What protects against ability drain?

[Nikosandros]

Its a very very strict reading of the rules but people have made this argument before.

Are there people that really use it that way in game?

 

[MarkB]

Construct Essence (5th level sorcerer/wizard spell and artificer infusion from Races of Eberron) gives you lots of construct-like resistances and immunities, including immunity to ability damage and drain.

 

[wayne62682]

Yep. It probably isn't meant to, and I wouldn't try it in a real game (at least without checking with the DM first), but per the RAW that's how it works.


glass.

Wow... just... wow. Brian Vanhoose would be proud.

 

[rvalle]

I had players go though that section of the WLD... but they were at level 4-6.

Bracers of Armor work vs a Shadow's touch. Fighting Defensively does as well. Magic Stone was used to great effect. Magic Missile and Spiritual Weapons also work without the 50% miss chance.

My group ended up going into 'Shadow Mode' when they were expecting to fight them. The character with a very good touch ac would take point. If Shadows were found he would go Total Defense and crank his AC up into the high 20's. The folks behind him would start the Turn Undeads, Magic Stones, Magic Missiles, Spiritual Weapons.

rv

 

[amethal]

If you have Tome of Magic, there is a vestige which grants you fast ability healing - you get back drained scores at a rate of 1 per hour.

Hey, its not my fault you don't have a binder in the party .....

 

[pawsplay]

Yep. It probably isn't meant to, and I wouldn't try it in a real game (at least without checking with the DM first), but per the RAW that's how it works.

Um, no. I know it's a bit of a sport to find "very strict readings" of the rules that are amusing, but I would call that a deliberately obtuse reading of the spell. It does NOT, in fact, say your Str can not drop below 1 during the spell. It just says,

. The subject takes a penalty to Strength equal to 1d6+1 per two caster levels (maximum 1d6+5). The subject’s Strength score cannot drop below 1.

Period. That only describes the effect of one spell. Hence, it does not override any other ability which says your Str can drop below 1.

 

[Shadeus]

Celestial brillance does something like 2d6 damage per round against shadows just by being in the radius of the light. I think it's a 60 ft radius with a duration of a day per level. A must have at higher levels.

 

[DungeonMaester]

>The Divine spell 'Concencrate' could help as well. (Against shadows atleast)

Sorry for any typos in advance.

---Rusty

 

[pawsplay]

REally, there is no problem with shadows that cannot be solved with force missiles.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Celestial brillance does something like 2d6 damage per round against shadows just by being in the radius of the light. I think it's a 60 ft radius with a duration of a day per level. A must have at higher levels.

A must have, true, which is why it's a good reason to houserule it otherwise. It's 10min/level IMC and still used regularly by the cleric.

pawsplay wrote: It does NOT, in fact, say your Str can not drop below 1 during the spell.

The rule says: The subject’s Strength score cannot drop below 1.

Quite honestly, I don't think this could be any more clear or concise. What you wrote is an exact opposite of the rule. Now, many people (myself included) assume that the rule corresponds to only the penalty associated with the spell, but some people, in fact, do not.