Shadows temporary hitpoints or not

[The Shadow Lich]

When shadows do there strength damage ability do they gain temporary hitpoints? I thought that strength damage did not grant temporary hitpoints, but strength drain did. But I was reading Libris mortis under undead diet and seen a discrepency with the monster manual 1 and Libris mortis. On page 9 of Libris mortis on chart 1-1 it has Str 1 by the shadow entry.
When you read about that below it says (causes ability drain or damage, which may also provide the undead with temporary hit points). Was this a update from the monsters manual or did I miss something?

 

[frankthedm]

Was this a update from the monsters manual or did I miss something?

No update. The operative word is "may". Drain gives temp HP, Damage does not.

(causes ability drain or damage, which may also provide the undead with temporary hit points).

 

[The Shadow Lich]

So why did they put that next to the shadow in libris mortis? If a shadow does not gain temporary hitpoints then why did they put that on the chart? Its kind of confusing how they wrote that. So now the delima is fixing my character and telling my DM I was wrong. Well fixing it is simple no more temporary hp. Do you think if we made up a feat that allowed you to do drain instead of damage that it would be off balanceing?

 

[frankthedm]

So why did they put that next to the shadow in libris mortis? If a shadow does not gain temporary hitpoints then why did they put that on the chart? Its kind of confusing how they wrote that.

They wrote it that way to show the creature sustained itself by attacking normally. Whether or not it heals in addition to gaining 'nutrition' is a separate issue that is covered by the word "may".

Do you think if we made up a feat that allowed you to do drain instead of damage that it would be off balanceing?

Ask some players if they feel the ability for a monster to drain their stats permanently is worth just a feat.

 

[The Shadow Lich]

Alright I see it now, and no I guess It would not be just worth a feat either. Thanks for your time.