Can a Familiar Administer a Potion to an Unconscious Person [Archive] - Wizards Community

Can a Familiar Administer a Potion to an Unconscious Person [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
wrecan
02-24-06, 08:59 PM A familiar can be instructed to perform any action for which it is physically capable. Does a familiar with the ability to hold a vial (raven or hawk) have the ability to spend a full-round action to administer a healing potion to an unconscious person?

For this thread, let's assume that an Unseen Servant can (ala the thread from hell with that title) do it as a full-round action.
SilentOne
02-24-06, 09:08 PM I've always done it as yes. Even if the wizard/sorcerer is unconcious, they'd probably have establised "If I fall in combat, take this blue vial, uncork it, and pour it down my throat." It might take more than a full-round action though. Move to get the vial first, so it'd span two rounds I'd think.
Ikeren
02-24-06, 09:10 PM It depends on what sort of stopper was used. If the stopper requires too much force, a raven would just grip onto the top and lift the potion by the stopper. It also depends on the familiar I suppose. I would allow potion bottles to be designed at an extra 1gp cost with a small glass top, very thin: You open the potion by snapping it. The potion won't reclose. Then the familiar can just pick up the potion, smack the top off something, and then pour it down your throat.
Raven Dark
02-24-06, 09:11 PM A familiar can be instructed to perform any action for which it is physically capable. Does a familiar with the ability to hold a vial (raven or hawk) have the ability to spend a full-round action to administer a healing potion to an unconscious person?

For this thread, let's assume that an Unseen Servant can (ala the thread from hell with that title) do it as a full-round action.

Absolutely. Any intelligent creature is capable of administering a potion if it takes the proper actions to do so (a full round action in this case).

The text for administering potions isn't very limiting, a creature without hands could even adminsiter one!
Haml337
02-24-06, 09:38 PM Then why did I bother evolving opposable thumbs?
ShadowDragon8685
02-24-06, 09:58 PM Dosen't a familar always get the ability to share Cure spells with it's master? So coulden't it just administer the pot to itself, while sitting on the master's chest?

Only works in case of the master being the one needing the pot, though.
Razaiel
02-24-06, 10:35 PM It would depend on the familiar in question. A raven familiar would have a difficult time unstoppering a potion without spilling its contents, a snake would have just as difficult a time, a rat could do it, a toad probably couldn't, a weasel probably could, a cat might be able to, a hawk would have the same difficulty as a raven, the lizard might be able to (depending on what kind of lizard it is), the owl would be in the same boat as the raven. All in all it is the DM's call in the end.
Raven Dark
02-24-06, 11:14 PM Dosen't a familar always get the ability to share Cure spells with it's master? So coulden't it just administer the pot to itself, while sitting on the master's chest?

Only works in case of the master being the one needing the pot, though.

That only works with spells cast by the master. It doesn't work with magical items.
Zerchai
02-25-06, 01:59 AM If you have a monkey familiar (tiny animal with less than 1HD, so it qualifies as a familiar!), then you're in *great* shape!
Braids
02-25-06, 02:29 AM Dosen't a familar always get the ability to share Cure spells with it's master? So coulden't it just administer the pot to itself, while sitting on the master's chest?

lol, that put a funny image in my mind.

Anywho, I'd allow it except I may have required extra rounds depending on what kind of hands they had.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
wrecan 02-24-06, 08:59 PM	A familiar can be instructed to perform any action for which it is physically capable. Does a familiar with the ability to hold a vial (raven or hawk) have the ability to spend a full-round action to administer a healing potion to an unconscious person? For this thread, let's assume that an Unseen Servant can (ala the thread from hell with that title) do it as a full-round action.
SilentOne 02-24-06, 09:08 PM	I've always done it as yes. Even if the wizard/sorcerer is unconcious, they'd probably have establised "If I fall in combat, take this blue vial, uncork it, and pour it down my throat." It might take more than a full-round action though. Move to get the vial first, so it'd span two rounds I'd think.
Ikeren 02-24-06, 09:10 PM	It depends on what sort of stopper was used. If the stopper requires too much force, a raven would just grip onto the top and lift the potion by the stopper. It also depends on the familiar I suppose. I would allow potion bottles to be designed at an extra 1gp cost with a small glass top, very thin: You open the potion by snapping it. The potion won't reclose. Then the familiar can just pick up the potion, smack the top off something, and then pour it down your throat.
Raven Dark 02-24-06, 09:11 PM	A familiar can be instructed to perform any action for which it is physically capable. Does a familiar with the ability to hold a vial (raven or hawk) have the ability to spend a full-round action to administer a healing potion to an unconscious person? For this thread, let's assume that an Unseen Servant can (ala the thread from hell with that title) do it as a full-round action. Absolutely. Any intelligent creature is capable of administering a potion if it takes the proper actions to do so (a full round action in this case). The text for administering potions isn't very limiting, a creature without hands could even adminsiter one!
Haml337 02-24-06, 09:38 PM	Then why did I bother evolving opposable thumbs?
ShadowDragon8685 02-24-06, 09:58 PM	Dosen't a familar always get the ability to share Cure spells with it's master? So coulden't it just administer the pot to itself, while sitting on the master's chest? Only works in case of the master being the one needing the pot, though.
Razaiel 02-24-06, 10:35 PM	It would depend on the familiar in question. A raven familiar would have a difficult time unstoppering a potion without spilling its contents, a snake would have just as difficult a time, a rat could do it, a toad probably couldn't, a weasel probably could, a cat might be able to, a hawk would have the same difficulty as a raven, the lizard might be able to (depending on what kind of lizard it is), the owl would be in the same boat as the raven. All in all it is the DM's call in the end.
Raven Dark 02-24-06, 11:14 PM	Dosen't a familar always get the ability to share Cure spells with it's master? So coulden't it just administer the pot to itself, while sitting on the master's chest? Only works in case of the master being the one needing the pot, though. That only works with spells cast by the master. It doesn't work with magical items.
Zerchai 02-25-06, 01:59 AM	If you have a monkey familiar (tiny animal with less than 1HD, so it qualifies as a familiar!), then you're in great shape!
Braids 02-25-06, 02:29 AM	Dosen't a familar always get the ability to share Cure spells with it's master? So coulden't it just administer the pot to itself, while sitting on the master's chest? lol, that put a funny image in my mind. Anywho, I'd allow it except I may have required extra rounds depending on what kind of hands they had.