Can someone explain level draining?

[pendell]

Personally, I think level-draining is getting to be a bit overused in the comic. I know it's a scary attack that a lot of gamers fear, but we've seen these guys get level-drained more frequently than we've seen them level up.

(I'm not saying every quest should involve saving a bucket of garbage wheat from a blind one-legged orc, I just think we've seen level draining far more than any other special attack.)

Realistically, it is used so much for the same reason projectile weapons are used in the real world -- it is very, very effective at what it does. It weakens the enemy's saving throws, weakens his attacks so it improves your saving throws against them, makes the enemy incapable of using his or her most dangerous spells, and can kill outright. Why wouldn't someone use it if they had access to it?


If a villain had time and resources to prepare for the fight and did NOT equip themselves with the best items and buffs, wouldn't we say they'd been handed the idiot ball?

Respectfully,

Brian P.