LN rogue using poison?

[Li Shenron]

Does this sound right? Im trying to create a Lawful Neutral rogue that uses poisons. Yes, i know that the DMG says poison is almost always illegal, but what im getting at is that hes lawful in regards to his thieves guild. And they allow poison. He particularly specializes in poisons that put people to sleep (he knocks the guard out instead of killing him). But im not sure if this goes with the alignment or not.

In Greyhawk poison is illegal, and it is somehow dishonorable to use it. I may agree that poisoning food or water is effectively cruel, it also implies deceit, but why a poisoned sword is more evil than a wounding sword (which may kill you more slowly) or a disease spell is IMHO a very artificial opinion; specially since standard poisons don't often kill, and if they do so, they kill you in 1 minute, and not necessarily imply pain.

In your setting, you don't have to follow the same guidelines, which are indeed guidelines only, and nothing more. It can be anyway a solid idea for a campaign, e.g. it fits very well in Oriental Adventures.

Please, let's not start a political debate, but if you think poisons are necessarily UNLAWFUL and EVIL in D&D because it's so in real life, then how are you going to justify that some US states regularly use poison for executions?

Also don't mistake Law for Good and Evil for Chaos, it's a completely different thing. Devils are the quintessence of Law+Evil, and Hell legend is filled with betrayals; a similar situation is Mafia, Yakuza and other hierarchy-organized crime: they are all examples of an (evil) society which pretends to substitute itself and its laws to the democratic state. I think a LN guild of thieves is a good idea for a campaign, although you should think of not making them really evil.

Also, has anyone seen a good rule for blowdart guns? in the DMG, its listed under Asian weapons as a martial weapon. in MOTW(i think), its an exotic weapon. Which is right? As a rogue, would i need to get the feat for it?

As a standard PHB Rogue, you have your list of proficiencies, and I would say that any weapon from other sources are not to be added to that list, unless specifically stated.
I would also say that in a GH, FR or similar setting a blowdart gun really fits the concept of being an Exotic Weapon, i.e. unusual, with strange properties, or coming from another culture (being it far away from another continent or from a relatively small racial community).
You can anyway create a PC which is a Rogue coming from very far away: I don't remember if the OA Rogue has different proficiencies, but to reflect the fact that you are from another culture, I am sure you can work with your DM a modification on your proficiencies. What about swapping short and long bow prof. with short and long blowguns? Even if they might be better weapons (I really don't know...), you're surely having a difficult time in find them in shops here, and maybe you'll have to pick up an appropriate Craft skill; I don't think your DM will think the swap is too good to allow.

 

[LokiDR]

Re: Re: LN rogue using poison?

In Greyhawk poison is illegal, and it is somehow dishonorable to use it. I may agree that poisoning food or water is effectively cruel, it also implies deceit, but why a poisoned sword is more evil than a wounding sword (which may kill you more slowly) or a disease spell is IMHO a very artificial opinion; specially since standard poisons don't often kill, and if they do so, they kill you in 1 minute, and not necessarily imply pain.

In your setting, you don't have to follow the same guidelines, which are indeed guidelines only, and nothing more. It can be anyway a solid idea for a campaign, e.g. it fits very well in Oriental Adventures.

Please, let's not start a political debate, but if you think poisons are necessarily UNLAWFUL and EVIL in D&D because it's so in real life, then how are you going to justify that some US states regularly use poison for executions?

Also don't mistake Law for Good and Evil for Chaos, it's a completely different thing. Devils are the quintessence of Law+Evil, and Hell legend is filled with betrayals; a similar situation is Mafia, Yakuza and other hierarchy-organized crime: they are all examples of an (evil) society which pretends to substitute itself and its laws to the democratic state. I think a LN guild of thieves is a good idea for a campaign, although you should think of not making them really evil.

Rather than making any act good or evil, the system should look at the circumstances of the act. Killing is not evil, in D&D or real life. Capital punishment, self defense, and some would argue mercy-killing are all "good" killing, at least in the eyes of society at large. Use of poison is little different.

 

[Li Shenron]

Re: Re: Re: LN rogue using poison?

Rather than making any act good or evil, the system should look at the circumstances of the act. Killing is not evil, in D&D or real life. Capital punishment, self defense, and some would argue mercy-killing are all "good" killing, at least in the eyes of society at large. Use of poison is little different.

Although I agreed with your previous posts, I disagree with this last one.

Killing and Capital punishment being "better" killing than poisoning in D&D could make for an interesting campaing, real life it's very different. But, as I said, I don't want to start a religious/political discussion, so let's call it over.

 

[LokiDR]

Re: Re: Re: Re: LN rogue using poison?

Although I agreed with your previous posts, I disagree with this last one.

Killing and Capital punishment being "better" killing than poisoning in D&D could make for an interesting campaing, real life it's very different. But, as I said, I don't want to start a religious/political discussion, so let's call it over.

It wasn't political, it was poorly writen.

Kill to save your own life: perfectly acceptable in almost every culture.

Kill because you like killing and the sound of screams: wrong in almost every culture.

The act of killing itself isn't good or evil. The same is true of poison. Just because you use some form of poison doesn't make you evil. You have to look at how the poison is used and why.

 

[The Forsaken One]

Drow poison is according to city of the spider Queen 75 gp per doe. ust that how it's made is a carefully kept secret. For non drow it costs more but among drow 75 gp is the price. First level Drow fighters carry 5 doses of the damn stuff. (according to lords of darkness). That makes it cheap and VERY dangerous. But well.. drow do seem to be the poison experts in D&D.

 

[Taloras]

I think im gonna run a poison from Quintessential Rogue by my DM. its called Sombal. its an Injury poison, DC 15 that puts you to sleep. it doesnt say a duration, however. Its 95 gp a dose.

 

[Taloras]

Now the question for this character. Hes in FR, so what would be a good diety for him? I thought at first Kelemvor, but it specifically states he opposes poison(Talona). Maybe Helm? He belongs to a secret organization that protects Waterdeep at all costs.

 

[Leopold]

LN=It's a job, i'm doing my job i need tools to do my job, it's just something i use to get it done quicker so be it.