new Feat for the necromantic

[Melkantur]

feat: Negative Energy Substitution
this functions exactly like the Energy Substitution from Tome & Blood except that the elemental (fire, acid, cold, elect. or sonic) type is changed to negative energy. It deals normal damage from negative energy (not ability or level drain) and is relatively balanced.

why? because it's totally appropriate for a necromancer. balanced since now you can make spells affect demons and devils that might otherise have reduction/immunity, but at the price that it's not merely worthless against undead but now counterproductive and heals them.

example: Negative Energy Fireball. Same as normal fireball for all effects except damage is negative energy not fire. Heals undead a like amount of damage. school type would remain unaffected, so a negative energy fireball would still be evocation unless your DM ruled otherwise...

 

[FireLance]

It's too good for an undead spellcaster. A lich can explode a Negative Energy Fireball or Negative Energy Meteor Swarn around himself and heal 10d6 or 24d6 points of damage while damaging his opponents (assuming they are living creatures) at the same time.

 

[Melkantur]

good point, that's the last thing Szass Tam needs right, but heck, liches are rare enough. Interesting, kind of like a Mass Vampiric touch with reach... scary.

well, anyone who's an elemental savant (obviously high enough level) can drop whatever energy spell is applicable on himself over and over while frying his enemies... but I see your point, and he's not being healed, just ignoring the damage.

For a lich general of an undead army this would indeed be broken.

in any other case it would hardly matter and be almost a silly waste of a feat. thanks for the input.