Is this fair or am I evil DM?

[Bagpuss]

Do you think its fair that a medusa, could run her arrows through her hair before she fires them to coat them in venom?

Thus her 1d6 damage from her shortbow, becomes 1d6 + poison

Fortitude save (DC 14); initial damage 1d6 temporary Strength, secondary damage 2d6 temporary Strength.

Do you think this ups her challenge rating if so how much Ad-hoc XP do you think that tactic is worth?

Also do you think this should be moved to D&D Rules or House Rules? I couldn't decide which it suited best.

 

[Nifft]

I'd InstaRule(tm) that her poison isn't very strong, and that an arrow isn't a very effective delivery mechanism for it, so I'd reduce her poison ability damage to initial and secondary 1d4 Str [Fort, DC 11].

It's still frightening, but not smackdown-quality.

-- Nifft

 

[Brisk-sg]

I wouldn't consider the tactic unfair.

If you think the tactic might pose too much of a danger to the party for the CR, then increase the CR by 1.

Another option is to have the medusa take a partial action to coat the arrow in poison, or possibly reduce the DC due to hasty application of the poison.

-Josh

 

[Bagpuss]

I like the move-equivalent action thing as a medusa normally get two attacks a round so that would limit her to one poison attack or two normal attacks, that would be less evil....

I don't want to alter the poison since it means keeping track of two different types and its not going to be that different as the delivery mechanism is the same (injected).

Yes a move-equivalent action to coat an arrow seems a nice middle ground.

 

[francisca]

yes. and yes.

fair because medusae are cunning and resourceful.

yes you are evil, because, well, that's just evil!

 

[Murrdox]

I would change it slightly...

Applying poison should require more care than simply running the arrow through her hair.

I would rule it a full round action to coat one of her arrows in poison.

Of course, that doesn't mean that a Medusa couldn't keep a quiver of self-poisoned arrows on hand.

I think she should follow the same rules listed in the DMG and "Songs and Silence" for applying poison to weapons. I don't remember those rules, however, and don't have them on hand.

 

[mythago]

I wouldn't consider it evil. The medusa's hair is live snakes, yes? They'd have to pretty much spit poison or have their venom squeezed onto the arrows. It's not contact poison.

If you really want an evil ranged poison attack, let her "pull out her hair," straighten the snake into an arrow, and shoot it at her foes.

 

[Benben]

It's evil, but as a DM that's a good thing.

It is however a bit deadly. I'd rule that the coating of an arrow is a MEA and the poison will work for up to 10 minutes. I would also reduce its ability damage to 1D4.

And just to make it more fair, I would probably replace one of her three feats with a Natural Poison Use feat.

 

[Harlock]

I would change it slightly...

Applying poison should require more care than simply running the arrow through her hair.

I would rule it a full round action to coat one of her arrows in poison.

Of course, that doesn't mean that a Medusa couldn't keep a quiver of self-poisoned arrows on hand.

I think she should follow the same rules listed in the DMG and "Songs and Silence" for applying poison to weapons. I don't remember those rules, however, and don't have them on hand.

I think a full round is the way to go and I am going to have to disagree on the quiver of venom coated arrows. Snake venom is a very tricky substance. It's also fairly fragile. It has to ba handled with care to preserve the potency etc. as it is a lot like egg whites in a way (mostly proteins that would degrade on exposure). If you do not want to weaken the poison I suggest a full round action for a snake to coat the arrow then it can be fired next round. I think full round is better frankly because it is hard to milk a snake as it is. A particularly cooperative one (like a snake/hair on a medusa) could do the trick in about 3-6 seconds and I'd rather ere on the side of caution there. Also, I'd not bump up XP if she uses a full round action to coat and arrow then fires. Also, please note since she has two hands and the snakes can move somewhat on their own there is no reason she could not coat two arrows at once in the same round then fire them both next round (if you allow her to hold the bow and an arrow at the same time so as not to have to "draw" the bow. There is support for this if you've ever seen an archer holding an arrow in the middle of the shaft in the same hand in which she holds her bow.)

 

[Nail]

Since the snakes have eyes as well as a mouth, and *might* be capable of voluntary movement....the snakes should be able to "help" coat the arrows.

Even so, it's gotta be done carefully to be at all effective. (Ever seen those nature episdoes where they "milk" the venom from a snake?)

Probably a full round action => hence not all that useful in combat. And the stuff shouldn't keep for long.