tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950843830534268483.post4112820877170756157..comments2023-10-29T08:37:26.204-07:00Comments on The Recursion King: All poison should be lethalPete Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03438651595079082035noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950843830534268483.post-9636157553110756392010-05-20T07:56:27.368-07:002010-05-20T07:56:27.368-07:00All good points.
I tend not use blade venom on en...All good points.<br /><br />I tend not use blade venom on enemies (although I have no problem with the players using it against said enemies), so almost everything I talk about applies to natural enemy types.<br /><br />The problem with doing a direct comparison with nature and saying that not many poisons in nature kill, and therefore ones in fantasy games shouldn't either, is that you're ignoring a critical aspect that so big its staring you right in the face: almost everything in fantasy is a giant version.<br /><br />If a tarantula could make you seriously ill in real life with a simple tiny bite, how bad do you think the venom in a gigantic version like Shelob might actually be? Considering it might prey on elephants, or something equally large, it could be staggeringly powerful. So the creatures we're talking about are often gigantic and size and would likely have a poison effect far deadlier than any normal version from our own world.<br /><br />Of course, all this is up to you and the rules of the world you adventure in. Perhaps you do not have giant giant frogs that can swallow halflings whole or spiders that devour sheep.Pete Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03438651595079082035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3950843830534268483.post-83599250499302095262010-05-20T07:36:40.406-07:002010-05-20T07:36:40.406-07:00I read an interesting article in Dragon years ago ...I read an interesting article in Dragon years ago about the various lethalities of poison. Some points I recall:<br /><br />1. Not all poisons are made alike. An alchemist with a bunch of chemicals will whip up something more lethal than, say, the goblin who smears cobra venom or poisonous mushrooms on his blade. So the lethality of the poison should reflect who came up with it. Historically, some cultures smeared dung (ick) on their weapons knowing that a non-killing blow may instead become infected and eventually kill the poo-poisoned folks.<br /><br />2. If a goblin applies Instakill poison on his blade, what's to keep him from accidentally offing himself if he nicks his thumb while sharpening it, applying the poison, or simply putting it away? Deadly mega-poisons can be just as dangerous for the weilder as it is for the victim. So weaker poisons may be used to keep the weilder from killing himself instantly.<br /><br />3. There are very few naturally occurring poisons that are save-vs-poison-or-die lethality. So if you're up against a monster with fangs or an evil druid or a sub-human humanoid, odds are good that any poison encountered will only be the make-you-damn-sick variety.Tim Sniderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17390608104314125626noreply@blogger.com