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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Thesolinicus" data-source="post: 5035017" data-attributes="member: 64451">Hey All, I wanted to get some opinions on a ruling I am thinking about making for my game group.  Here is the scenario: I recently ran a session that had my PC facing some Drow... Interestingly enough in another campaign, where I am a player, we came across some Snaketounged NPCs, you know the kind, lackeys of Yuan-Ti.  Anyway all of these guys have At-Wills that are Weapon + Poison.  Some debate ensued about how the poison "works."  I had some players in my game that thought the Drow poison was tantamount to a nearly instant death and that the only way it seems balanced is if it follows the rules of weapons coated with poison from the DMG (basically, one shot and then a standard to reapply).  The GM from the other campaign, the one with the Yuan-Ti worshipers, believed that the At-Wills were figured into the level of difficulty for the creature and should then work "differently" then the rules for a PC.  I believe there is a discussion thread on here that supports this view. Well... I was still not convinced, so I did some digging and comparisons. If you look at all of the creatures from the MM with a poison attack, be it with a weapon or without, there is always a reason or mechanism that makes the poison possible.  What do I mean by that?  Well, in a lot of the creatures it is a natural ability (i.e. Claws, Stinger, Bite, etc...).  In the others however there is a notation or reason in the equipment.  For most it is a “poisoned” weapon (an item from the AV).  In the case of the Drow it actually has an asterisk that notates the weapons (which are normal) are coated in Drow poison.  So then my issue or question becomes:  Once (In the case of the Drow) the poison is used or if they happen to lose these weapons do they lose this ability (even considering the fact that they may have a secondary weapon or pick up another weapon)?  I believe so.  I think that the great minds at Wizards intend there to be some explanation or believable reason for powers beyond it is just “what they do.” I think the best way to explain this is to look at several creatures with weapon + poison attacks and see what the differences are and then ask why.  If you look at the Drow as I have previously mentioned, they are the only creature in the MM that has an “applied” poison.  It then makes sense to me that the specific over rules the general and then, following the rules in the DMG, they would need to spend a standard to reapply the poison to their rapier.  Why else would Wizards add that stipulation in the text of the equipment?  In the case of the Snaketounged followers of the Yuan-Ti they all have poisoned weapons.  The Halfling Prowler also has a poisoned weapon.  The Tiefling Darkblade has a poisoned weapon.  There are also several creatures with poisoned ammo for a range weapon (blowgun, cross bow, etc…).  I believe if they lose these weapons or run out of poisoned ammo then they no longer have poison attacks.  I believe this equipment is the reason for their ability or how it is that they do what they do.  In contrast if you look at the Medusa Warrior (Male) he also has a weapon + Poison attack but the equipment has no such notations.  He does however have a poison power that has nothing to do with a weapon but is a “natural” ability.  The Medusa Shroud of Zehir (Female) is the same way (weapon + poison at-will AND other “natural” poison attacks YET normal weapons and equipment).  Even the Yuan-ti Malison Sharp-eye has a weapon + poison attack yet normal equipment as does the Yuan-ti Malison Disciple of Zehir and the Yuan-ti Abomination.  These creatures, however, are snake creatures and have resistances to poison and even, in one case, a “natural” poison attack.  This to me shows a conscious choice by the folks at Wizards to keep the powers NPCs have in the realm of possibilities and give them some “reason” for being. So what are your thoughts? </blockquote>

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