Can a dead person drink a potion? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a dead person drink a potion? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Ruleroftheblind
12-11-07, 06:55 AM Are there any rules about giving a potion to a dead ally? Say, a potion of Revivify? One might say you just have to pour it down your comrade's throat, maybe a standard action? Or a full-round action to make sure it all gets down. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
TheMonk
12-11-07, 07:08 AM I would rule it's a full round action, because you do need time to pour it all in and make sure it doesn't spill etc. I've done this quite a few times actually. There's nothing in the rules saying you can't do it. As a matter of fact, I'd encourage my players to do such things.
Phrennzy
12-11-07, 09:09 AM It's a magic item that requires a standard action to activate. Doesn't matter if you are dead or unconscious and someone is feeding it to you, just like using a wand doesn't matter.
Seeker95
12-11-07, 10:06 AM I am inclined to rule the other way. A potion requires swallowing -- whether consciously or unconsciously. An unconscious person can be made to swallow because the muscles will still respond involuntarily to massage. A dead guy, I would think, would not respond to the massaging.

Those with a better (or any) background in biology to educate me otherwise can probably provide more supportive evidence in either direction.
Damned slayer
12-11-07, 10:18 AM IF you raise the head enough and you don't spill the potion, it would go down to the stomach, since their is no muscles to help nor to block the fluid (depend on how he is dead but body is still warm so muscles still moves
now the point is how the potion is activated IN the body

BTW how do you put a 5th level spell in a potion??

But I don't really see the point in giving a potion to someone dead

edit: would be a full round action to me
Grumman
12-11-07, 11:25 AM It's a magic item that requires a standard action to activate. Doesn't matter if you are dead or unconscious and someone is feeding it to you, just like using a wand doesn't matter.
From the SRD:
A character can carefully administer a potion to an unconscious creature as a full-round action, trickling the liquid down the creature’s throat. Likewise, it takes a full-round action to apply an oil to an unconscious creature.
Eerongal
12-11-07, 11:40 AM I am inclined to rule the other way. A potion requires swallowing -- whether consciously or unconsciously. An unconscious person can be made to swallow because the muscles will still respond involuntarily to massage. A dead guy, I would think, would not respond to the massaging.

Those with a better (or any) background in biology to educate me otherwise can probably provide more supportive evidence in either direction.

While not incredibly well versed in biology I would have to disagree on the grounds that potions don't claim that they need to reach the creature's stomach. Pouring into someone's windpipe would likely release the magic just as well as if you swallowed it. However, the person may not be happy with all the coughing they do afterwards, or if you end up drowning them with life (because it's for purposes or ressurection here :P)
Derren S.
12-11-07, 11:46 AM The question is rather why would you do that?

A corpse isn't a creature anymore and so can't drink anything. And I know of no spell which can be put into a potion which affects objects.
Eerongal
12-11-07, 11:53 AM The question is rather why would you do that?

A corpse isn't a creature anymore and so can't drink anything. And I know of no spell which can be put into a potion which affects objects.

There are, however, plenty that can be put to oils, which is a much simpler solution.

But if your DM is going to let you have potions of revivfy like in the original post said, i would certainly allow you to administer it to a dead body, otherwise the potions are completley useless. That being said, i would reccomend revivify oils over potions, just to make thing simpler.
VulcanStormwrath
12-11-07, 11:56 AM IF you raise the head enough and you don't spill the potion, it would go down to the stomach, since their is no muscles to help nor to block the fluid (depend on how he is dead but body is still warm so muscles still moves
now the point is how the potion is activated IN the body

BTW how do you put a 5th level spell in a potion??

But I don't really see the point in giving a potion to someone dead

edit: would be a full round action to me

Master Alchemist can brew 9th level potions.
Ruleroftheblind
12-11-07, 02:36 PM Wow, I didn't know this topic would be so... back and forth. I really appreciate all the help and I'm also really enjoying the debate.

As I've thought about it since posting, taking into consideration the suggestions and comments you all have had, I honestly think that if you could make a 5th level potion (whether it be from a Master Alchemist or a lenient DM) the magic would, in fact, be released upon entering the subject's system, not just the stomach (to avoid all that, the oil idea is fine). I really like the idea of a Revivify Potion/Oil because it allows the party to not have to worry about their characters like porcelain dolls, but you still run the risk of a teammate not being able to reach you in time. It seems well balanced. Not to mention a teammate would have to give up an entire turn for the victim's sake.
Eerongal
12-11-07, 02:43 PM Wow, I didn't know this topic would be so... back and forth.

Welcome to the wizard's D&D forums! :P
Derren S.
12-12-07, 07:03 AM There are, however, plenty that can be put to oils, which is a much simpler solution.

And there is the answer. You can't make "Potions of revivify" but "oils of Revivify". Potions simply don't work on objects and corpses are exactly that.
Ruleroftheblind
12-12-07, 10:25 AM But still, according to the DMG you can't make a potion/oil of a spell higher than 3rd level. One of you had mentioned a master alchemist, is that from a book? How much do you think he'd charge for a 5th level potion?
Seeker95
12-12-07, 11:12 AM How much do you think he'd charge for a 5th level potion?Same as the pattern for what he would charge for a 3rd level potion, assuming your campaign has potions for sale.

SL X CL X 25 = 5 x 9 x 25 = 1125 gp.

(plus whatever the material component costs might be)
Kensan_Oni
12-12-07, 11:50 AM Princess Bride would be a much duller story if Miracle Max's pill failed cause you couldn't feed a dead person.
Grumman
12-12-07, 01:18 PM And there is the answer. You can't make "Potions of revivify" but "oils of Revivify". Potions simply don't work on objects and corpses are exactly that.
I know I'd side with the person giving the potion in this case. Its not like they are attempting to gain an unreasonable mechanical advantage, is it?
Ruleroftheblind
12-12-07, 01:26 PM Princess Bride would be a much duller story if Miracle Max's pill failed cause you couldn't feed a dead person.

This is a fact! Kudos to you!
Seeker95
12-12-07, 03:08 PM Princess Bride would be a much duller story if Miracle Max's pill failed cause you couldn't feed a dead person.If pills have a target of Creature, it would not work. Evidently, in the Princess Bride, pills have a target of Creature or Object. or Max was a quack, claiming to have magically healed someone whom he merely stabilized with a successful heal check. :devil:

In any case, Miracle Max did not use a potion.
Nomad_the_Odd
12-12-07, 04:32 PM Digestion doesn't matter. There are plenty of warforged who would agree with me :)
Melpomene
12-12-07, 04:39 PM If pills have a target of Creature, it would not work. Evidently, in the Princess Bride, pills have a target of Creature or Object. or Max was a quack, claiming to have magically healed someone whom he merely stabilized with a successful heal check. :devil:

In any case, Miracle Max did not use a potion.

Obviously, he was only *mostly* dead. There's a difference. Mostly dead, but still partially alive.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Ruleroftheblind 12-11-07, 06:55 AM	Are there any rules about giving a potion to a dead ally? Say, a potion of Revivify? One might say you just have to pour it down your comrade's throat, maybe a standard action? Or a full-round action to make sure it all gets down. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
TheMonk 12-11-07, 07:08 AM	I would rule it's a full round action, because you do need time to pour it all in and make sure it doesn't spill etc. I've done this quite a few times actually. There's nothing in the rules saying you can't do it. As a matter of fact, I'd encourage my players to do such things.
Phrennzy 12-11-07, 09:09 AM	It's a magic item that requires a standard action to activate. Doesn't matter if you are dead or unconscious and someone is feeding it to you, just like using a wand doesn't matter.
Seeker95 12-11-07, 10:06 AM	I am inclined to rule the other way. A potion requires swallowing -- whether consciously or unconsciously. An unconscious person can be made to swallow because the muscles will still respond involuntarily to massage. A dead guy, I would think, would not respond to the massaging. Those with a better (or any) background in biology to educate me otherwise can probably provide more supportive evidence in either direction.
Damned slayer 12-11-07, 10:18 AM	IF you raise the head enough and you don't spill the potion, it would go down to the stomach, since their is no muscles to help nor to block the fluid (depend on how he is dead but body is still warm so muscles still moves now the point is how the potion is activated IN the body BTW how do you put a 5th level spell in a potion?? But I don't really see the point in giving a potion to someone dead edit: would be a full round action to me
Grumman 12-11-07, 11:25 AM	It's a magic item that requires a standard action to activate. Doesn't matter if you are dead or unconscious and someone is feeding it to you, just like using a wand doesn't matter. From the SRD: A character can carefully administer a potion to an unconscious creature as a full-round action, trickling the liquid down the creature’s throat. Likewise, it takes a full-round action to apply an oil to an unconscious creature.
Eerongal 12-11-07, 11:40 AM	I am inclined to rule the other way. A potion requires swallowing -- whether consciously or unconsciously. An unconscious person can be made to swallow because the muscles will still respond involuntarily to massage. A dead guy, I would think, would not respond to the massaging. Those with a better (or any) background in biology to educate me otherwise can probably provide more supportive evidence in either direction. While not incredibly well versed in biology I would have to disagree on the grounds that potions don't claim that they need to reach the creature's stomach. Pouring into someone's windpipe would likely release the magic just as well as if you swallowed it. However, the person may not be happy with all the coughing they do afterwards, or if you end up drowning them with life (because it's for purposes or ressurection here :P)
Derren S. 12-11-07, 11:46 AM	The question is rather why would you do that? A corpse isn't a creature anymore and so can't drink anything. And I know of no spell which can be put into a potion which affects objects.
Eerongal 12-11-07, 11:53 AM	The question is rather why would you do that? A corpse isn't a creature anymore and so can't drink anything. And I know of no spell which can be put into a potion which affects objects. There are, however, plenty that can be put to oils, which is a much simpler solution. But if your DM is going to let you have potions of revivfy like in the original post said, i would certainly allow you to administer it to a dead body, otherwise the potions are completley useless. That being said, i would reccomend revivify oils over potions, just to make thing simpler.
VulcanStormwrath 12-11-07, 11:56 AM	IF you raise the head enough and you don't spill the potion, it would go down to the stomach, since their is no muscles to help nor to block the fluid (depend on how he is dead but body is still warm so muscles still moves now the point is how the potion is activated IN the body BTW how do you put a 5th level spell in a potion?? But I don't really see the point in giving a potion to someone dead edit: would be a full round action to me Master Alchemist can brew 9th level potions.
Ruleroftheblind 12-11-07, 02:36 PM	Wow, I didn't know this topic would be so... back and forth. I really appreciate all the help and I'm also really enjoying the debate. As I've thought about it since posting, taking into consideration the suggestions and comments you all have had, I honestly think that if you could make a 5th level potion (whether it be from a Master Alchemist or a lenient DM) the magic would, in fact, be released upon entering the subject's system, not just the stomach (to avoid all that, the oil idea is fine). I really like the idea of a Revivify Potion/Oil because it allows the party to not have to worry about their characters like porcelain dolls, but you still run the risk of a teammate not being able to reach you in time. It seems well balanced. Not to mention a teammate would have to give up an entire turn for the victim's sake.
Eerongal 12-11-07, 02:43 PM	Wow, I didn't know this topic would be so... back and forth. Welcome to the wizard's D&D forums! :P
Derren S. 12-12-07, 07:03 AM	There are, however, plenty that can be put to oils, which is a much simpler solution. And there is the answer. You can't make "Potions of revivify" but "oils of Revivify". Potions simply don't work on objects and corpses are exactly that.
Ruleroftheblind 12-12-07, 10:25 AM	But still, according to the DMG you can't make a potion/oil of a spell higher than 3rd level. One of you had mentioned a master alchemist, is that from a book? How much do you think he'd charge for a 5th level potion?
Seeker95 12-12-07, 11:12 AM	How much do you think he'd charge for a 5th level potion?Same as the pattern for what he would charge for a 3rd level potion, assuming your campaign has potions for sale. SL X CL X 25 = 5 x 9 x 25 = 1125 gp. (plus whatever the material component costs might be)
Kensan_Oni 12-12-07, 11:50 AM	Princess Bride would be a much duller story if Miracle Max's pill failed cause you couldn't feed a dead person.
Grumman 12-12-07, 01:18 PM	And there is the answer. You can't make "Potions of revivify" but "oils of Revivify". Potions simply don't work on objects and corpses are exactly that. I know I'd side with the person giving the potion in this case. Its not like they are attempting to gain an unreasonable mechanical advantage, is it?
Ruleroftheblind 12-12-07, 01:26 PM	Princess Bride would be a much duller story if Miracle Max's pill failed cause you couldn't feed a dead person. This is a fact! Kudos to you!
Seeker95 12-12-07, 03:08 PM	Princess Bride would be a much duller story if Miracle Max's pill failed cause you couldn't feed a dead person.If pills have a target of Creature, it would not work. Evidently, in the Princess Bride, pills have a target of Creature or Object. or Max was a quack, claiming to have magically healed someone whom he merely stabilized with a successful heal check. :devil: In any case, Miracle Max did not use a potion.
Nomad_the_Odd 12-12-07, 04:32 PM	Digestion doesn't matter. There are plenty of warforged who would agree with me :)
Melpomene 12-12-07, 04:39 PM	If pills have a target of Creature, it would not work. Evidently, in the Princess Bride, pills have a target of Creature or Object. or Max was a quack, claiming to have magically healed someone whom he merely stabilized with a successful heal check. :devil: In any case, Miracle Max did not use a potion. Obviously, he was only mostly dead. There's a difference. Mostly dead, but still partially alive.