SRD:Poisons

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This material is published under the OGL 1.0a.

Poisons

When a character takes damage from an attack with a poisoned weapon, touches an item smeared with contact poison, consumes poisoned food or drink, or is otherwise poisoned, he must make a Fortitude saving throw. If he fails, he takes the poison’s initial damage (usually ability damage). Even if he succeeds, he typically faces more damage 1 minute later, which he can also avoid with a successful Fortitude saving throw.

One dose of poison smeared on a weapon or some other object affects just a single target. A poisoned weapon or object retains its venom until the weapon scores a hit or the object is touched (unless the poison is wiped off before a target comes in contact with it). Any poison smeared on an object or exposed to the elements in any way remains potent until it is touched or used.

Although supernatural and spell-like poisons are possible, poisonous effects are almost always extraordinary.

Poison Categories

Poisons can be divided into four basic types according to the method by which their effect is delivered, as follows.

Contact

Merely touching this type of poison necessitates a saving throw. It can be actively delivered via a weapon or a touch attack. Even if a creature has sufficient damage reduction to avoid taking any damage from the attack, the poison can still affect it. A chest or other object can be smeared with contact poison as part of a trap.

Ingested

Ingested poisons are virtually impossible to utilize in a combat situation. A poisoner could administer a potion to an unconscious creature or attempt to dupe someone into drinking or eating something poisoned. Assassins and other characters tend to use ingested poisons outside of combat.

Inhaled

Inhaled poisons are usually contained in fragile vials or eggshells. They can be thrown as a ranged attack with a range increment of 10 feet. When it strikes a hard surface (or is struck hard), the container releases its poison. One dose spreads to fill the volume of a 10-foot cube. Each creature within the area must make a saving throw. (Holding one’s breath is ineffective against inhaled poisons; they affect the nasal membranes, tear ducts, and other parts of the body.)

Injury

This poison must be delivered through a wound. If a creature has sufficient damage reduction to avoid taking any damage from the attack, the poison does not affect it. Traps that cause damage from weapons, needles, and the like sometimes contain injury poisons.

Poison Qualities

The characteristics of poisons are summarized on Table: Poisons. Terms on the table are defined below.

Type

The poison’s method of delivery (contact, ingested, inhaled, or via an injury) and the Fortitude save DC to avoid the poison’s damage.

Initial Damage

The damage the character takes immediately upon failing his saving throw against this poison. Ability damage is temporary unless marked with a superscript "1" (1), in which case the loss is a permanent drain. Paralysis lasts for 2d6 minutes.

Secondary Damage

The amount of damage the character takes 1 minute after exposure as a result of the poisoning, if he fails a second saving throw. Unconsciousness lasts for 1d3 hours. Ability damage marked with a superscript "1" is permanent drain instead of temporary damage.

Price

The cost of one dose (one vial) of the poison. It is not possible to use or apply poison in any quantity smaller than one dose. The purchase and possession of poison is always illegal, and even in big cities it can be obtained only from specialized, less than reputable sources.

Perils of Using Poison

A character has a 5% chance of exposing himself to a poison whenever he applies it to a weapon or otherwise readies it for use. Additionally, a character who rolls a natural 1 on an attack roll with a poisoned weapon must make a DC 15 Reflex save or accidentally poison himself with the weapon.

Poison Immunities

Creatures with natural poison attacks are immune to their own poison. Nonliving creatures (constructs and undead) and creatures without metabolisms (such as elementals) are always immune to poison. Oozes, plants, and certain kinds of outsiders are also immune to poison, although conceivably special poisons could be concocted specifically to harm them.

Table: Poisons
Poison Type Initial Damage Secondary Damage Price
Nitharit Contact DC 13 0 3d6 Con 650 gp
Sassone leaf residue Contact DC 16 2d12 hp 1d6 Con 300 gp
Malyss root paste Contact DC 16 1 Dex 2d4 Dex 500 gp
Terinav root Contact DC 16 1d6 Dex 2d6 Dex 750 gp
Black lotus extract Contact DC 20 3d6 Con 3d6 Con 4,500 gp
Dragon bile Contact DC 26 3d6 Str 0 1,500 gp
Striped toadstool Ingested DC 11 1 Wis 2d6 Wis + 1d4 Int 180 gp
Arsenic Ingested DC 13 1 Con 1d8 Con 120 gp
Id moss Ingested DC 14 1d4 Int 2d6 Int 125 gp
Oil of taggit Ingested DC 15 0 Unconsciousness 90 gp
Lich dust Ingested DC 17 2d6 Str 1d6 Str 250 gp
Dark reaver powder Ingested DC 18 2d6 Con 1d6 Con + 1d6 Str 300 gp
Ungol dust Inhaled DC 15 1 Cha 1d6 Cha + 1 Cha1 1,000 gp
Insanity mist Inhaled DC 15 1d4 Wis 2d6 Wis 1,500 gp
Burnt othur fumes Inhaled DC 18 1 Con1 3d6 Con 2,100 gp
Black adder venom Injury DC 11 1d6 Con 1d6 Con 120 gp
Small centipede poison Injury DC 11 1d2 Dex 1d2 Dex 90 gp
Bloodroot Injury DC 12 0 1d4 Con + 1d3 Wis 100 gp
Drow poison Injury DC 13 Unconsciousness Unconsciousness for 2d4 hours 75gp
Greenblood oil Injury DC 13 1 Con 1d2 Con 100 gp
Blue whinnis Injury DC 14 1 Con Unconsciousness 120 gp
Medium spider venom Injury DC 14 1d4 Str 1d4 Str 150 gp
Shadow essence Injury DC 17 1 Str1 2d6 Str 250 gp
Wyvern poison Injury DC 17 2d6 Con 2d6 Con 3,000 gp
Huge scorpion venom Injury DC 18 1d6 Con 1d6 Con 200 gp
Giant wasp poison Injury DC 18 1d6 Dex 1d6 Dex 210 gp
Deathblade Injury DC 20 1d6 Con 2d6 Con 1,800 gp
Purple worm poison Injury DC 24 1d6 Str 2d6 Str 700 gp
  1. Permanent drain, not temporary damage.



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