Can Undead use Potions?

[Ramien Meltides]

Some of 'em don't have lips, or stomachs to pour the stuff into. Some are little more than wandering skeletons. But I can't seem to find a rule that specifically limits undead from using potions... can anyone help me out here with an official or semi official ruling that makes sense?

 

[Crothian]

I've seen no rule limiting creatures that can use potions. So, while that doesan't always make sense, use your best judgment.

 

[whatisitgoodfor]

Sure they don't have lips, stomachs, or even brains in some cases, but there is one really really good reason to let them use them: It's Magic.

Seriously, there isn't any rule stating they can't, and they are a magical effect, so let the dead buggers use them. It's using the use activated magic item that triggers the effect, not actually having the material assimilate into the lining of your digestive tract.

Of course I can just imagine the humor when a freshly embraced vampire uses that potion of healing he always kept in reserve.

 

[Xarlen]

If you have a problem with a lack of digestive system, then how about the liquid pouring down from the lower jaw, and flowing against the bones or flesh, and absorbed into it, allowing the magical effect to embew the body?

 

[Victim]

A potion is basically a spell stored in liquid form. If someone could cast the spell on an undead creature, then the undead could probably use the spell in potion form.

Hmm, searing light potions. Tasty.

 

[Xarlen]

I know that people have a really low opinon of suicide bombers, buutt..

A while back, I had an idea about putting area effects into potion form (look at Book of Eldrich Might, where Unholy Blight is concentrated into a paste form).

Basicly, imagine a fireball that's unleashed when the potion is drank. It's centered on the drinker, and the drinker recieves no reflex save.

 

[Grazzt]

IMC, undead can't use potions (havent run across this yet, but that would be my ruling). Yeppers, I know they are magical, but interjecting a bit of the real world into it, I would say no bloodstream (no blood flowing through the body) means no potion will work. Just me though....YMMV.

As a side (and undead) note here is an old legend about vampires that says when they drank blood, it actually coursed through their veins giving them normal flesh color for a limited amount of time. This allowed the vampire to pass as human.

 

[Umbran]

IMC, undead can't use potions (havent run across this yet, but that would be my ruling). Yeppers, I know they are magical, but interjecting a bit of the real world into it, I would say no bloodstream (no blood flowing through the body) means no potion will work. Just me though....YMMV.

I say, if it's magic enough to get into your bloodstream in six seconds (one combat round), then it's magic enough to deal with you if you haven't got a bloodstream at all.

 

[kreynolds]

I say, if it's magic enough to get into your bloodstream in six seconds (one combat round), then it's magic enough to deal with you if you haven't got a bloodstream at all.

I'll support that even further by stating that Skeletons don't posses the intelligence to even use potions (forget about bloodstreams or digestive systems, for they have an Intelligence score of -), but a vampire does posses the intelligence.

Also, to further expand upon the Intelligence issue, I'd like to make reference to this quote from the SRD:

Undead with no Intelligence scores cannot heal damage on their own, though they can be healed.

There you have it. If the creature does not possess an Intelligence score, it's very likely that they couldn't tell the difference between a potion and a brick.

 

[Grazzt]

There you have it. If the creature does not possess an Intelligence score, it's very likely that they couldn't tell the difference between a potion and a brick.

But what if it were a brick of healing?