Poisons - Rules Clarification Sought

[Ranes]

Hello Community,

I've just joined the board, having been lurking for several weeks. I'm really impressed with the help people have been able to give to each other here (many of the threads have answered my questions, too).

I'm an old timer who's finally decided to try 3E and I'm absolutely delighted with it. I love the rules system and I'm impressed with the editorial calibre of the new books. I haven't wanted to play or DM for years but all that has changed in the last few weeks. But there's one topic I haven't seen a post on and do have a question about, so I'm hoping you can help...

Poisons: from what I understand, when a character is exposed to poison (by whatever means), he makes a save to avoid its effects; if the save is failed, the character suffers the initial effects of the poison and must make a further Fort check down the line, to avoid suffering the poison's secondary effects.

My question is, is that it? Does a character who fails both saving throws suffer initial and secondary effects and then recover (or perish, of course)? Is there something I've missed in my desire to absorb the rules as quickly as possible?

I would appreciated any light you can bring to bear on this. Thanks.

Ranes

 

[StealthyMark]

You understood it correctly. Make one save, suffer the primary damage if failed, make another save 10 rounds (one minute) later, suffer the secondary damage if failed. Done. Inbetween the two saves, a successful Heal check (or Neutralize Poison) can help with the secondary effects.

 

[Ranes]

Ye gods! I have understood! I will alert the media forthwith.

Thanks for the swift reply. I was wondering, because I thought that some poisons might induce longer lasting effects but, if that's the way it is, that's fine. Thanks for your help in clearing that up for me.

Ranes

 

[Taloras]

There are some poisons that i believe have the secondary save after 24 hours, but i dont think there are any ones with really lingering effects. Ill have to look it up (i think S&S might have some, and Quintessential Rogue has several in it)

 

[Gromm]

There are some poisons that i believe have the secondary save after 24 hours, but i dont think there are any ones with really lingering effects. Ill have to look it up (i think S&S might have some, and Quintessential Rogue has several in it)

Well no lingering effects other than your Con score being alot lower than it should for several days or weeks.

 

[FANGO]

There are also poisons that cause permanent drain of statistics...I believe there are ones for str and con in the DMG.

But I should mention that there is one thing that you got wrong in your initial interpretation...a poisoned character must make the second save regardless of if they succeeded or failed the first one. So for each time you get poisoned, there are always two saves (unless the effects are something like "nothing/1d6 con", in which case you obviously don't need to make the first save). Just thought I would make sure you understood that part since you might have missed it in the post replying to your first one...

 

[Ranes]

All righty, this is great stuff. I'm using core rules at the moment (including errata), so the references to supplemental material are intriguing. I will consider expanding my rules set once I'm confident I've got to grips with the basic game. Truth be told, I've yet to actually play 3E! All my enthusiasm for the game so far comes solely from reading and re-reading the rules.

And thank you, Fango, for that extra detail in your post. In fact, I wasn't aware of the rule you brought to my attention until, coincidentally, I downloaded the FAQ from WotC (mea culpa; slow off the mark that time) just a couple of hours ago and noticed the point mentioned there - although that didn't address my initial question directly, so I don't feel too dumb for having asked it.

Anyway, thanks again everyone for having taken the time to help me out.

Ranes

 

[Grazzt]

But I should mention that there is one thing that you got wrong in your initial interpretation...a poisoned character must make the second save regardless of if they succeeded or failed the first one. So for each time you get poisoned, there are always two saves (unless the effects are something like "nothing/1d6 con", in which case you obviously don't need to make the first save).

I was just gonna post this very thing when I noticed that Fango had already done so. He is correct. Check page 79 in the DMG under the "Poison" heading.

 

[Gromm]

All my enthusiasm for the game so far comes solely from reading and re-reading the rules.

You wont be disappointed. I hate AD&D with a passion after a while. It just wasn't fun to me anymore. 3e however, I've been playing pretty much exclusively since it came out. Its much better done, more complete, and more fun.
Enjoy.