Level Loss

[werk]

If a character were to lose a level through Energy Drain or Raise Dead, can they, after gaining enough XP to level, level up in a different way than before?

#1. A 4th level human barbarian gets hit with Energy Drain and loses one level permanently...making him a 3rd level barbar. Once he gets enough XP to level, does he HAVE to take the level in barbar or can he just level as normal?

#2. A Minotaur PC has no class levels and is ECL 8. If that minotaur died and was raised 5 times, would his ECL reduce to 3? And would he be able to advance in class levels from that point?

...hypothetically, of course.

 

[DungeonMaester]

If a character were to lose a level through Energy Drain or Raise Dead, can they, after gaining enough XP to level, level up in a different way than before?

#1. A 4th level human barbarian gets hit with Energy Drain and loses one level permanently...making him a 3rd level barbar. Once he gets enough XP to level, does he HAVE to take the level in barbar or can he just level as normal?

#2. A Minotaur PC has no class levels and is ECL 8. If that minotaur died and was raised 5 times, would his ECL reduce to 3? And would he be able to advance in class levels from that point?

...hypothetically, of course.

1) Yes, he has to get exp equal to what a 4th level barb ned to get to fith to get back to fourth, and again to get to fith. Not exactly Raw, but its no confusing ethier. I would ofer Raw but I dont hve my books on me.

2) Yes again. He loses his HD and will need a baot load of exp to level up again. Also not exactly Raw.

---Rusty

 

[3d6]

#1. A 4th level human barbarian gets hit with Energy Drain and loses one level permanently...making him a 3rd level barbar. Once he gets enough XP to level, does he HAVE to take the level in barbar or can he just level as normal?

He can gain a level in any class he meets the requirements and prerequisites for, just like any other time a character gains a level.

#2. A Minotaur PC has no class levels and is ECL 8. If that minotaur died and was raised 5 times, would his ECL reduce to 3? And would he be able to advance in class levels from that point?

If a minotaur was rasied 5 times, he would be an ECL 3 character, having 1 racial hit die and a level adjustment of +2. I'm not sure what would happen when he gained a level, however. Normally, a character with one racial Hit Die loses that Hit Die when he or she gains a level in a class. I believe what would happen here is that once the minotaur gained enough XP to be ECL 4, he or she would gain two class levels and lose the racial Hit Die.

 

[pawsplay]

I believe what would happen here is that once the minotaur gained enough XP to be ECL 4, he or she would gain two class levels and lose the racial Hit Die.

That should never happen.

Incidentally, losing that first Hit Die is not strictly mandatory. But regardless, minotaurs are not creatures with 1 Hit Die, even though one might be down to only one.

 

[Gerion of Mercadia]

1. you can take any level you choose - the character is not mandated to go BBN 4

2. Characters without class levels lose 1 point of con permanently for each raise dead/resurrection. There are no "Levels" involved.

 

[3d6]

Incidentally, losing that first Hit Die is not strictly mandatory. But regardless, minotaurs are not creatures with 1 Hit Die, even though one might be down to only one.

Where do you find a rule stating that the Hit Die loss isn't mandatory?

Creatures with 1 or less HD replace their monster levels with their character levels. The monster loses the attack bonus, saving throw bonuses, skills, and feats granted by its 1 monster HD and gains the attack bonus, save bonuses, skills, feats, and other class abilities of a 1st-level character of the appropriate class.

It looks like its stating what happens, not what you can choose to do. I also don't see how a creature with 1 HD doesn't fall into the category of "creatures with 1 HD or less".

2. Characters without class levels lose 1 point of con permanently for each raise dead/resurrection. There are no "Levels" involved.

The subject of the spell loses one level (or 1 Hit Die) when it is raised, just as if it had lost a level or a Hit Die to an energy-draining creature. If the subject is 1st level, it loses 2 points of Constitution instead (if this would reduce its Con to 0 or less, it can’t be raised). This level/HD loss or Constitution loss cannot be repaired by any means.

It sure looks like you can lose racial Hit Dice to me.

 

[Sejs]

1. He can just level as normal. He doesn't have to take levels in barbarian, even though that's what he's lost. Heck, it's even a good justification for taking something else.. like.. say.. cleric.

2. The minotaur would be ECL 3.. but don't forget that, unlike the barbarian from (1), the minotaur HAS to take his racial levels again. There is no option not to. Not even with energy drain. Your racial HD are mandatory - no having your cake and eatting it too, as it were.

 

[frankthedm]

2. The minotaur would be ECL 3.. but don't forget that, unlike the barbarian from (1), the minotaur HAS to take his racial levels again. There is no option not to. Not even with energy drain. Your racial HD are mandatory - no having your cake and eatting it too, as it were.

Could you back that up with core rules text specifying the monster HD has to be taken again after a level loss? A character can't start play without those HD, but I have seen nothing that would indicate a High HD character could not allow a [controlled] wight to smack a few levels {HD actually] off them, willingly fail the fort save 24 hours later and then take normal character levels the rest of the character's career. Or do it the pricey way and pay the 5000gp per HD you want gone and kill yourself, get raised, kill yourself, get raised and on.

The only thing that can stop that is the DM saying No.

 

[Sejs]

Core - no. Savage Species - yes.

p27, Monster Classes and Multiclassing.
"A monster character using these rules may not multiclass until it completes the full progression in its monster class. This rule keeps characters from ganing the benefits of a monster's type and then quickly switching to a standard class."

 

[moritheil]

2. Characters without class levels lose 1 point of con permanently for each raise dead/resurrection. There are no "Levels" involved.

Racial HD are essentially levels.

A creature’s “monster class” is always a favored class, and the creature never takes XP penalties for having it.