Can you exctract poison from a purple worm?

[Lord Zardoz]

From a dead purple worm? I'm not so sure it's that easy. I don't think a simple poison craft check is sufficient, as that skill really doesn't give you ranks in the anatomies of all creatures out there with poison abilities, especially those that are not animals or vermin. Just consider how snake venom is obtained.

It's just one of those areas that isn't well-defined and would be too much of a pita to figure out the rules. I would simply tell the PC's that I'm more interested in designing adventures and stuff than in designing balanced houserules for veterinarians.

If they are willing to be creative about it, I see no harm. The poison can be considered part of the treasure, but one that requires a skill check, and where failure results in the person attempting to extract it being poisoned. Success will only ever give the player harvesting the venom 1 dose.

END COMMUNICATION

 

[Infiniti2000]

If they are willing to be creative about it, I see no harm. The poison can be considered part of the treasure, but one that requires a skill check, and where failure results in the person attempting to extract it being poisoned. Success will only ever give the player harvesting the venom 1 dose.

I don't see it as creative, so I don't see anything worthwhile to reward out of hand for no good reason. Similarly, I don't see looting dead bodies as creative, but then that's an accepted practice in D&D, generally speaking.

But, only 1 dose for a gargantuan purple worm that is 80ft long, 5ft in diameter, and weighs 40,000 pounds? That's awfully stingy. If you allow any at all, you should at least allow a number of doses commensurate with the creature's size. Maybe 100?

 

[Derro]

For the quality of the poison Knw (arcana) DC 20.

Removing the poison gland from the stinger Survival DC 25. (Save vs. poison on 1)

Turning the venom sac into usable poison Craft (alchemy) or Profession (poisoner) DC 20.

Substitute Profession (poisoner) for any of the above skill checks (DC +5).

That's how I would do it.

 

[calighis]

I don't see it as creative, so I don't see anything worthwhile to reward out of hand for no good reason. Similarly, I don't see looting dead bodies as creative, but then that's an accepted practice in D&D, generally speaking.

But, only 1 dose for a gargantuan purple worm that is 80ft long, 5ft in diameter, and weighs 40,000 pounds? That's awfully stingy. If you allow any at all, you should at least allow a number of doses commensurate with the creature's size. Maybe 100?

purple worm poison is like 1500 per dose.
This particular character is insane and I dread to think what he would do with that much gold. The entire game would become devoted to finding purple worms.
Before long it would become Arrakis.

 

[werk]

purple worm poison is like 1500 per dose.
This particular character is insane and I dread to think what he would do with that much gold. The entire game would become devoted to finding purple worms.

Exactly the point the I2k is making, I believe.

You can permit it, or even encourage it by making it easily accessible and rewarding, but that isn't the game that most people like to play. "Let's Start a Fantasy Business!"

Requiring Profession is a great deterrent.

 

[calighis]

Ok here are the new guidelines for extracting poison from any creature.
Upon a poisonous creatures death all toxins are fully absorbed and internalized making extraction impossible. In order to milk purple worm poison you have to capture a live one.
Same for Wyverns, giant scorpions et al.
What do you think?

 

[Infiniti2000]

Exactly the point the I2k is making, I believe.

You can permit it, or even encourage it by making it easily accessible and rewarding, but that isn't the game that most people like to play. "Let's Start a Fantasy Business!"

Requiring Profession is a great deterrent.

QFT.

I like those guidelines, calighis. After that, you'll find out if your players want to play D&D or fantasy business 101. Best o' luck to you in either endeavor, but I for one would drop the second option (been there done that got bored to tears).