Avoid Death is a High-level class ability available to the Thief and Bard classes.
The ability can be selected more than once by the eligible classes if desired.
High-level class abilities were added as a new feature to the BG game with the release of the Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal expansion and are also included in the Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition as well.
Description[]
| “ | With extraordinary effort, a high-level rogue can avoid almost certain death. The effect lasts for 5 rounds, and during this time, the rogue's Save vs. Death receives a bonus of 5, Hit Points are increased by 20, and the rogue becomes immune to death magic. | ” |
Gameplay[]
This ability is accessed from the character's "Special Abilities" button, select the button icon with the cursor (or F12 on a keyboard) to open the menu - use the cursor again and click on the desired ability icon or use one of the designated F-keys if playing with a keyboard interface.
Once the ability icon is selected the Avoid Death power is bestowed and is immediately applied upon the character automatically - the character has a brief 3D effect render on their sprite, as well as a color glow, and a sound effect audibles. The character will show an icon (No. 155) titled "Avoid Death" on their portrait for the ability's duration.
The ability has a duration of 5 rounds once applied to the character.
Once the ability is initiated, the character is immune to the following status effects and any associated texts or icons:
- Disintegrate effect
- Imprisonment effects
- Kill target (Vorpal hit)
- Level drain
- Petrification
Additionally, +20 extra hit points are temporarily added to the creature's maximum HP modifier value.
This spell can be removed by a Breach spell or effect, but it cannot be affected by any Dispel Magic source.
Note[]
- The user is not immune to the Power Word, Kill (effect), which the rogue may be vulnerable to if current hit points are below 60.
Trivia[]
The Advanced Dungeons and Dragons 2nd Edition ruleset doesn't provide any High-level class abilities as implemented by the BG video game - the HLA's seen in the game are a creation by the developers for the video game series only - however some inspiration was provided to the BG developers from the following sourcebook material:
In 1995 under the Advanced D&D 2.5 ruleset the Dungeon Master Option: High Level Campaigns sourcebook was released. In chapter 7, High-Level Characters and Skills for High-Level Characters is sectioned for Warriors, Wizards, Priests, and Rogues.
It is from these rules and optional suggestions that the developers crafted their own High-Level Skills - or "abilities" as they are called in the game.
In terms of Avoid Death - the sourcebook has no such skill mentioned.