Telling time question...

[Xaynar]

Ok...so here's a question about telling time. Suppose the party has been inside a tower (such as Nightfang Spire) for several days. Absolutely nobody has had contact with the outside in any way for more than 2 days. They have slept inside with no view of the sun or moon. Would that party be able to tell time and if so, how close could they come to being accurate?
The reason I ask is let's say multiple people were hit by a level drain from an undead in a combat. After 24 hours, they must make a Fort save to avoid having it permanent. Would they know when this would occur so as to cast short term duration spells to help in the Fort saves? It kinda makes you wonder if you "feel" the effect of the save coming on or it just takes place without your knowledge. Thanks for the help!

Xaynar

 

[Crothian]

First off without accurate timepieces, at best you can only tell time to the nearest half hour from my experience. Remove the signs of the stars and sun and you are really going to make it hard. I would use the Intuit Direction skill to see if they can figure out what the approximate time is.

As to letting them cast spells to increase the Fort save, well that's a problem. Because of the telling time issue, I don't think it should be allowed. However, because losing a level is very harsh, you just might let them get away with it.

 

[the Jester]

Well, in 3e divine casters get their spells back at the same time of day every day, so they sort of have an innate clock. Once a day they know the time.

Other than that- I'd say not without a water clock.

 

[Glyfair]

Well, in 3e divine casters get their spells back at the same time of day every day, so they sort of have an innate clock. Once a day they know the time.

Other than that- I'd say not without a water clock.

Actually, they are supposed to meditate and pray to get their spells back at the same time every day. If they miss the time, they're out of luck for that day.

Of course, you could have a "feeling" from the deity that it is the correct time of day for them to pray. Still, that's a house rule type of thing.

Glyfair of Glamis

 

[the Jester]

Well I'll be damned, you're right!

Huh... I'll have to take this into account from now on...

 

[Xaynar]

Yes, I agree without the ability to see anything but 4 walls and a ceiling it would be hard to determine time any closer than 30-60 minutes of accurate. I wasn't comfortable with the Intuit Direction skill being used so I just had a general Intelligence check made from everyone to see if anyone could guess accurately.
As to the second part of my question, is there any sort of indication that the level drain is about to become (possibly) permanent? Such as a "gut feeling" or a sense of weakness? And if it does become permanent to you, would you know at the exact moment so as possibly to alert others that were level drained within minutes after you?

 

[Crothian]

As to the second part of my question, is there any sort of indication that the level drain is about to become (possibly) permanent? Such as a "gut feeling" or a sense of weakness? And if it does become permanent to you, would you know at the exact moment so as possibly to alert others that were level drained within minutes after you?

No. Does a temp level drain and a permanent one feel any different? Nope, to the character it'd feel the same.

 

[Lord Ben]

It's not instantaneously after 24 hours, it's a slow process of 24 hours of weakness. Either you're tough enough to withstand it or you're not. Personally any duration 10 mins and above is fine with me because you could cast it and try to force it out of your system. But it's not on a 24hr timer where you're walking around at 3:27 pm and all of a sudden HURK!! and you lose a level permanently, it's 24hrs of cold sweats and a headache that goes away with permanent damage or just goes away.