Poisons, Variant (3.5e Variant Rule)

One of the things I greatly enjoy about 3.5 is how carefully the creators worked to keep things consistent throughout. Most spells work very similarly, monster types and subtypes tend to be consistent throughout.

In contrast, poisons seem to be very inconsistent in their effects, in their pricing, in their acquisition. They are relegated to an obscure corner of the DMG, and only cursorily discussed. In order to cover up these issues, the rules strongly discourage their use by non-evil PCs, declaring their general illegality, and expressly banning paladins from using such items.

I think that poisons have a place in the game, and I don't think it is a place limited to assassins. Poisons in real-life are devastating substances that, if they don't kill you, often debilitate you for the rest of your days. In D&D, such substances would be game-breaking and should be handled as an inflicted disease rather than an alchemical effect.

But D&D poisons are not toxic in the same way as real-life arsenic and cyanide. D&D poisons work like spell-like effects, and thus should be scaled and priced accordingly. With this in mind, I present my variant rules on poisons, which have been play-tested in my campaign and appear to be quite balanced, even in campaign worlds where poisons are considered legal and are widely used.

Conditions

Poisons impose Conditions on the victim who fails a Fortitude save. The Conditions that can be imposed upon a victim include Ability damaged, Ability drained, Asleep, Blinded, Confused, Cowering, Dazed, Dazzled, Dead, Deafened, Distracted, Energy drained, Exhausted, Fascinated, Fatigued, Frightened, Nauseated, Panicked, Paralyzed, Shaken, Sickened, Stunned or Unconscious. These Conditions are prioritized into eleven separate condition levels. The higher the condition level, the more the poison will cost.

1. Ability damage (non-Constitution), each point of mean damage
2. Dazzled, Distracted
3. Ability damage (Constitution), each point of mean damage
4. Dazed, Fatigued or Shaken
5. Ability drain (non-Constitution), each point of maximum damage
6. Blinded, Cowering, Deafened, Fascinated or Sickened
7. Ability drain (Constitution), each point of maximum damage
8. Confused, Exhausted, Frightened, Nauseated or Stunned
9. Energy drain, each negative level inflicted at maximum
10. Asleep, Panicked, Paralyzed or Unconscious
11. Dead (is only ever a secondary effect)

Phases

Poisons impose their effects in two phases: initial and terminal. The initial phase occurs upon the victim’s first encounter with the poison. Unless the victim has been treated with a delay poison or neutralize poison spell, the terminal phase occurs one minute after the initial exposure. If the victim saves against the initial phase, they must still save against the terminal phase. If the victim saves against the terminal phase, any non-instantaneous effects inflicted at the initial phase terminate.

Potency

The DC for the Fortitude Save of the poison is called its “potency”. High potency poisons are more expensive then lower potency poisons. When a poison’s potency reaches ten, it is generally considered inert and harmless. It should be noted that antitoxin and the successful application of the Heal skill can affect the saving throw. Note that the two actions (antitoxin and Heal) can be used together and the benefits stack if the antitoxin is applied by the person using the Heal skill (i.e., the use of antitoxin grants a +5 circumstance bonus to the Heal check as well as to the Fortitude check).

Duration

Abilities lost to ability damage are regained, and negative levels gained through energy drain are lost, at the rate of one point per hour. Other effects, except confusion, expire one hour per point of difference between the poison’s potency and the victim’s (unsuccessful) terminal Fortitude save roll. Confusion lasts one round per point of difference between the poison’s potency and the victim’s (unsuccessful) terminal Fortitude save roll. Ability drain is permanent until the victim receives a restoration spell.

Delivery

Poisons are divided into four classes, based on the means of their delivery: fixatives, inhalants, toxins and venoms.

Fixative

These can be applied to any surface that might come into contact with the skin, or can be applied to weapons. Fixatives delivered by weapons need only make a successful touch attack to affect the victim and does not concern itself with the victim’s damage resistance, if any. Poisons affixed to weapons are expended immediately upon a successful touch attack.

Inhalant

These must be inhaled to take affect. There are two methods of inhaling an item. First, an inhalant may be manufactured in a substance that burns, such as a candle, torch, brazier or even an innocuous-seeming log. This item must be manufactured separately and must be of masterwork quality. Inhalants will affect all people occupying the five foot square of the item when it is ignited. Second, an inhalant can be applied to a rag, which can then be forced over an opponent’s mouth. Doing this requires the poisoner to first successfully grapple the victim and then to apply the rag.

Toxin

These must be applied to food and only affect victims who eat or drink the toxic substance. Purify food and drink spells render any poisons within food or drink inert.

Venom

These must be applied to a weapon, which must make a successful attack against the victim and bypass any damage resistance in order to take effect. The venom of a weapon is expended once a successful attack is made.

Other Qualities

In addition to the qualities referenced above, there are three additional qualities a poison might have: lingering, unbalanced and undetectable.

Lingering

Some poisons are so potent that they can cause lesser conditions even with a successful save. If a character successfully saves against the initial effect of a lingering poison by less than 10 more than needed, a lesser related condition will be imposed. This condition will terminate at the end of the minute. If a character successfully saves against the terminal effect of a lingering poison by less than 10 more than needed, the lesser relate condition will be imposed for a duration, treating the poison's DC as 10 higher. If a character fails against the terminal effect, then the lesser related effect will be imposed on the character upon the expiration of the lingering effect, and will last as long as the lingering effect lasted (if the lesser related effect is Ability Damage, the effect will last for one hour per point damaged). Lingering poisons cost 50% more than their non-lingering counterparts. The lingering poison effects and their lesser related conditions are:

Lingering Effect (CL)	Lesser Related Condition (CL)
Ability Drain (non-Con) (5)	Ability Damage (same Ability and amount) (1)
Fascinated (6)	Dazzled (2)
Ability Drain (Con) (7)	Ability Damage (Con, same amount) (3)
Exhausted (8)	Fatigued (4)
Frightened (8)	Shaken (4)
Stunned (8)	Dazed (4)
Panicked (10)	Cowering (6)

Unbalanced

Generally, the effect that occurs if the victim fails the initial saving throw is the same effect that occurs if the victim fails the terminal saving throw. However, some poisons have differing, either in condition or amount of damage between the initial and terminal effects. Such poisons are considered unbalanced. Unbalance poisons cost twice as much as balanced poisons.

Undetectable

Some poisons are odorless and invisible, making their detection much more difficult. Regular poisons on a weapon, inhalant, food or drink can be detected if the individual makes a successful Search, Knowledge (nature) or Craft (alchemy) roll, whichever is higher, against the poison’s DC. Creatures with the Scent ability have a +10 racial bonus to this roll. The individual may take 10 or even 20 to detect a poison. Poisons that are undetectable are ten times as expensive as their noticeable counterparts but add 10 to the DC of the detection check. Even odorless poisons, however, may be detected with a detect poison spell. Undetectable poisons cost ten times as much as detectable poisons.

Miscellaneous

The DM can devise poisons with unique effects or qualities and should alter the price accordingly.

Pricing

Poisons may be permissible to all characters, but they are not affordable by all characters. Poisons can be very expensive. The manufacture of poisons is time-consuming, requiring significant levels of Craft (alchemy). The pricing of poisons depends on a formula set by the type of delivery for that poison:

Fixative: 5 × (DC-10) × (Initial CL + Terminal CL) × Other Qualities

Inhalant or Toxin: 5 × (DC-10) × (Initial CL + ½ Terminal CL) × Other Qualities

Venom: 5 × (DC-10) × (½ Initial CL + Terminal CL) × Other Qualities

Revised SRD Poison List

Following are most of the poisons listed in the SRD, modified with the new pricing. Note that those poisons that would be extracted from monsters are not listed as they are now governed by the rules for harvested venoms. Black adder venom is now considered medium monstrous viper venom. Moreover, sassone leaf residue is unavailable as it inflicts hp damage, an effect no longer available to poisons:

Poison	Type	DC	Effect	New Price (in gp)
Malyss root paste	Fixative	16	1/2d4 Dex	360
Terinav root	Fixative	16	1d6/2d6 Dex	630
Nitharit	Fixative	13	0/3d6 Con	945
Dragon bile	Fixative	26	3d6/0 Str	1,680
Black lotus extract	Fixative	20	3d6 Con	3,150
Ungol dust	Inhalant	15	1/1d6+11 Cha	262½
Insanity mist	Inhalant	15	1d4/2d6 Wis	300
Burnt othur fumes	Inhalant	18	11/3d6 Con	1,820
Striped toadstool	Toxin	11	1 Wis/2d6 Wis + 1d4 Int	57½
Id moss	Toxin	14	1d4/2d6 Int	240
Oil of taggit	Toxin	15	0/Unconsciousness	250
Arsenic	Toxin	13	1/1d8 Con	292½
Lich dust	Toxin	17	2d6/1d6 Str	612½
Dark reaver powder	Toxin	18	2d6 Con/1d6 Con + 1d6 Str	2,240
Greenblood oil	Venom	13	1/1d2 Con	180
Bloodroot	Venom	12	0/1d4 Con + 1d3 Wis	190
Drow poison	Venom	13	Unconsciousness	225
Blue whinnies	Venom	14	1 Con/Unconsciousness	460
Shadow essence	Venom	17	11/2d6 Str	665
Deathblade	Venom	20	1d6/2d6 Con	2,625

¹ This damage is ability drain, not ability damage.

Harvesting Venom

Most poisons are manufactured from herbs and other rare ingredients found in nature. However, there are many creatures that are naturally venomous. Poisoners and apothecarists know the art of retrieving poisons from these creatures. Such poisons are then sold on the open market for a nice profit. All venoms are considered to be ability poisons with an injection delivery. Poisons with a DC of 10 or less cannot be harvested, as they are rendered inert as soon as they are exposed to air.

From the Standard SRD

Following are the harvestable poisons that can be found on the open market based on the creatures in the SRD. To the extent the venom’s description below differs from the description in the SRD, use the description below. Some creatures’ venom cannot be extracted, either because the venom is too weak (medium and smaller monstrous centipedes) or the venom works specifically with the monster’s other abilities (the vargouille’s venom only works with its bite):

Creature	Effect	DC	Price (in gp)
Large monstrous centipede	1d4 Dex	11	18¾
Medium monstrous spider	1d4 Dex	12	37½
Tiny monstrous scorpion	1 Con	12	45
Giant bee	1d4 Con	11	56¼
Small monstrous scorpion	1d2 Con	12	67½
Large monstrous spider	1d6 Dex	13	78¾
Medium/large monstrous viper	1d6 Con	11	78¾
Formian warrior	1d6 Str	14	105
Giant monstrous wasp or huge monstrous centipede	1d6 Dex	14	105
Formian taskmaster	1d6 Str	15	131¼
Homunculus	Asleep	13	135
Medium monstrous scorpion	1d3 Con	13	135
Violet fungus	1d4 Str and Con	14	150
Drider	1d6 Str	16	157½
Huge monstrous spider	1d8 Dex	16	202½
Imp or Quasit	1d4/2d4 Dex	13	217½
Large monstrous scorpion	1d4 Con	14	225
Gargantuan monstrous centipede	1d8 Dex	17	236¼
Aranea	1d6/2d6 Str	13	262½
Pseudodragon	Asleep	14	300
Huge monstrous viper	1d6 Con	14	315
Medusa	1d6/2d6 Str	14	350
Spider eater	0/Paralysis	17	350
Ettercap	1d6/2d6 Dex	15	437½
Dark naga	Asleep	16	450
Formian myrmach	2d6 Str	20	525
Gargantuan monstrous spider	2d6 Dex	20	525
Huge monstrous scorpion	1d6 Con	18	630
Nightcrawler	2d6 Str	22	630
Colossal monstrous centipede	2d6 Dex	23	682½
Phase spider or water naga	1d8 Con	17	708¾
Couatl	2d4/4d4 Str	16	750
Spirit naga	1d8 Con	18	810
Bone devil	1d6/2d6 Str	20	875
Athach	1d6/2d6 Str	22	1,050
Wyvern	2d6 Con	17	1,102½
Guardian naga	1d10 Con	19	1,113¾
Colossal monstrous spider	2d8 Dex	28	1,215
Purple worm	1d6/2d6 Str	25	1,312½
Gargantuan monstrous scorpion	1d8 Con	23	1,316¼
Colossal monstrous scorpion	1d10 Con	33	2,846¼
Bebilith	1d6/2d6 Con	24	3,675
Pit fiend	1d6/10d6 Con	27	29,835

From the Variant SRD

The following venoms are available to be harvested from creatures found in the variant rules in the SRD:

Creature	SRD Section	Effect	DC	Price (in gp)
Gray Glutton (inhalant)	Psionic	1d4/3d4 Power Points	18	500
Ha-Naga	Epic	2d8 Con	31	4,252½
Vemiurge	Epic	1d6/2d6 Con	44	4,462½
Neh-Thalggu	Epic	½ current/remaining Con	32	6,930
Devastation centipede	Epic	2d12 Dex	83	7,117½
Tayellah	Epic	2d10 Con	39	7,177½
Devastation scorpion	Epic	2d12 Str	85	7,312½
Devastation spider	Epic	2d12 Con	84	21,645

Homebrew Poisons

The following new poisons of my devise are also available:

Poison	Type	DC	Effect	Price (in gp)
Diminutive poisonous frog	Fixative	12	1d3 Con	120
Tiny poisonous frog	Fixative	12	1d4 Con	150
Small poisonous frog	Fixative	12	1d6 Con	210
Mayhem pouch	Fixative	15	Confusion	400
Medium poisonous frog	Fixative	13	1d8 Con	405
Large poisonous frog	Fixative	16	2d6 Con	630
Huge poisonous frog	Fixative	18	3d6 Con	2,520
Gargantuan poisonous frog	Fixative	20	4d6 Con	4,200
Colossal poisonous frog	Fixative	22	5d6 Con	6,300
Cullen’s sand	Inhalant	18	Unconscious	600
Taughta’s draughts	Toxin	16	Asleep	450
Crimson maedras venom	Venom	13	1d8 Cha	101¼
Emerald maedras venom	Venom	13	1d8 Int	101¼
Gold maedras venom	Venom	13	1d8 Wis	101¼
Whiteblade poison	Venom	17	Distracted	105
Jellyfish venom	Venom	13	2d4 Dex	112½
Lethal jellyfish venom	Venom	13	2d4 Con	337½

New Conditions

Asleep

Sleeping creatures are helpless. Slapping or wounding awakens an affected creature, but normal noise does not. Awakening a creature is a standard action (an application of the aid another action). Any creature that requires sleep and does not get six hours sleep in a 24-hour period is considered fatigued.

Distracted

Distracted creatures must make a Concentrate check in order to take any action that would provoke an attack of opportunity were the character in a threatened square. This Concentrate check is required whether or not the character is in a combat situation or even if the character is not in somebody’s threatened square. The DC of the check depends on the situation that placed the character into the distracted state.

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