Birth control in D&D

[Hunter99]

Given that magic can be used to achieve a variety of effects in D&D, has anyone given thought to a spell to prevent pregnancy or perhaps to safely abort a fetus?

What level would you all put this spell?

1st level? or 2nd level?

I'm sure many a witch would work to develop this kind of spell and seek to have it in their arsenal.

 

[Dandu]

Ok... no. Just... no.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The abortion issue aside, if you do a bit of historical research, you'll find all kinds of alchemical and physical devices used to prevent pregnancy going back to the Egyptians. I recall one involved the insertion of crocodile dung...and I'm not going any further.

The usual suppliers of said methods WERE the wise women/witches/herbalists and so forth.

So I wouldn't necessarily make it a spell at all, but rather an alchemical product that requires knowledge of herbalism.

The next step would be an actual magical Potion.

 

[Akaiku]

If you don't mind brain-hurtingly bad, the BoEF has stuff like that.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

[edit: Ninja'd. You'll live with that forever, Akaiku ]

OK, I'll say it: Book of Erotic Fantasy.

Detecting pregnancy, VD, etc is typically listed at 0th level.
Contraception is generally 1st level.
Ensuring pregnacy is 3rd or 4th level.
Causing impotency 4th or 5th level.

and so on.


No info on the armor bonus of lambskin, however, afaict.

 

[domino]

Remove Curse.

 

[Jimlock]

I recall one involved the insertion of crocodile dung...and I'm not going any further.

ok... I read it... no big deal................. *vomit*

So I wouldn't necessarily make it a spell at all, but rather an alchemical product that requires knowledge of herbalism.

The next step would be an actual magical Potion.

The potion would still require a spell to be based on... just saying.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

ok... I read it... no big deal................. *vomit*

That is probably EXACTLY how it worked.

The potion would still require a spell to be based on... just saying.

Sure, but it doesn't have to be directly on point. It could be based on positive spells like the various cures. It could be Remove Curse as pointed out. It could be a Neutralize or Protection From spell.

My point was that I wouldn't make a spell that directly prevents pregnancy directly.

(Yes, I know all or almost all 3.X are based directly on spells.)

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

IIRC, you can use Bestow Curse to make someone infertile. And since that's a powerful combat spell with a LOT of options to use it for, a spell specifically for the infertility effect would be at least dropped one level, I think. Since Bestow Curse is first, "Spay/Neuter" would at most be a 2nd level spell, then. Possibly first level.

 

[Jimlock]

I'd say 2nd level for a permanent effect, and 1st level for an abortion-type spell.