[Advice] How do you handle...

[RigaMortus2]

How do you handle when a monster has a special ability and has special rules to overcome or negate that special ability. The best example I can give is Alchemist Fire. When you get hit with Alchemist Fire you have the option of taking a Full Round Action to put out the fire on yourself. Of course, players have access to the knowledge of Alchemist Fire from the PHB, so they would know about this. Well, let's say a monster had a similiar ability (I can't think of an actual one off hand, so I'll make one up). Let's say we have a "snake-man" who can spit venom. Snake Man makes a ranged touch attack and if he hits, the player has to make a Fort save or is blind. The player can take a Full Round Action to wipe the poison out of their eyes otherwise they remain blind until they do so.

Now, the players wouldn't normally know this. So as a DM, once the player gets hit by this and fails the Fort save, do you normally tell them their options (Full Round Action to wipe poison away) or do you normally wait for them to try and figure out how to remove the poison on their own?

 

[Nail]

..do you [the DM] normally tell them [the players] their options (Full Round Action to wipe poison away) or do you normally wait for them to try and figure out how to remove the poison on their own?

It depends, really. In the case of "Mr. Spitting Snakeman", I'd describe the effect -

"There is thick spittle covering your eyes. You are blinded by it."

-and then I'd wait for them to respond. In some other case, perhaps one in which the game rules might not be common sensical, I would explain the game actions possible.

All this assumes an experienced player. A beginning player would get more help.

 

[schporto]

Generally I apply a knowledge check against it. Its up to the players to determine if its something they need to know. So in you case its up to the player to say "Do I know anything about this spit in my eyes?" "Hmmm make a Knowledge Nature Check." "10" "You remember some tales about spitting snake people. The acid of their spit apparently eats away at your eyeball rendering you blind." (low roll - there fore somewhat misleading info)
or
"25" "You understand that this is a normal snake type poison, and as long as it is removed quickly poses no real harm. Long term effects may render you permanently blind. Some cultures use this when taking a 'spirit journey' ..."
-cpd

 

[Sejs]

Certain courses of action naturally suggest themselves. If a snakeman spits a blinding, burning venom into your eyes, your natural reaction would be to try to get the bad crap out of your eyes. No check should be required for this.

However, if you're fighting an opponent that has a corrosive slime that sticks to you with each blow, and has an odd method of negation - such as, say, salt negating the goo, but water or alcohol having no effect on it - then I'd require an appropriate knowledge check. Think of it like peeing on jellyfish stings. A person's normal reaction to being stung by something isn't to have your buddy take a leak on you. A successful Knowledge (Nature) check, however, tells you otherwise.

On the whole, as a DM, I'd make these knowledge checks in secret and if someone in the party is successful, tell them "Bill, you're pretty sure you've heard of this stuff before. If you remember correctly, you need to do so-and-so in order to take care of the such-and-such". If none of them make the check, then I say nothing and let them try to figure it out on their own.

 

[Nail]

Part of the question, to me, is about how much I am planning on slowing down combat (and play) with lengthy Knowlege check requirements. Leave those for outside of combat, please.

 

[schporto]

I find it doesn't take much in combat, but if you wanted to speed it up. Assume they roll 10 or 5 on their turns and have their ranks on a paper - then spit out what they know. If I was playing I'd ask. And I think that would slow down combat more.
-cpd

 

[CronoDekar]

I'm with Sejs -- as long as the solution is something that they could naturally expect, then I'd just tell them "if you want, you can wipe away the venom with a full-round action."

 

[the Jester]

Figure it out, bunky!

I don't coddle, give hints or show mercy to my players.

 

[azhrei_fje]

Part of the question, to me, is about how much I am planning on slowing down combat (and play) with lengthy Knowlege check requirements. Leave those for outside of combat, please.

True. But with DMGenie, I can click on the Roll window button, following by choosing Knowledge(arcane) or Knowledge(Nature), as appropriate, and then read the results (the roll for all enemies and party members has already been made). I can uncheck the "Enemies" box to make it easier to see just the Party, if I want.

Computers at the game table can be a great bonus, once the DM gets used to using them. I find that DMGenie, Sovelior's RSRD, and Andargor's XML data are all I need.