage, or 6d6 HP damage and 5d6+1 strength damage.

I mean... that one's complicated. How would it work, exactly?

 

[Caliban]

Holy Smurf!

So, with that chill touch, if the person fails their fort save and you've got, say, 5d6 worth of sneak attack goodness, would they then take 6d6 worth of HP damage and one strength, 1d6 worth of HP damage and 5d6+1 strength damage, or 6d6 HP damage and 5d6+1 strength damage.

I mean... that one's complicated. How would it work, exactly?

6D6 Negative Energy damage and 1 point of strength damage. According to the Complete Arcane, the extra damage is always hit point damage, of the same type as the base attack.

So a sneak attack with Enervation does 1d4 negative levels plus xD6 of negative energy damage from sneak attack.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I mean... that one's complicated. How would it work, exactly?

It's not complicated. The fact that there is hit point damage and ability damage isn't really relevant.

The relevant question is "Is it a weaponlike spell?", which is answered by asking two otehr questions.

1. Is there an attack roll? And yes, there is.
2. Does it deal damage (as in hit point damage, ability damage, or negative levels)? And yes - hit points and ability damage.

Since it's weaponlike, you can add sneak attack damage to the attack. (Not once to the hit point damage and once to the ability damage... just add it to the attack.)

And Caliban described the rule above for what sort of damage it is.

(It's worth noting that Monte Cook, when I asked him about vile damage, said that even though sneak attack deals damage of the same type as the original attack, if the original attack is dealing purely vile damage, he'd make the sneak attack dice normal damage.)

-Hyp.