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Multiple doses

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
MechaPilot
May 22, 2009 19:51:50 A while back I ran a game where the group encountered a genetically engineered monstrous spider. One of the characters was bitten at least 5 times and made each of the fortitude saves. This caused me to ponder that there is no rule for multiple doses of poisons or drugs. After that encounter, I created the following houserule:

Any character that succeeds at a poison save and is subject to save against that same poison later in the same encounter must save at an increased DC. The DC rises by +2 for each time the poison has been shrugged off previously in that encounter. If the character succumbs to the poison, the save DC resets to normal.

I was curious however, whether or not anyone else has implementd houserules for multiple doses of poisons; and what the general opinion is of this rule.

P.S.: I know combat is just a means of conflict resolution in the game, and that poisons are probably one of the most unrealistic aspects of the game; but this one case felt as if it required a greater semblance of reality.
#2
TheRealOrion
May 22, 2009 23:45:24 I've never especially thought about it, but that makes a lot of sense. I'd grudgingly go with that, if I were a player.
#3
backstabbist
May 23, 2009 0:47:39 could also try the
That which does not kill us makes us Stronger
style of handling multiple doses:

Each save vs that poison preceding the current grants +2 Tolerance bonus to their save roll.

Westly didnt become immune to Iocane Powder by hiding from it.
#4
DwarfFighter
May 23, 2009 4:44:29 Six seconds from one bite to the next might be too short a time for the body to build a resistance to the poison...

-DF
#5
backstabbist
May 23, 2009 10:04:51 six seconds from one trigger pull to the next might be too long for a someone shooting a semi auto at a guy trying to kill him

Rounds are an abstraction.
Poison is an abstraction.

If someone selling poison handed you a 0.25ml vial of Poison X, WillDC20 2d6 CHA dmg,
Wouldnt you just buy 3 more and pour all 4 in his coffee at once for higher dosing?

If you poison a blade, wouldnt a 25damage hit dose him more than a 2dmg scratch?
Wouldnt a poisoned Greataxe dose him more than a poisoned 1d2 Boxcutter?

Dosage is far too abstract, and far to 'abusable'
( "abuse" being when you apply logic to improve effect beyond a nerf)
#6
dbay
May 25, 2009 22:34:11 I think there should be some sort of cap or something on how frequently you can get poisoned by the same thing. This happened in one of my campaigns.

We (briefly) captured the archvillain of our campaign and brought him back to our fortress. I shot him full of about a hundred low-DC weak wisdom damaging poison and went to town with Frightful Presence and Intimidate. His will save was so low, he never stood a chance.

It was only afterwards that we realised that a)we should have used stat drains on him, because in modern there is no way you can cure that, ever. (making ability drain poison ludicrously powerful) and b)we should have just shot him. But whatever.

It just seems weird. A wizard or cleric will run out of debuff spells, and in D&D you will rapidly run out of gp using poison like this, but with the wealth system as it is, you can just shoot him full of a billion doses of poison. (especially if you have Minions do the actual shopping time for you)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 MechaPilot May 22, 2009 19:51:50	A while back I ran a game where the group encountered a genetically engineered monstrous spider. One of the characters was bitten at least 5 times and made each of the fortitude saves. This caused me to ponder that there is no rule for multiple doses of poisons or drugs. After that encounter, I created the following houserule: Any character that succeeds at a poison save and is subject to save against that same poison later in the same encounter must save at an increased DC. The DC rises by +2 for each time the poison has been shrugged off previously in that encounter. If the character succumbs to the poison, the save DC resets to normal. I was curious however, whether or not anyone else has implementd houserules for multiple doses of poisons; and what the general opinion is of this rule. P.S.: I know combat is just a means of conflict resolution in the game, and that poisons are probably one of the most unrealistic aspects of the game; but this one case felt as if it required a greater semblance of reality.
#2 TheRealOrion May 22, 2009 23:45:24	I've never especially thought about it, but that makes a lot of sense. I'd grudgingly go with that, if I were a player.
#3 backstabbist May 23, 2009 0:47:39	could also try the That which does not kill us makes us Stronger style of handling multiple doses: Each save vs that poison preceding the current grants +2 Tolerance bonus to their save roll. Westly didnt become immune to Iocane Powder by hiding from it.
#4 DwarfFighter May 23, 2009 4:44:29	Six seconds from one bite to the next might be too short a time for the body to build a resistance to the poison... -DF
#5 backstabbist May 23, 2009 10:04:51	six seconds from one trigger pull to the next might be too long for a someone shooting a semi auto at a guy trying to kill him Rounds are an abstraction. Poison is an abstraction. If someone selling poison handed you a 0.25ml vial of Poison X, WillDC20 2d6 CHA dmg, Wouldnt you just buy 3 more and pour all 4 in his coffee at once for higher dosing? If you poison a blade, wouldnt a 25damage hit dose him more than a 2dmg scratch? Wouldnt a poisoned Greataxe dose him more than a poisoned 1d2 Boxcutter? Dosage is far too abstract, and far to 'abusable' ( "abuse" being when you apply logic to improve effect beyond a nerf)
#6 dbay May 25, 2009 22:34:11	I think there should be some sort of cap or something on how frequently you can get poisoned by the same thing. This happened in one of my campaigns. We (briefly) captured the archvillain of our campaign and brought him back to our fortress. I shot him full of about a hundred low-DC weak wisdom damaging poison and went to town with Frightful Presence and Intimidate. His will save was so low, he never stood a chance. It was only afterwards that we realised that a)we should have used stat drains on him, because in modern there is no way you can cure that, ever. (making ability drain poison ludicrously powerful) and b)we should have just shot him. But whatever. It just seems weird. A wizard or cleric will run out of debuff spells, and in D&D you will rapidly run out of gp using poison like this, but with the wealth system as it is, you can just shoot him full of a billion doses of poison. (especially if you have Minions do the actual shopping time for you)