My rule has always been if players can do it, NPC's can do it. I find that players in my game love stuff like that till it's used against them. After a couple of encounters where all the nasty stuff they use get used against them or ruins their reputations in decent society, they generally don't want to mess with it anymore. Being the GM who says no makes you the bad guy. Let em use it. Use it against em. BTW Where are they that using a potion that is favored by Drow where it isn't , if not illegal, completely against social norms?
First time I had this epiphany was in a 2e game and the temple of Lathander threw the party out because they were using poisons and weapons of wounding. They were denied healing until they repented and went on a quest. Heh... And if there is a good cleric or paladin in the party that's a whole new level if they know about it. In my games thier gods would deny them spells and powers, severity depending on what they let happen.
First time I had this epiphany was in a 2e game and the temple of Lathander threw the party out because they were using poisons and weapons of wounding. They were denied healing until they repented and went on a quest. Heh... And if there is a good cleric or paladin in the party that's a whole new level if they know about it. In my games thier gods would deny them spells and powers, severity depending on what they let happen.
