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Indeed, I forgot about the vamps and I stand (well, sit) corrected.

Thanks petespahn & black wyvern, I like the explanation about the magical energy - negative energy - that makes sense.

Thanks to you C-Sumo, this discussion on energy draining is full of good advice and incites. It is always good to read how others handle aspects of the game.

Well then lets explore some alternate energy drain systems. Any ideas??

A permanent -1 to all actions until recovered? (saves, AC, hit & damage,etc.) Even targets of your spels get a +1 save. Everything! Your strength, vitality & very life energy is sapped. If you are drained twice- a -2 to everything you do will hurt bad.

There's the Shadow's STR drain. Draining STR or CON (or any score, really) with 0 = dead.

Blood axe wrote:Well then lets explore some alternate energy drain systems. Any ideas??

A permanent -1 to all actions until recovered? (saves, AC, hit & damage,etc.) Even targets of your spels get a +1 save. Everything! Your strength, vitality & very life energy is sapped. If you are drained twice- a -2 to everything you do will hurt bad.

Hmmm... that's a very interesting idea - I think I like it.

Blood Axe, what are your thoughts on how long it would take to recover, or what that process may look like?

Some immediate thoughts are:
-The more drained (say a character is hit 3 times, so at -3) the longer/more difficult the process?
A successful 'remove curse' spell, at -3!, perhaps? IF successful, then next remove curse spell comes at -2, etc. until the effect is completely removed.
-A quest to remove the effect.
-It might be interesting to have the character that was drained temporarily turn into a wight (or other undead/ghost/incorporeal) at midnight the same day and stay 'undead' x# days corresponding to x# drainings.


I think I'll also mention that my original beef w/wights may stem from having too few players to always have a cleric. Only a handful times in in my 26 years of playing have I ever had a solid, consistent group to cover the bases/needs; that's why I was so glad to find this forum.

Blood axe wrote:Well then lets explore some alternate energy drain systems. Any ideas??

A permanent -1 to all actions until recovered? (saves, AC, hit & damage,etc.) Even targets of your spels get a +1 save. Everything! Your strength, vitality & very life energy is sapped. If you are drained twice- a -2 to everything you do will hurt bad.

That's pretty much how everyone I know in d20 games handles energy drain.

Dyson Logos wrote:

Blood axe wrote:Well then lets explore some alternate energy drain systems. Any ideas??

A permanent -1 to all actions until recovered? (saves, AC, hit & damage,etc.) Even targets of your spels get a +1 save. Everything! Your strength, vitality & very life energy is sapped. If you are drained twice- a -2 to everything you do will hurt bad.

That's pretty much how everyone I know in d20 games handles energy drain.

That's interesting; I wish I had thought of that!