Quick Question: Sopoforic

Discussing all things Ravenloft
User avatar
NeoTiamat
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 4119
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Quick Question: Sopoforic

Post by NeoTiamat »

Fairly simple question: Is there any existing poison that has Sleep as a primary or secondary effect? I don't want to kill the PCs, just knock them out for a few hours.

If so, what is it and where can it be found (both in Ravenloft and in which book).

Thank you in advance.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
User avatar
Jester of the FoS
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:19 am
Location: A Canadian from Canadia

Post by Jester of the FoS »

From the DMG:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#poison

Oil of taggit/ Ingested DC 15/ 0/ Unconsciousness
Drow poison/ Injury DC 13/ Unconsciousness/ Unconsciousness for 2d4 hours
Blue whinnis/ Injury DC 14/ 1 Con/ Unconsciousness

The oil might be the best. You could have it 'refined' to increase the DC or poison multiple things (food, drink, etc).
User avatar
Moral Machivelli
Rat Blinder
Rat Blinder
Posts: 413
Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 3:54 pm
Location: Not Here...

Post by Moral Machivelli »

Oli of taggit (DMG) might work, but isn't that strong from what I remember.
User avatar
Rotipher of the FoS
Thieving Crow
Thieving Crow
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:18 pm

Post by Rotipher of the FoS »

Given the sizeable liberties which Ravenloft already takes with medical advancements, relative to the "baseline" of technology, letting Lamordian chemists and Zherisian doctors make some experimental use of ether doesn't seem out of the question. Anyone know if there are d20 rules for that anywhere?
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
User avatar
Fido
Arch-villain
Arch-villain
Posts: 150
Joined: Mon May 23, 2005 12:21 pm
Location: Antwerp, Belgium

Post by Fido »

You can just make one up? :/

I know that's what I did... PC's didn't have to know the name of the poison, they just got hit by it. :)


I do think I remember something like Drow Knockout Poison from a campaign I played... Maybe check out some FRCS books. I'm not too familiar with them.
User avatar
Gonzoron of the FoS
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 7598
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 8:02 pm
Gender: Male
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Post by Gonzoron of the FoS »

Ether's in the RLDMG, I think... or maybe VRA? It's definately one of the RL books.
"We're realistic heroes. We're not here to save the world, just nudge the world into a better place."
User avatar
Malus Black
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 301
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 2:43 am
Location: Norway

Post by Malus Black »

gonzoron wrote:Ether's in the RLDMG, I think... or maybe VRA? It's definately one of the RL books.
It's in Van Richten's Arsenal. Pages 59 and 60, to be precise. Oddly enough, it doesn't induce unconciousness, it deals nonlethal damage, so oil of taggit is still your best bet.
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream

-Edgar Allan Poe
User avatar
Lord Cyclohexane
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 512
Joined: Wed Mar 08, 2006 1:59 pm
Location: Tanelorn, OH

Post by Lord Cyclohexane »

I think it depends on the scene you want to go for.

If you want the PC's food/drink to be drugged, definitely go for Oil of Taggit.

If you want to do the "stalker from behind choking you with a ragfull of ether", go for Ether instead.

-----------

As for the Oil of Taggit causing unconsciousness whereas Ether only causes 3d6 points of subdual damage, I think this is actually quite fitting. Since the ether is most likely to be used during a struggle, it's better to give the PC a fighting chance, that perhaps the PC will break out just before losing the last few points of subdual and dropping into unconsciousness. If the PC dropped immediately on the first failed Fort save, that'd be much less dramatic.

Not to mention, at 3d6 points (3 to 18 ), most 0th level people will drop immediately. And that's *before* even mentioning that the Ether is still working 9 rounds later (works for a total of 1 minute before having fully evaporated, so 10 rounds)...

Anyway, Ether is better for drama, but Oil of Taggit is better for the "we never saw it coming." Use whichever is appropriate for that particular scene.
My name is lost to me
I know not who I am
And I await the crimson fires
That'll wash this world away!
- Wolfbait, "In My Lonely Time Of Dying"
User avatar
Jester of the FoS
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:19 am
Location: A Canadian from Canadia

Post by Jester of the FoS »

The problem with ether is, unlike other poisons which are always a threat, mid and higher level characters can easily shrug off 3d6 damage. A basic fireball does more. Even a 3rd level character is unlikey to drop and a 2nd level fighter, ranger, barbarian or paladin has a good chance of standing.

Even a level 20 character can still roll and 1 and drop from poison, even something as 'weak' as Oil of Taggit.
User avatar
Rotipher of the FoS
Thieving Crow
Thieving Crow
Posts: 4683
Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:18 pm

Post by Rotipher of the FoS »

So lock them in a sealed room and pump ether-fumes into it, if it's a sure knockout you're going for. Or use the oil of taggit stats, and just say it's a purer formulation of ether than the primitive kind described in VRA, if you'd like to keep your Ravenloft free of gamespeak incongruities like "oil of taggit".
"Who [u]cares[/u] what the Dark Powers are? They're [i]bastards![/i] That's all I need to know of them." -- Crow
User avatar
Gonzoron of the FoS
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 7598
Joined: Tue Dec 02, 2003 8:02 pm
Gender: Male
Location: New Jersey
Contact:

Post by Gonzoron of the FoS »

yeah, I like the way they did the ether too. Low level commoners will drop immediately. PCs will take a bit more effort. 3d6 isn't much to a PC, but 30d6 (3d6 for 10 rounds) is nothing to sneeze at, especially if they're injured alredy. It's consistant with the rest of the game. A single gunshot or axe injury should take down a person, and it does for low level people. But "heroes" can shrug off a few hits. If you believe in the hit point system, and admittedly not everyone does, subdual/nonlethal damage is the proper mechanic to use. (see also Sap.)
"We're realistic heroes. We're not here to save the world, just nudge the world into a better place."
User avatar
NeoTiamat
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 4119
Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Post by NeoTiamat »

Oil of Tagget it is. I knew there was something. I think I may just refine it some, (the character in question is a Paridoner), so yes, that will work.

Thank's everyone!
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
User avatar
Manofevil
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 1702
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2003 11:12 pm
Location: Why should I say? No one ever visits!

Post by Manofevil »

Ah, A RavenLoft Date-Rape drug. :lol:
Do us a favor Luv, Stick yer 'ead in a bucket a kick it!

So, gentlemen, that's how it is. Until Grissome.... resurfaces, I'm the acting president, and I say starting with this... anniversary festival, we run this city into the ground! :D
User avatar
HuManBing
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 3748
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:13 am
Contact:

Post by HuManBing »

One of my friends locked himself in a room and took a roofie, just to see what would happen.

He passed out, but he wasn't pregnant when he came to. :/
Jonathan Winters
Evil Genius
Evil Genius
Posts: 433
Joined: Mon Jul 05, 2004 8:23 pm
Location: Montreal, Quebec

Post by Jonathan Winters »

No offense, but I fail to see the humor.
Post Reply