Is this fair or am I evil DM?

[smetzger]

Re: Re: Is this fair or am I evil DM?

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

Creatures are immune to their own poison, so this would not be needed.

 

[maddman75]

Didn't the medusa of legend use poison-tipped arrows? I'd say she has control over the snakes, or at least they are good friends. So a MEA sounds about right for me. And if she has notice, she could prepare several arrows for use, though the poison wouldn't keep long. Maybe an hour.

I'm less interested in what's possible in the real world than what's fun. How do you know that the snakes don't naturally produce their poison in a sticky paste that keeps for days?

 

[howandwhy99]

Either way you go (full round action or move equivalent action) I would have your medusa attack twice for the first round or so before dripping venom on her arrows. It shows that the characters can stand up to her gaze attacks and need to be dispatched quickly.

But it will also put the fear of God in the players!

 

[HellHound]

I agree that hte poison would be significantly reduced in potency since you won't be getting the full dosage on an arrow in this way.

I WOULD, however, allow her to take a feat to do this trick at full effect.

 

[clark411]

I could see a medusa milking the poison glands of her snakes for venom to coat her arrows with, so it's a bonza and high fantasy way to skip the mundanity of her doing so through that technique. It's an awesome visual, I see no probs.

Lessening the strength of the poison makes sense, simply if for no other reason than differenciating between dealing with her at a distance rather than close up.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

Seems plausible. But IMO:
(1) It should cost her a feat.
(2) It takes a MEA to coat an arrow.
(3) No precoated arrows -- that requires a created poison with the right consistency.

With all of the above, I think it would be fair. It is a reasonable tactic to trade one poison arrow for a full attacks worth.

If you are not a hardassed with your own medusa, don't cry munchkin when the party Arcane Archer gets a viper familiar and it lives in his quiver.

 

[-Ekimus-]

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.

'


Conan style! This is a great idea, cause running an arrow next to a rattlesnake isnt gonna poison the arrow, even if u slice it open. its a different story if u stab a snake in the face with an arrow.. then it would work.

 

[Larry Fitz]

Originally posted by mythago due to prescient mental abilities
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.

Rats, I was so going to post that idea.... grumble.... also I think Medusa's should be tougher than they are currently in D20. I'd beef the poison up to 1d6 permanent strength damage on secondary effect, but heck, that's just me, and I am evil....

 

[Whodat]

There is nothing wrong with making your long-standing critters both cunning and resourceful. It keeps your players on their toes, after all.

But then, just check my sig!



By the way… *Swipe*

We now return you to our regularly scheduled thread, already in progress.

 

[Quinn]

I'd change the poison damage, since the listed damage is as if the medusa's snakes actually bit and injected the poison directly. I'd take the poison down a notch in potency, but in general I think the idea is absolutely awesome!