I've adapted the energy-drain abilities of wights and spectres from D&D to develop a variant option for Death Touch. The effects are just as lethal for first-level victims, but allow more opportunities for role-playing (and survival) for experienced characters.

Death Touch (energy-drain variation): If contact is made (i.e. a hit is scored) the victim is allowed two saving throws on 1d20: once vs. Endurance and once vs. Agility. If both saves are made the victim resists the Death Touch effects totally and the attacker expends no extra Power.

If only one save is made, the touch is partially successful and the victim loses all remaining hit points, at a cost to the attacker of 10 Power points.

If neither saving throw succeeds, then the victim loses all hit points and loses one level of experience. The attacker is charged 20 points of Power.

Characters reduced in level by "energy drain" may lose/forget the training/advancement bonuses they received during their last level advancement.

Examples
If a fourth-level character loses both saving throws, experience points fall to 5000 (the beginning of third level).

If a third-level character loses both saving throws, experience points fall to 2000 (the beginning of second level).

A second-level character who loses both saving throws falls to first level, with zero experience points.

A first-level character who loses both saving throws dies instantly (mirroring the rulebook effects of Death Touch).

polarboy wrote on Oct 24^th, 2009 at 1:14pm:


I like this, polarboy!