Khatoblepas
2014-05-30, 10:32 AM
I was looking up how to get the Venerable state on animals (because an unawakened Int 5 Wis 17 Cha 7 (http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20080110155952/kingsquest/images/b/b5/Cedric.PNG) Owl companion would be kind of funny, regardless of the undefined type it would have), and I was sure that everything that wasn't expressly immune to age still had a lifespan and age categories. But it turns out, I can't find any rules for that.
The problem arises when creatures don't have an aging effects entry - you can only die of old age if you have one.
When a character reaches venerable age, secretly roll his or her maximum age, which is the number from the Venerable column on Table: Aging Effects plus the result of the dice roll indicated on the Maximum Age column on that table, and records the result, which the player does not know. A character who reaches his or her maximum age dies of old age at some time during the following year.
Creatures without an aging effects table do not reach Venerable Age, as they don't have one, and so don't trigger the maximum age roll or even die of old age. They just exist in a timeless, ageless state - no need to be an Elan or a Warforged or a lich to gain immortality, you just need to be a creature that doesn't have an aging table. Like, for instance, a Goblin.
Are there any general rules for mortality in creatures that don't have age categories, or do all creatures (barring dragons) have the three age categories? Or do all creatures without a table entry simply persist for millennia until killed?
The problem arises when creatures don't have an aging effects entry - you can only die of old age if you have one.
When a character reaches venerable age, secretly roll his or her maximum age, which is the number from the Venerable column on Table: Aging Effects plus the result of the dice roll indicated on the Maximum Age column on that table, and records the result, which the player does not know. A character who reaches his or her maximum age dies of old age at some time during the following year.
Creatures without an aging effects table do not reach Venerable Age, as they don't have one, and so don't trigger the maximum age roll or even die of old age. They just exist in a timeless, ageless state - no need to be an Elan or a Warforged or a lich to gain immortality, you just need to be a creature that doesn't have an aging table. Like, for instance, a Goblin.
Are there any general rules for mortality in creatures that don't have age categories, or do all creatures (barring dragons) have the three age categories? Or do all creatures without a table entry simply persist for millennia until killed?