Gloves and contact poison traps

[Liminal Syzygy]

How do people handle contact poison traps (i.e. poison spread on a surface intruders are likely to physically touch) when most characters wear gloves?

 

[Li Shenron]

How do people handle contact poison traps (i.e. poison spread on a surface intruders are likely to physically touch) when most characters wear gloves?

Obviously, if they touch it with covered parts it does not affect them.

 

[Vaxalon]

The trick is to use the contact poison in places where gloves would not be worn. My favorite trick is to put it inside a pair of gloves that have had a Nystul's put on it.

 

[Liminal Syzygy]

Obviously, if they touch it with covered parts it does not affect them.

The problem is that a lot of players don't detail what they are wearing. And if you ask a leading question... "Are you wearing gloves?" It's pretty obvious..

As for putting it where they won't wear gloves, if there is such a simple way around it, then it seems that the DC of contact poison traps should be reduced, as even if the trap isn't detected it's likely to have no effect.

 

[Li Shenron]

The problem is that a lot of players don't detail what they are wearing. And if you ask a leading question... "Are you wearing gloves?" It's pretty obvious..

As for putting it where they won't wear gloves, if there is such a simple way around it, then it seems that the DC of contact poison traps should be reduced, as even if the trap isn't detected it's likely to have no effect.

I think there are something like 3 example traps in the SRD with contact poison. The DC is not a problem IMHO. I just think it is not a very common way to make a trap, but if such a trap is made then probably the one who made it exactly made it that way so he could bypass his own traps just by wearing gloves.

I would simply assume that characters who didn't specify they have gloves (usually everyone except the ones with certain armors or the ones with magic gloves) then they don't have. Maybe grant a Spot check to notice a greasy substance before touching...

 

[Altamont Ravenard]

Do gloves (wether they are made of leather or metal) interfere with, say, Disarming a device, even if there is no Armor Check Penalty applied to Disarm Device?

AR

 

[Spatzimaus]

It really isn't relevant whether they're wearing gloves, if you're not in a time-critical situation. The only real question is, did they figure out there was poison on the thing they were touching? If not, they'll come in contact with it soon enough. They'll touch the outside of the gloves while taking them off, or contact some other part of their body while wearing them, or whatever, and they'll then be exposed to the poison. If the gloves are soft and/or don't cover the entire hand, it's also reasonable that some contact poisons would eventually work their way through the leather to the skin underneath.
So, I'd rule that anyone who touches a contact poison without knowing has to make the saving throw whether they're wearing gloves or not, simply because they'll touch it sooner or later. Although, they should probably get a bonus to the saving throw.

Or maybe they'll do something worse: imagine a plate-clad Cleric who gets a contact poison all over his gauntlets without knowing. Then, he casts a Cure spell on someone, touches them to deliver the spell, and inadvertently poisons them in the process. Hmm, this gives me an evil idea...

 

[Snipehunt]

Yeah, I do the same thing Spatsimus does. I assume even if they're wearing gloves, they rub sweat off their forehead or scratch their belly or something within the round. Unless the player is very careful, and says something along the lines of "I'm wearing gloves, and touch the (whatever) with the gloved hands, then make sure not to touch any part of the body, and take the gloves off very carefully." Of course, if the player does that enough, the other players will eventually kill him in his sleep.

 

[Stalker0]

My thoughts, if the poison can get through human skin (and heck even natural armored skin of many creatures) then it can get through the glove material and still effect you. You don't reduce the DC against creatures with natural AC do you?

 

[Felix]

I would have a hard time assuming the PCs are or are not wearing gloves. Perhaps ask them to outline everything they are wearing a few sessions before you run them into the poison.

Doorknobs and latches are nice places for contact poisons, but might you like some suggestions for places to put CP where it would get their skin?

-the insides of gloves, helmets, breeches, clothing, etc...
-in the bath water if they take one in an inn...
-on their pillow...
-rim of their mug (though you could also have ingested poisons working here)
-any place you would put an injury poison (once in your bloodstream, it is contacting you after all...
-gold pieces (for those PC's who like to run their hands through their wealth)
-handkercheifs (heh heh)

Poisons can be fun! But remember that contact poisons are remarkably indescriminate, and if you use them, be sure to have innocent bystanders be at risk too!