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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2018 22:09:15 GMT -6
I agree that experience loss is a bummer, but I'm not really as fixated on the characters loss in this regard. The real penalty comes from the resulting loss of HD. As is level drains already effect hp's in this way. So, I would be willing to compromise. Each hit could reduce 1-2 levels of HD (This would vary by Class. Otherwise, it's like taking max damage from a hit). The character could retain their status level and experience gains for combat purposes. They could even continue to advance in level. Yet, the reduction of HD, and by extension hp's, would be permanent. Maybe it could be healed with an attempted cure serious wounds spell that would require a minimum roll of 6 pips per HD lost to restore. If the minimum is not met, the spell is wasted and HD are not restored. The way I do it, is players roll all of their hit dice every time the value changes. It always goes up or down. What's nice is that there's a chance that you won't lose that many points, and when you get your level back, you might even be ahead of where you were.
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Post by hamurai on Mar 25, 2018 0:49:31 GMT -6
I can relate to getting mad about having bad luck or making a mistake and losing something you wanted. What I can't relate to is objectifying that feeling and shifting the blame elsewhere. Saying "the problem is level drain, and the GM, for allowing level drain, and the game, for including level drain." OK, now I get your point. Thanks for your patience and explaining! I'm totally with you on this. And I like your rule about regaining a level per adventure. Seems like a good pace. I tend to see things from my group's point of view, or rather I see the "worst player reaction" - and then I tell myself I won't bother with permanent level drains because of unnecessary drama.
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Post by Porphyre on Mar 25, 2018 9:13:35 GMT -6
My rules for level drain are thus: - Undead which would drain one level drain 1d6 Constitution.
- Undead which would drain one level drain 2d4 Constitution.
- You are dead at 0 Constitution.
- Ability loss returns at a rate of 1 point per day of rest.
This solution has served us rather well - undead are properly scary, since a few hits can bring down even a mighty hero, and recuperation takes time (like in the LotR, actually!), but the losses do not amount to months' worth of play. Maybe regular drain wouldn't sting as much if we played daily or multiple times per week, but alas, those days are long over. I suppose you meant : "Undead which would drain two levels drain 2d4 Constitution"
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Post by Melan on Mar 25, 2018 9:53:19 GMT -6
Yup!
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Post by Porphyre on Mar 25, 2018 14:01:10 GMT -6
If I had to compromise, I would perhaps have the Undead drain XP , but not levels. The PC would keep is current level, Hit Dice, to-hit rolls,, etc. but would need to regain all XP lots before progressing again .
For exempls, a 4th level Hero (8500 XP) is hit by a one-level draining monster. He's technically still 4th level , but his current XP count falls to 4,000, and he won't level up until he gains 12,000 XP to reach 16,000 (Swashbuckler).
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Post by asaki on Jun 5, 2018 7:22:33 GMT -6
I'm currently running the Grand Conjunction Series of Ravenloft in 2nd Edition, and for the sake of moving things along, I plan on making level drain much less devastating. So far, the PCs and NPCs have been lucky.
My current plan: they won't lose any XPs or levels, but will lose the appropriate hit dice, and can only regain them after a generous "donation" to a high-level cleric.
Interestingly, I was just skimming B/X yesterday, and saw this on page X27:
"This effect cannot be cured. (Note: in the D&D Companion Supplement rules, there is a magical way to cure energy drains.)"
I'm wondering if this was going to be something updated from the OD&D supplements or magazines, or a newly written rule, or an alteration to an existing spell.
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Post by talysman on Jun 5, 2018 10:16:35 GMT -6
Interestingly, I was just skimming B/X yesterday, and saw this on page X27: "This effect cannot be cured. (Note: in the D&D Companion Supplement rules, there is a magical way to cure energy drains.)" I'm wondering if this was going to be something updated from the OD&D supplements or magazines, or a newly written rule, or an alteration to an existing spell. It's the Restoration spell, which first appeared in Greyhawk (Supplement 1).
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Post by asaki on Jun 7, 2018 6:16:09 GMT -6
Ah, thanks, I hadn't looked it up yet.
OD&D recommends not having an NPC cast it, since it incapacitates the priest for 2d10 days, but AD&D changed it to give the afflicted character a time limit instead (1 day per level of caster). Sounds like my current house-rule will work out well.
I really ought to go through the OD&D supplements and compile my own sort of "companion" book, unless that's exactly what B/X Companion already does.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2018 15:08:40 GMT -6
I can relate to getting mad about having bad luck or making a mistake and losing something you wanted. What I can't relate to is objectifying that feeling and shifting the blame elsewhere. Saying "the problem is level drain, and the GM, for allowing level drain, and the game, for including level drain." OK, now I get your point. Thanks for your patience and explaining! I'm totally with you on this. And I like your rule about regaining a level per adventure. Seems like a good pace. I tend to see things from my group's point of view, or rather I see the "worst player reaction" - and then I tell myself I won't bother with permanent level drains because of unnecessary drama. My answer would be not to bother with the worst player. Seriously. If somebody is going to throw a hissy fit about losing a level, they are not welcome.
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Post by retrorob on May 1, 2019 10:26:04 GMT -6
In my pseudo-medieval campaign I emphasize the importance of religion, especially against the Undead, so a silver cross is very helpful with level drain. To begin with, one cross protected from one drain; after hit a holy symbol was destroyed completely (something like Scarab of Protection from Evil High Priests). Obviously every PC had a lot of crosses (they are cheap). Currently I allow a Saving Throw (against Stone) in order to avoid level drain, but only if a character bears a cross. Moreover, drained PC can have their levels back. They just need to embark on a pilgrimage to some remote abbey in the mountains (and make a generous donation of course)...
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Post by Zakharan on May 2, 2019 4:39:04 GMT -6
I just say it's "permanent, but reversible."
Exactly how is a mystery (even to me), but the very idea has encouraged my players to explore off the beaten path some, on the off-chance they may glean info.
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