Energy Level?

[keith418]

When a monster drains an 'energy level" - as we see mentioned in Greyhawk and elsewhere, what does that mean?

[Finarvyn]

It's supposed to represent a level, e.g. a 4th level character who has an energy level drained is now effectively 3rd level. Scale back hit dice, number of spells cast, and any other benefits. I believe the XP total is supposed to reset to the lowest XP total in the chart for the new level as well.

[keith418]

Thanks! The "energy" part was what was confusing me.

[aldarron]

May 24, 2012 12:11:46 GMT -6 keith418 said:

Thanks! The "energy" part was what was confusing me.

"level" is more or less short for life energy level. You will see both "life level" and "energy level" here and there throughout OD&D. The term is also used in Outdoor Survival.

[Deleted]

Mmmm, tasty, tasty PC levels...... OMNOMNOMNOMNOM!

[Malchor]

Interestingly, Shadows specifically drain one point of strength temporarily:

They hunger after the life energy of living things, and their touch (any hit scored) causes a loss of 1 point of strength due to the chilling effects of the touch. This lasts for eight turns.

I'm currently on the fence about making Energy Level drain for undead more like this: 1–2 Strength and Constitution drain, perhaps with a longer recovery period of 1 point/day. Might even add a % chance per day based on Con if the point is recoverable. On the one hand, this can leave more of a scar, on the other hand, I dislike the idea of the party getting knocked down in class levels so much that they have to go searching for XP to level back up.

[jeffb]

Sept 21, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -6 Malchor said:

Interestingly, Shadows specifically drain one point of strength temporarily:

They hunger after the life energy of living things, and their touch (any hit scored) causes a loss of 1 point of strength due to the chilling effects of the touch. This lasts for eight turns.

I'm currently on the fence about making Energy Level drain for undead more like this: 1–2 Strength and Constitution drain, perhaps with a longer recovery period of 1 point/day. Might even add a % chance per day based on Con if the point is recoverable. On the one hand, this can leave more of a scar, on the other hand, I dislike the idea of the party getting knocked down in class levels so much that they have to go searching for XP to level back up.

This is similar to the idea of how energy drain works in 3.X, but they can lose a level permanently if they are very unlucky with the dice

Some horrible creatures, especially undead monsters, possess a fearsome supernatural ability to drain levels from those they strike in combat. The creature making an energy drain attack draws a portion of its victim’s life force from her. Most energy drain attacks require a successful melee attack roll—mere physical contact is not enough. Each successful energy drain bestows one or more negative levels (the creature’s description specifies how many). If an attack that includes an energy drain scores a critical hit, it drains twice the given amount. A creature gains 5 temporary hit points (10 on a critical hit) for each negative level it bestows (though not if the negative level is caused by a spell or similar effect). These temporary hit points last for a maximum of 1 hour.

A creature takes the following penalties for each negative level it has gained:

-1 on all skill checks and ability checks.
-1 on attack rolls and saving throws.
-5 hit points.
-1 effective level (whenever the creature’s level is used in a die roll or calculation, reduce it by one for each negative level).
If the victim casts spells, she loses access to one spell as if she had cast her highest-level, currently available spell. (If she has more than one spell at her highest level, she chooses which she loses.) In addition, when she next prepares spells or regains spell slots, she gets one less spell slot at her highest spell level.

Negative levels remain until 24 hours have passed or until they are removed with a spell, such as restoration. If a negative level is not removed before 24 hours have passed, the affected creature must attempt a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ draining creature’s racial HD + draining creature’s Cha modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature’s descriptive text). On a success, the negative level goes away with no harm to the creature. On a failure, the negative level goes away, but the creature’s level is also reduced by one. A separate saving throw is required for each negative level.

A character with negative levels at least equal to her current level, or drained below 1st level, is instantly slain. Depending on the creature that killed her, she may rise the next night as a monster of that kind. If not, she rises as a wight.

Courtesy of www.d20srd.org/index.htm

[howandwhy99]

I would put a number of Lawful temples in the game. Not just to allow Raise opportunities for a cost, but the kind of Restoration or Remove Curse cures as well. Then sell some healing potions, holy water, and Protection Scrolls.

If they are not careful it can devour their savings.
Then ask for tithes. 😀

EDIT:
I believe all the PC classes need NPC classes to support their professions in the game, including adventuring characters.
- Fighting-Men need smiths, but also specialty smiths for arms and armor crafting.
- Magic-Users require alchemists to collect their spell ingredients, provide materials for enchanting items, not to mention all those inks for spellbooks. Bookbinders are secondary.
- Clerics need non-adventuring NPC clerics. Like all the subclasses, clerics are part of a social faction who support them and they support in kind.

I find it's important to sprinkle a sufficient number of all of these NPCs in the game world or the game can run a little wonky.
- Not to mention all those other NPC classes who grow or craft stuff to buy, or provide services as Hirelings.

[Mordorandor]

Sept 21, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -6 Malchor said:

Interestingly, Shadows specifically drain one point of strength temporarily:

Also interesting that Shadows weren’t considered undead at the time. Curious to know why they were the only monsters at the time to get such powers. Or, the only ones to be published at the time.

Perhaps a play-test consideration? “Wonder if ability damage would be cool?”

[Deleted]

Sept 21, 2021 16:01:26 GMT -6 Malchor said:

Interestingly, Shadows specifically drain one point of strength temporarily:

They hunger after the life energy of living things, and their touch (any hit scored) causes a loss of 1 point of strength due to the chilling effects of the touch. This lasts for eight turns.

I'm currently on the fence about making Energy Level drain for undead more like this: 1–2 Strength and Constitution drain, perhaps with a longer recovery period of 1 point/day. Might even add a % chance per day based on Con if the point is recoverable. On the one hand, this can leave more of a scar, on the other hand, I dislike the idea of the party getting knocked down in class levels so much that they have to go searching for XP to level back up.

It's kind of endearing in a way, you know, seeing so many things that are supposedly fresh and innovative in the OSR having roots in the mid-seventies. (In this case, there's this popular idea of "attacking every part of the character sheet", not just HP.)