Raising the dead and level loss

[TheGogmagog]

I use an even simpler house rule. I play the permanent negative levels the same as temporary negative levels. IE -1 to all rolls, highest level spell slot, until the character gains enough exp to restore the level. This saves the level down and level back up time.

Oh, for RAW, I agree it's not defined. It makes sense that the level lost would be in the most recent level taken. But the semantics don't explicitly specify.

 

[Tatsukun]

When I DM I say you can choose, but it's never been a problem becasue it's never caused wonky PrC's. I'm not sure how I'd handle it then.

I played with a DM once who ruled it was the last level taken, and that when you advanced your next level, you had to replace it exactly like you had taken it before. I didn't care for that, but it works.

-Tatsu

 

[VorpalStare]

I'd say that you lose the last level gained, and continue this backwards inductively level by level from the highest level until all applicable level losses have been applied.

Level Loss
A character who loses a level instantly loses one Hit Die. The character's base attack bonus, base saving throw bonuses, and special class abilities are now reduced to the new, lower level. A 2nd-level rogue, for example, normally has the evasion ability, but when she is drained to 1st level, she loses that ability. Likewise, the character loses any ability score gain, skill ranks, and any feat associated with the level (if applicable). If the exact ability score or skill ranks increased from a level now lost is unknown (or the player has forgotten), lose 1 point from the highest abilty score or ranks from the hishest-ranked skills.

The key point is that you lose the exact and highest ability score increases, feats, and skill rank gains from the level lost (according to the example). This can only apply to the last level the character earned, in general. One could argue that there is still some ambiguity in the unlikely case of a multiclass character gaining exactly the same skill ranks and feats in the highest levels of two of her classes, but the intent expressed in the DMG is pretty clear here.

 

[Evilhalfling]

Thanks Vorpal, that seems to be a definate intention if not actually a ruling.