Applying poison in combat? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Applying poison in combat? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CrazyMYKL
02-21-06, 10:07 AM Is there anything in the RAW about re-applying poison to a blade while in combat?
Alcalientre
02-21-06, 03:51 PM Not that I know of. I would say that it would provoke an attack of opportunity, and the percent chance of poisoning yourself would go up to, say, 10%, and 30 or 40% if you get hit.
draconic_swine
02-21-06, 04:19 PM Provoking an AoO is a must. Having a 10% chance to poison yourself sounds good, but I'd make it only 20% if you're hit with the AoO. I'd probably make applying it a move action, or a full-round action to cut the chance you poison yourself in half.
Nobody_
02-21-06, 04:20 PM It is in there, you just have to know where to look.

Applying a poison is a standard action and invokes a 5% chance of poisoning yourself by mistake. In addition, if you role a critical failure on an attack with a poisoned weapon, you poison yourself.

Finally, if you have poison use, you no longer risk accidentally poisoning yourself, and if you have Improved poison use, you can poison your weapon as a move action instead of a standard action.

Obviously, you risk attacks of opportunity during the time when you poison the weapon.
CrazyMYKL
02-21-06, 05:20 PM Is there any way other than Ninja9 to get Improved Poison Use?
Alcalientre
02-21-06, 09:37 PM Nobody- Does it say that those are the rules for in the middle of combat, or just outside of combat? Improved poison use isn't in the SRD or in any of the books I own, so I don't know about that, but from the way you wrote it it seemed that poison could normally be applied at normal failure chances anytime as a standard action, including in combat, which doesn't make sense to me. You'd think it would be more difficult to safely apply poison to a weapon during the excitement of combat.
CryoSilver
02-21-06, 10:24 PM Nobody- Does it say that those are the rules for in the middle of combat, or just outside of combat? Improved poison use isn't in the SRD or in any of the books I own, so I don't know about that, but from the way you wrote it it seemed that poison could normally be applied at normal failure chances anytime as a standard action, including in combat, which doesn't make sense to me. You'd think it would be more difficult to safely apply poison to a weapon during the excitement of combat.

You'd think that, wouldn't you? But by the RAW, it is not so.
Gemcaster
02-22-06, 03:07 AM Alchemical weapon capsules from complete adventurer would apply poison for one round, but Im unsure about the possible faliure, since all you have to do is attach the capsule to the weapon an smash the capsule to apply a dose to the weapon.
Nobody_
02-22-06, 05:56 AM Frankly, the rulings in the books are sparse and fractured. A little here, a little there. However, like you said, the rules do imply that you can apply the poison under duress at the normal 5% failure chance.

However, we are the DM's, and frankly, we make the rules we want to use. If you want a higher failure chance, do it. If you want a concentration check, then do it.

All it all, I am pretty sure that what I said is accurate, but it is a little patchwork, and unfortunately I cannot be Absolutely clear, just mostly.

Standard action during combat though. No question.

5% failure chance during combat? Not entirely sure, but thats the only ruling I can find, and I own just about every D&D book that isn't strictly a campaign setting (litterally, I am missing two).

-Nobody
draconic_swine
02-22-06, 10:49 AM You'd think that, wouldn't you? But by the RAW, it is not so.

RAW no time is given as to how long it takes to apply poison, either, so a lot of it is just houseruling anyway. But yes, RAW poison is equally easy (or dangerous, depending on how you look at it) to apply if you are sitting alone or in the middle of a battle, hence the posts post trying to improve upon this mostly lacking rule.
Nobody_
02-22-06, 01:38 PM Sorry, your wrong. RAW: 1 Standard Action
draconic_swine
02-22-06, 05:37 PM Care to provide some proof? I'm looking at the Poison entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/naturalSpecialAbilities.htm#poison) in the SRD, and it says nothing about it taking a standard action (or any other action) to apply poison.
primemover003
02-22-06, 06:40 PM Poison application is exactly the same as a Magical Oil... see potions. Posions come in a vial (as do potions and oils) and the act provokes an AoO.
draconic_swine
02-22-06, 07:03 PM Thanks for actually providing the information, primemover003. Not sure how I missed it. Well, looks like many of the previous posts are rapidly becoming obsolete :rolleyes: I still say applying them in combat should double the chance you poison yourself, and that you can apply it as a full-round action to bring it back to normal.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CrazyMYKL 02-21-06, 10:07 AM	Is there anything in the RAW about re-applying poison to a blade while in combat?
Alcalientre 02-21-06, 03:51 PM	Not that I know of. I would say that it would provoke an attack of opportunity, and the percent chance of poisoning yourself would go up to, say, 10%, and 30 or 40% if you get hit.
draconic_swine 02-21-06, 04:19 PM	Provoking an AoO is a must. Having a 10% chance to poison yourself sounds good, but I'd make it only 20% if you're hit with the AoO. I'd probably make applying it a move action, or a full-round action to cut the chance you poison yourself in half.
Nobody_ 02-21-06, 04:20 PM	It is in there, you just have to know where to look. Applying a poison is a standard action and invokes a 5% chance of poisoning yourself by mistake. In addition, if you role a critical failure on an attack with a poisoned weapon, you poison yourself. Finally, if you have poison use, you no longer risk accidentally poisoning yourself, and if you have Improved poison use, you can poison your weapon as a move action instead of a standard action. Obviously, you risk attacks of opportunity during the time when you poison the weapon.
CrazyMYKL 02-21-06, 05:20 PM	Is there any way other than Ninja9 to get Improved Poison Use?
Alcalientre 02-21-06, 09:37 PM	Nobody- Does it say that those are the rules for in the middle of combat, or just outside of combat? Improved poison use isn't in the SRD or in any of the books I own, so I don't know about that, but from the way you wrote it it seemed that poison could normally be applied at normal failure chances anytime as a standard action, including in combat, which doesn't make sense to me. You'd think it would be more difficult to safely apply poison to a weapon during the excitement of combat.
CryoSilver 02-21-06, 10:24 PM	Nobody- Does it say that those are the rules for in the middle of combat, or just outside of combat? Improved poison use isn't in the SRD or in any of the books I own, so I don't know about that, but from the way you wrote it it seemed that poison could normally be applied at normal failure chances anytime as a standard action, including in combat, which doesn't make sense to me. You'd think it would be more difficult to safely apply poison to a weapon during the excitement of combat. You'd think that, wouldn't you? But by the RAW, it is not so.
Gemcaster 02-22-06, 03:07 AM	Alchemical weapon capsules from complete adventurer would apply poison for one round, but Im unsure about the possible faliure, since all you have to do is attach the capsule to the weapon an smash the capsule to apply a dose to the weapon.
Nobody_ 02-22-06, 05:56 AM	Frankly, the rulings in the books are sparse and fractured. A little here, a little there. However, like you said, the rules do imply that you can apply the poison under duress at the normal 5% failure chance. However, we are the DM's, and frankly, we make the rules we want to use. If you want a higher failure chance, do it. If you want a concentration check, then do it. All it all, I am pretty sure that what I said is accurate, but it is a little patchwork, and unfortunately I cannot be Absolutely clear, just mostly. Standard action during combat though. No question. 5% failure chance during combat? Not entirely sure, but thats the only ruling I can find, and I own just about every D&D book that isn't strictly a campaign setting (litterally, I am missing two). -Nobody
draconic_swine 02-22-06, 10:49 AM	You'd think that, wouldn't you? But by the RAW, it is not so. RAW no time is given as to how long it takes to apply poison, either, so a lot of it is just houseruling anyway. But yes, RAW poison is equally easy (or dangerous, depending on how you look at it) to apply if you are sitting alone or in the middle of a battle, hence the posts post trying to improve upon this mostly lacking rule.
Nobody_ 02-22-06, 01:38 PM	Sorry, your wrong. RAW: 1 Standard Action
draconic_swine 02-22-06, 05:37 PM	Care to provide some proof? I'm looking at the Poison entry (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/naturalSpecialAbilities.htm#poison) in the SRD, and it says nothing about it taking a standard action (or any other action) to apply poison.
primemover003 02-22-06, 06:40 PM	Poison application is exactly the same as a Magical Oil... see potions. Posions come in a vial (as do potions and oils) and the act provokes an AoO.
draconic_swine 02-22-06, 07:03 PM	Thanks for actually providing the information, primemover003. Not sure how I missed it. Well, looks like many of the previous posts are rapidly becoming obsolete :rolleyes: I still say applying them in combat should double the chance you poison yourself, and that you can apply it as a full-round action to bring it back to normal.