D&D 5E (2014) Poison and the poison condition

[Arravis]

So would you agree that the list I mentioned are the ones that have the Poisoned Condition from the DMG?

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Imp venom doesnt apply the poisoned condition, but deals more damage than quasit venom that does. Maybe the former is more like rattlesnake venom (hemotoxin) which destroys tissue, so is treated more like a wound, while other toxin is neurotoxin and deals damage and has the debilitating effect.

 

[Arravis]

it is not strange that these poisons don't use the term "poisoned condition" as most of the conditions don't use the added word "condition." For example, does not say "incapacitated condition creature."
This is different from the "Poison" damage type.

That example is from the Incapacitated condition description, which would not make reference to itself. Condition effects are sometimes described as "conditions" with regularity outside the condition section itself. The confusion with the word "poisoned" could describe the common english usage effects of the word, without actually meaning the specific condition.

 

[Coroc]

Poison condition only if the poison states that is an effect.

Now for the hard questions around poison.

How long does the poison last once on a weapon?
How many successful attacks can you make before needing to apply more poison?
How much poison in a day can you take from a poisonous snake animal companion, or imp familiar?
Why are they called poisonous snakes and not venomous snakes?
Serpent venom sells for 200gp a dose, how many doses can a druid milk from himself or have the party rogue milk from him in a day? Why do they adventure for gold when they could just set up poison shops?

See these are questions because no where in the DMG does it mention things like number of strikes or duration, we have to infer answers to these questions from monsters and npc's that use poison. The assassin for example seems to be able to strike multiple times per round, all combat long with poisoned blades.

Basic poison is of little help from the PHB, as it says.
Poison, Basic. You can use the poison in this vial to coat one slashing or piercing weapon or up to three pieces of ammunition. Applying the poison takes an action. A creature hit by the poisoned weapon or ammunition must make a DC 10 Constitution saving throw or take 1d4 poison damage. Once applied, the poison retains potency for 1 minute before drying.

"once applied, the poison retains potency for 1 minute before drying" - so basic poison lasts on a dagger for one minute after application but is it good for only 1 strike or all strikes during that minute. What about the other poisons mentioned in the DMG?

One last question, if the average assassin (the one listed in the npc section of the MM) can afford to use 1,200gp wyvern venom on both of his short swords, and all of his crossbow ammunition every fight just how much does he charge to kill people so he can make a profit? Where does he keep the pet wyvern?

You forgot to ask: " How does poison affect my alignment depending on

- my initial alignment
- the alignment of the opponent
- the "alignment" of the mission e.g. save the world / raid the local brothel

You can find the answer in the book "Face it -you are actually neutral evil" *
by E.L. Minster which can be found on the 586. Layer of the Abyss unless you wait for the 6th edition when it can be found somewhere in the forgotten realms.

*Totally stole the title from IWD II where it could be found amongst other hilarious books.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

I think I'm going to let poisons last for all weapon strikes for about a minute. The pricing is still just way too high. I'm considering having the listed prices apply to either 5 or 10 doses of poison (and assume that poison is usually sold in such increments).

I think the pricing is intentionally high because poison is not supposed to be an attractive option for most PCs (and that's potentally a lot of damage). I'd keep poison single-strike, but perhaps add a feat that lets it last longer for PCs who do want to specialize in it.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I think it would have been better for 5E to have kept the Sickened or Nauseated condition, and had poisons apply that instead of Poisoned (i.e., just rename Poisoned to Sickened to avoid confusion).

 

[Sword of Spirit]

I think the pricing is intentionally high because poison is not supposed to be an attractive option for most PCs (and that's potentally a lot of damage). I'd keep poison single-strike, but perhaps add a feat that lets it last longer for PCs who do want to specialize in it.

For me, I like to have prices make sense relative to each other in the world. I use things like the daily wages of skilled and unskilled workers, the prices of real estate, and costs of other goods to set a baseline. (Btw, it translates pretty well to a 1 gp = $100 framework.) Then I evaluate other things based on that. So when I look at the costs of poison, I'm looking at how it stacks up to having a guildhall built, etc. The prices just fail. The magic item prices do too, unfortunately (I multiply them by about 3, and require adventuring components for most permanent items). But most other prices in the world actually hold up fairly well in overall consistency. Significantly better than prior versions of D&D.