I'm pretty sure that when you use a spell like cone of cold and then destroy an enemy, he's gibbed and doesn't drop any items. I've got a couple questions about this:

What are they various ways to gib an enemy to the point where he wont drop items?

and

If I gib an enemy that's supposed to drop a quest related item, does this item not appear?


thanks

quest related items are mostly protected from this - if not it's a bug

the ways to "kill the loot" are Petrify, Cone of Cold, Disintegrate, I'm not sure about imprisonement but I think that one too.
As to instant death and quests. There is a possibility that good "turn undead" will sometimes kill a quest related undead (i.e. a shadow, spirit,... which has dialogue with you)

[ 09-10-2003, 02:36 AM: Message edited by: Faceman ]

Petrification( if the statue shatters), Disintegration, Cold Damage( if it is the killing blow), erm... what else?

What about when I've completely gibbed an enemy by means of normal attacks and/or 'attack' spells?

chunkifying an enemy by normal means (e.g. massive backstabbing) will not harm the loot

Chromatic Orb, Prismatic Spray, and Black Blade of Disaster also can possibly Petrify/Disintegrate their victims, so use these spells with care as well.

Yes imprisonment will lose you the loot, but you can get it back by casting freedom and killing the lootee normally.

Which of course begs the question, why use an Imprisonment spell in the first place?

Olorin, use imprisonment to ease the strain of a particular battle. Imprison a distraction, preferably the stronger, yet still vulnerable to imprisonement, distraction, and have him/her/it wait in the center of faerun until you see fit to combat them.