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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jack Simth" data-source="post: 2102105" data-attributes="member: 29252">Actually, if you look at the <a href="http://srd.pbemnexus.com/monstersDrtoDw.html#black-dragon" target="_blank">SRD Black Dragon Stats</a>, everything (well, except the abilities universal to ALL black dragons - and even then, as they are included with all age categories of black dragon, can effectively be treated as dependant on age category - they are just present at all age categories) is based on age category - including Caster level, Frightful Presence save .... and Hit Dice.  I just ran the table on a different criteria - I treated HD as the primary key, rather than Age category.As for your example with Enervation, consider: having Negative Levels isn't the same thing as having a lower level - by a long shot: (From <a href="http://srd.pbemnexus.com/abilitiesAndConditions.html#energy-drain" target="_blank">Online SRD</a>.  A 20-th wizard with 10 negative levels could concievably have an attack roll of 0/-5 (10/5 for wiz-20, -10/-10 for negative levels), yet only loses 10 spells, and thus could still concievably have 2 level 7 spell slots (that's ignoring bonus slots for high ability scores, and assuming we aren't talking long-term after a failed Fort save) as a level 20 wizard gets 4 level 9, 4 level 8, and 4 level 7 spells.  Likewise, the same wizard could die of the HP loss from the same amount of negative levels without actually taking any damage, nor getting more than 10 negative levels, if it's CON bonus is low or negative (in the exteme case, the wizard is only getting 1 hp per HD, and dies after 6 negative levels (4 for the 20 HP, 2 to get to -10), without rising as a wight.  A Barbarian with high Con (+4 modifier, say) that permanently loses levels to energy drain could benefit in the long run - especially if he makes "average" rolls (6.5 on a d12, +4 for con makes an average of 10.5 per level after 1st), as he only loses 5 max HP but gains the potential for another average roll of 10.5 hp.  Even with a con mod of 0, the average of 6.5 per level gained and flat 5 per level lost could make for a net gain in the long run.  They are SO not the same thing.  But as I said - more a matter of the fuzzy english language than a matter of strict logic.  When dealing with a simacrula, is the "ultimate" determination of a critters abilities it's HD or it's kind (age, in the case of a dragon).  I picked HD, you picked age.  No biggie - we disagree.  Which is correct?  Well, that needs to wait for official WOTC errata.  More than that is little more than blowing hot air.</blockquote>

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