Alchemy & Poison

[Sigurd]

How do you handle poisons?

I have a wizard who has devoted some skill points to Alchemy and now I see people carve whole whacks out of it to have a separate skill for poisons. One source had a different feat for applying poisons, new poisons, Magic poisons, Harvesting poisons (something like 20 poison related feats!)

Is it unreasonable to say that since alchemists make poison, my character should be able to procure an available poison with an alchemy check, and know how to use it?


Sigurd

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

There are a lot of poisons in the world, and not all of them are "natural." The natural ones just tend to be nastier out of the starting blocks...and less detectable.

I would say that making poisons is one possible use of Alchemy, but the poisons produced are limited in number (you, as DM, make a starting list and work from there) and are generally difficult to make (high DC) and less powerful than natural poisons.

Herbalism & the other nature-related skills should let PCs make poison as well, with appropriate +2 mods for synergy bonuses.

PCs with all such skills should also get the synergy bonuses, and could even design new poisons.

With a few skill levels, the PC should know what the poison is and how to use/handle it under normal conditions, though there may be instances where safe handling would require a DC check to avoid dosing himself (like coating a blade in a coach at night on a bumpy road...while drunk). With 5 (or some synergy bonuses), the PC should know safe harvesting or creation methods.

 

[Treebore]

I would think it would depend on how much Chemistry your DM has ever taken. Yeah, biologist may be good at identify poisonous plants, but the chemist is most likely to know how to distill the poisons out. Or what powders to combine into a poisonous chemical, and to properly measure them out.

If you had me as your DM you would be in luck, but all I can suggest is find a good definition fo real world alchemists and chemists and show your DM how much they are the same. Then maybe they will follow that to the conclusion you want.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Heck, a trip to Half-Price books or your local/internet equivalent should yield:

1) books on poisonous snakes

2) books on poisonous insects

3) books on poisonous plants & fungi

4) books on dangerous household chemicals

5) books on other poisons & toxins.

all of which will have symptom & treatment info...if there are treatments, that is...