How much would this poison sell for?

[MerakSpielman]

I had a villian develop this formula and use it as her primary weapon (she drank antitoxen ahead of time to assure she wouldn't be affected). Now the players have four vials of the stuff. If they find a way to sell it (poison is illegal in the kingdom they're exploring), I have to know how much it would sell for.

Purple Mist
Inhalation
Fort DC 15 to resist
1d6 permenant Intelligence damage
Kept in vials, expands to fill a 10' cube when thrown as a weapon. Dissipates in one round.
No secondary damage.

 

[CyberSpyder]

I will give you 50 gp for that right now.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

I had a villian develop this formula and use it as her primary weapon (she drank antitoxen ahead of time to assure she wouldn't be affected). Now the players have four vials of the stuff. If they find a way to sell it (poison is illegal in the kingdom they're exploring), I have to know how much it would sell for.

Purple Mist
Inhalation
Fort DC 15 to resist
1d6 permenant Intelligence damage
Kept in vials, expands to fill a 10' cube when thrown as a weapon. Dissipates in one round.
No secondary damage.

Change the damage note to: 1d6 Intelligence drain.

Since it inflicts drain to multiple targets, it should be a bit more expensive than 50 gp. (Remember NPCs also can buy it). I think something along 1.000 gp might be a more reasonable number - at least if it was a potion with a spell of that power (and there were spells of that level - I would consider it equivalent to a 3rd or 4th level spell). If you want to make it cheaper, 140 gp could be a price (equivalent to a single casting of a spell of that level)

 

[Scharlata]

Purple Mist
Inhalation
Fort DC 15 to resist
1d6 permenant Intelligence damage
Kept in vials, expands to fill a 10' cube when thrown as a weapon. Dissipates in one round.
No secondary damage.

Hi!

Considering that most of the poisons and ravages (see DMG, BoED, BoVD, A&EG) don't cause ability drain and inhaled poisons are more expensive than other poisons, the relatively low saving throw DC and the considerable amount (3,5 points) of ability drain Purple Mist deals, I'd say Purple Mist ought to cost about roughly 750 gp.

For example:

Fang Dragon Venom (BoVD): Injury DC 15, 1 Con*/0, 300 gp
Purple Mist ((c) Merak): Inhaled DC 15, 1d6 Int*/0, x gp

If we'd multiply the 1 point of primary damage [drain] caused to Con by the Fang Dragon Venom by 2 (because that's the interesting part of a poison), we'd get 2 points of damage [drain]. Dividing the price of 300 gp by 2, we'd get 150 gp per point of damage [drain].

We could multiply the cost of 150 gp per point of damage [drain] by 3,5 points of Int damage [drain] from Purple Mist and get 525 gp.

We now have to add some figures for the Inhalation method. I'd suggest multiplying the cost by 1,5. We'd get 787,5 gp for Purple Mist.

Hope this helps

Kind regards

 

[MerakSpielman]

It was kind of important, for plot reasons, that this Intelligence damage be permenant - i.e., only recoverable via magic.

If that makes this a particularly valuable treasure, I'm fine with that. They've been scrounging for gold recently.

 

[Storyteller01]

If you don't mind spending some cash to make a comparison, check out 'Plots & Poison' (I think it's by Mongoose). It has the most comprehensive poison list I've ever seen. One full page of nothing but piosons by stat description (type, damage, etc). Might help you with pricing.

 

[Len]

Sell it?!?

It was kind of important, for plot reasons, that this Intelligence damage be permenant - i.e., only recoverable via magic.

I think that was M.R.'s point - use the existing terminology "ability drain" instead of making up a new name.