D&D General Monster harvesting mechanics?

[Bupp]

The Medieval Melodies blog has a complete system and breakdown of what you can harvest from every monster in the MM, Volo's and MToF.

Creature Loot: Intro and index

Sometimes you can get the loot before killing the creature. But they usually take offense at that. I've really been enjoying writing the...

medievalmelodies.blogspot.com

 

[Tonguez]

My main character Orbril the gnome was an alchemist who spent his entire career harvesting wild loot. In Rules terms a Survival or Arcana check will get meat and hide but for the exotic ingredients PCs need a Taxidermy or Alchemist kit and a called shot to collect the specific organ, part or ‘essence’ sought.

Using monster parts also requires a whole lot of skills too (its not everyone who knows how to competently skin and tan a dragon hideand then fashion it intoi useful armour)