Drinking a potion and AoO?

[Murrdox]

Forget about spell level of the potion!

I don't have a specific quote from anything, but I believe the DC is simply 10 + Damage Taken. I'm pretty sure that is the actual rule, although it MIGHT be DC 15 + Damage Taken

Although I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T direct the attack at the potion instead of the drinker. It's incredibly easy to hit the potion, and with a hardness of 1, any hit from any weapon will shatter the potion. Bye Bye cure serious wounds!

 

[Pielorinho]

Not at all. I said I understand the theory and mechanics behind the DC, not the function and practicality of it.

Gotcha. Misunderstood what you were saying before.

Still, I think the theory behind potions is that they reduce the complications of spellcasting into a single tasty treat anyone can consume; as such, if higher-level potions are somehow more complicated to consume, I think it'd break the theory of how potions work.

But I think we may mean different things by "theory" here.

Daniel

 

[Pielorinho]

Although I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T direct the attack at the potion instead of the drinker. It's incredibly easy to hit the potion, and with a hardness of 1, any hit from any weapon will shatter the potion. Bye Bye cure serious wounds!

1) Provokes an attack of opportunity (not clear whether this is from anyone threatening you, or just from the potion-holder; if the latter, it may not be such a big deal).
2) Potions are probably diminutive objects*, meaning their AC=19 (+4 size, +5 in wielder's hands) + wielder's dex bonus + wielder's deflection bonus. It may be pretty difficult to hit the potion after all.
3) Where do you get the hardness of 1 from? We always assume that potions are carried in metal flasks, so that they won't break so easily during the rigors of adventuring.

It's a good tactic, but not always the best tactic. If you're fighting a humanoid wearing light or no armor , you'll generally have an easier time hitting the humanoid than hitting the potion.

*Cats are tiny creatures, whereas toads are diminutive, IIRC; considering that potions have no appreciable weight, I think they've got to be closer to toad-sized than cat-sized.

Daniel

 

[Hypersmurf]

(Thanks, Hypersmurf, for the reference!)

What I'm here for

-Hyp.

 

[kreynolds]

It's incredibly easy to hit the potion...

I don't know about that. The potion has an AC of 10 (base) + 8 (fine size modifier) + 5 (in hand) + (dex of carrier) + (magical deflection of carrier). In other words, if you're talking about a wizard with a Dex of 12 and a ring of protection +2, you're looking at AC 26. I wouldn't exactly call that easy.

 

[kreynolds]

2) Potions are probably diminutive objects...

They're fine. PH, page 136, Table 8-11.

3) Where do you get the hardness of 1 from?

DMG, page 190.

 

[Pielorinho]

Thanks! Are either of those in the SRD, or can you tell me what header they're under in the DMG?

Daniel

 

[kreynolds]

This is in the SRD in the Potions doc, under Physical Description...

"The vial has an AC of 13, 1 hit point, a hardness of 1, and a break DC of 12."

Remember though, that AC is as an unattended and immobile object. It's a lot higher when carried, especially so when carried in hand.

The size modifiers are listed in a table in the Combat Basics doc.

 

[Pielorinho]

Thanks!
Daniel

 

[kreynolds]

No problem.