In the world of Pathfinder, negative levels are a dangerous affliction that can significantly impact a character’s abilities and overall effectiveness. Negative levels can result from various sources, such as energy drain attacks or spells. In this article, we’ll explore the effects of negative levels and how to remove them, providing a comprehensive table for easy reference.
Effects of Negative Levels:
- Reduction in Hit Points: Each negative level results in a reduction of 5 hit points, which can quickly add up and impact a character’s overall survivability.
- Penalty to Ability Scores: Negative levels impose a penalty of -1 to all ability scores, reducing a character’s effectiveness in combat and other situations.
- Penalty to Attack Rolls, Saving Throws, and Skill Checks: Negative levels also impose a penalty of -1 to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks, further diminishing a character’s effectiveness.
- Loss of Spellcasting Abilities: Negative levels can cause a loss of spellcasting abilities, reducing a spellcaster’s overall utility in combat and other situations.
Removing Negative Levels:
- Restoration Spells: Restoration spells, such as Lesser Restoration and Restoration, can remove negative levels from a character.
- Ability Restoration Spells: Spells that restore ability scores, such as Greater Restoration, can remove the penalties imposed by negative levels.
- Restoration Potions and Items: Potions and items that provide restoration effects can also be used to remove negative levels.
- Natural Healing: Negative levels can be removed over time through natural healing, but this process can take a long time and may not be feasible in combat situations.
Table of Pathfinder Negative Levels and Effects:
| Negative Levels | Hit Point Reduction | Ability Score Penalty | Attack Roll Penalty | Saving Throw Penalty | Skill Check Penalty | Loss of Spellcasting Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | -5 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | None |
| 2 | -10 | -2 | -2 | -2 | -2 | None |
| 3 | -15 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -3 | None |
| 4 | -20 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 | None |
| 5 or more | -5 per level | -1 per level | -1 per level | -1 per level | -1 per level | Loss of one spell per level |
What is damage reduction in Pathfinder?
Damage Reduction (DR) is a game mechanic in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game that represents the ability of a creature to shrug off damage from attacks due to their physical resilience, armor, or other types of protective magic or abilities.
Damage Reduction is usually expressed as a number followed by a slash and a type of weapon or material. For instance, if a creature has “DR 5/magic,” that means it ignores the first 5 points of damage from any non-magical weapon attack. So, if it’s hit by an attack that would do 10 points of damage from a non-magical weapon, it only takes 5 points of damage instead.
If the weapon that’s dealing the damage has the specified characteristic (in this example, is a magical weapon), the Damage Reduction doesn’t apply, and the creature takes full damage from the attack.
Remember that Damage Reduction does not negate touch attacks, energy damage dealt along with an attack, or energy drains. Nor does it affect poisons or diseases delivered by inhalation, ingestion, or contact.
Conclusion:
Negative levels are a dangerous affliction that can significantly impact a character’s abilities and overall effectiveness in Pathfinder. These levels can result from various sources and can be challenging to remove. Restoration spells, ability restoration spells, restoration potions and items, and natural healing are all ways to remove negative levels. By understanding the effects of negative levels and how to remove them, characters can maintain their effectiveness and survival in the world of Pathfinder.
Bullet Points Summary:
- Negative levels can reduce hit points, impose penalties to ability scores, attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks, and cause a loss of spellcasting abilities.
- Restoration spells, ability restoration spells, restoration potions and items, and natural healing can remove negative levels.
- The higher the negative level, the more severe the effects, including the loss of spells at level 5 or higher.
FAQs of Pathfinder Negative Levels
Q1. What are the negative levels in Pathfinder?
A. Negative levels are a type of affliction that can reduce a character’s hit points, ability scores, and effectiveness in combat and other situations.
Q2. What causes negative levels?
A. Negative levels can result from energy drain attacks or spells, such as those cast by undead creatures.
Q3. How long do negative levels last?
A. Negative levels can last indefinitely unless removed through the use of spells, potions, or natural healing.
Q4. Can negative levels be stacked?
A. Yes, multiple negative levels can be stacked on a character, each one imposing further penalties and reducing hit points.
Q5. How do negative levels impact spellcasting?
A. Negative levels can cause a loss of spellcasting abilities, reducing a spellcaster’s overall effectiveness in combat and other situations.
Q6. Can negative levels be removed in combat?
A. Yes, restoration spells and potions can be used in combat to remove negative levels, but they may not be as effective as natural healing or rest.
Q7. What is the maximum number of negative levels a character can have?
A. There is no specific limit to the number of negative levels a character can have, but each additional negative level imposes further penalties and reduces hit points.
Q8. How do negative levels impact ability scores?
A. Negative levels impose a penalty of -1 to all ability scores, reducing a character’s effectiveness in combat and other situations.
Q9. Can natural healing remove negative levels?
A. Yes, negative levels can be removed over time through natural healing, but this process can take a long time and may not be feasible in combat situations.
Q10. How do negative levels impact saving throws?
A. Negative levels impose a penalty of -1 to saving throws, reducing a character’s ability to resist spells and other effects.
Q11. Can negative levels be prevented?
A. Yes, certain spells and items, such as Death Ward, can prevent negative levels from being inflicted on a character.
Q12. Can negative levels be removed by resting?
A. Yes, natural healing and rest can be used to remove negative levels over time.
Q13. Can negative levels be inflicted on undead creatures?
A. No, negative levels cannot be inflicted on undead creatures, as they are immune to energy drain attacks and spells.
Q14. How do negative levels impact skill checks?
A. Negative levels impose a penalty of -1 to skill checks, reducing a character’s effectiveness in non-combat situations.