diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
index f8068e800..aa2cc8615 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/actors.cpp
@@ -515,8 +515,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         for(int i = 0;i < ESM::Attribute::Length;++i)
         {
             AttributeValue stat = creatureStats.getAttribute(i);
-            stat.setModifier(effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::FortifyAttribute, i)).getMagnitude() -
-                             effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::DrainAttribute, i)).getMagnitude() -
+            stat.setModifiers(effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::FortifyAttribute, i)).getMagnitude(),
+                             effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::DrainAttribute, i)).getMagnitude(),
                              effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::AbsorbAttribute, i)).getMagnitude());
 
             stat.damage(effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::DamageAttribute, i)).getMagnitude() * duration * 1.5);
@@ -782,8 +782,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         for(int i = 0;i < ESM::Skill::Length;++i)
         {
             SkillValue& skill = npcStats.getSkill(i);
-            skill.setModifier(effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::FortifySkill, i)).getMagnitude() -
-                             effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::DrainSkill, i)).getMagnitude() -
+            skill.setModifiers(effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::FortifySkill, i)).getMagnitude(),
+                             effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::DrainSkill, i)).getMagnitude(),
                              effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::AbsorbSkill, i)).getMagnitude());
 
             skill.damage(effects.get(EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffect::DamageSkill, i)).getMagnitude() * duration * 1.5);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.cpp
index 61b6d60ad..554f619a5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ void MWMechanics::AttributeValue::readState (const ESM::StatState<int>& state)
     mDamage = state.mDamage;
 }
 
+void MWMechanics::AttributeValue::setModifiers(int fortify, int drain, int absorb)
+{
+    mFortified = fortify;
+    mModifier = (fortify - drain) - absorb; 
+}
 
 void MWMechanics::SkillValue::writeState (ESM::StatState<int>& state) const
 {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.hpp
index 1c33db0fd..294dbcb6c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/stat.hpp
@@ -235,26 +235,29 @@ namespace MWMechanics
     class AttributeValue
     {
         int mBase;
-        int mModifier;
+        int mFortified;
+        int mModifier; // net effect of Fortified, Drain & Absorb
         float mDamage; // needs to be float to allow continuous damage
 
     public:
-        AttributeValue() : mBase(0), mModifier(0), mDamage(0) {}
+        AttributeValue() : mBase(0), mFortified(0), mModifier(0), mDamage(0) {}
 
         int getModified() const { return std::max(0, mBase - (int) mDamage + mModifier); }
         int getBase() const { return mBase; }
         int getModifier() const {  return mModifier; }
 
         void setBase(int base) { mBase = std::max(0, base); }
-        void setModifier(int mod) { mModifier = mod; }
+        void setModifiers(int fortify, int drain, int absorb);
 
-        void damage(float damage) { mDamage += damage; }
+        void damage(float damage) { mDamage = std::min(mDamage + damage, (float)(mBase + mFortified)); }
         void restore(float amount) { mDamage -= std::min(mDamage, amount); }
         int getDamage() const { return mDamage; }
 
         void writeState (ESM::StatState<int>& state) const;
 
         void readState (const ESM::StatState<int>& state);
+
+        friend bool operator== (const AttributeValue& left, const AttributeValue& right);
     };
 
     class SkillValue : public AttributeValue
@@ -268,13 +271,16 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         void writeState (ESM::StatState<int>& state) const;
 
         void readState (const ESM::StatState<int>& state);
+
+        friend bool operator== (const SkillValue& left, const SkillValue& right);
     };
 
     inline bool operator== (const AttributeValue& left, const AttributeValue& right)
     {
         return left.getBase() == right.getBase()
+                && left.mFortified == right.mFortified
                 && left.getModifier() == right.getModifier()
-                && left.getDamage() == right.getDamage();
+                && left.mDamage == right.mDamage;
     }
     inline bool operator!= (const AttributeValue& left, const AttributeValue& right)
     {
@@ -283,9 +289,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
     inline bool operator== (const SkillValue& left, const SkillValue& right)
     {
-        return left.getBase() == right.getBase()
-                && left.getModifier() == right.getModifier()
-                && left.getDamage() == right.getDamage()
+        // delegate to base class for most of the work
+        return (static_cast<const AttributeValue&>(left) == right)
                 && left.getProgress() == right.getProgress();
     }
     inline bool operator!= (const SkillValue& left, const SkillValue& right)