Van Silke
2017-07-25, 08:42 PM
This question is related to Pathfinder, and 3rd party magic system of Spheres of Power.
As a short backdrop, Spheres of Power are a 3rd party magic system which - instead of vancian spells and schools of magic - have Spheres, each with its own theme. Each sphere provides an ability the caster can use at-will, and can spend spellpoints from a small pool to create more powerful effects.
Among those is a Death Sphere provides an ability called Ghost Strike. But by Urgathoa, isn't its wording wonky.
Relevant quote:
"As a standard action, you may make a ghost strike, summoning negative energy and throwing it at a target within Medium range as a ranged touch attack. A ghost strike is considered a negative energy death effect, and as such has no effect on undead, constructs, elementals, and other creatures immune to such things (although some talents provide exceptions)."
emphasis mine.
Only, it doesn't make much sense when you consider most of the effects a Ghost Strike can provide. Among those, you can find:
fatiguing/exhausting (status)
sickening/nauseating (status)
inflicting ability penalties (Str/Dex)
inflicting negative levels (energy drain)
applying bleed (status)
cursing (curse descriptor)
commanding undead (just necromancy)
damaging/healing undead (can undead be damaged with negative energy?)
applying damage and granting equal amount of temp hp (actually damage)
inflicting with disease (disease)
killing a target below -1 hp (along with Killing Curse it's the only applicable, appropriate "death effect" in my eyes)
none of which, at least as far I know (barring the last one) are technically death effects, nor are they connected to negative energy (barring healing undead, and applying damage...?). I'm not even sure negative energy resistance/immunity is even a thing, except from plain reduction in hp damage.
Not to mention, that elementals don't even fit in, as they're not immune/resistant to negative energy, nor death effects.
What do you think?
1) What is, and what isn't a "negative energy death effect"? Does specific beat the general rules? (this question is best answered for each case)
2) What's up with elementals? Can I just assume, that the writer simply didn't fact-check this description? How big of a can of worms would this assumption lead to?
As a short backdrop, Spheres of Power are a 3rd party magic system which - instead of vancian spells and schools of magic - have Spheres, each with its own theme. Each sphere provides an ability the caster can use at-will, and can spend spellpoints from a small pool to create more powerful effects.
Among those is a Death Sphere provides an ability called Ghost Strike. But by Urgathoa, isn't its wording wonky.
Relevant quote:
"As a standard action, you may make a ghost strike, summoning negative energy and throwing it at a target within Medium range as a ranged touch attack. A ghost strike is considered a negative energy death effect, and as such has no effect on undead, constructs, elementals, and other creatures immune to such things (although some talents provide exceptions)."
emphasis mine.
Only, it doesn't make much sense when you consider most of the effects a Ghost Strike can provide. Among those, you can find:
fatiguing/exhausting (status)
sickening/nauseating (status)
inflicting ability penalties (Str/Dex)
inflicting negative levels (energy drain)
applying bleed (status)
cursing (curse descriptor)
commanding undead (just necromancy)
damaging/healing undead (can undead be damaged with negative energy?)
applying damage and granting equal amount of temp hp (actually damage)
inflicting with disease (disease)
killing a target below -1 hp (along with Killing Curse it's the only applicable, appropriate "death effect" in my eyes)
none of which, at least as far I know (barring the last one) are technically death effects, nor are they connected to negative energy (barring healing undead, and applying damage...?). I'm not even sure negative energy resistance/immunity is even a thing, except from plain reduction in hp damage.
Not to mention, that elementals don't even fit in, as they're not immune/resistant to negative energy, nor death effects.
What do you think?
1) What is, and what isn't a "negative energy death effect"? Does specific beat the general rules? (this question is best answered for each case)
2) What's up with elementals? Can I just assume, that the writer simply didn't fact-check this description? How big of a can of worms would this assumption lead to?