So I've got a player who wants to build a rogue. With the 2024 rogue feats, on the poison option for cunning strike it says they must have a poisoner's kit on their person to use this option. My question is, would it make since that this person would also need to be proficient with a poisoner's kit?
Since it doesn't specify, I know that it will ultimately be up to me as the DM to issue a ruling, but is it even worth it to go as far to make that ruling that they must be proficient with the tool? The logic behind it for me is along the lines of, "just because they have something, doesn't mean they know how to use it."
The skill takes away damage and gives it back in a different form. The requirement is simply to have the tools to only that. The proficiency would be to make other poisons or real poison.
Don’t forget a poisoned blade can still be used to sneak attack. So the attacker could take full advantage of sneak attack and have poison on the blade. Let alone all the options that are opened up when you create your own poisons.
I would also say no proficiency is required. The PHB does have multiple instances where they mention that proficiency in a tool is needed for specific things, and there is no such language attached to Cunning Strike.
I'm doing this with my rogue now. My DM has ruled that proficiency is not needed. The poisoner's kit is simply there to provide the means to store and apply the poison. The poisoner's kit also gives the ability to detect poisons at DC10. Since I lack proficiency in the kit, I must roll it straight to use this feature. Note that the poisoner's kit also allows one to craft basic poison. But the Player's Handbook specifies that to use a tool for crafting, you must have proficiency with that tool. My character can not use his poisoner's kit to craft basic poisons.
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So I've got a player who wants to build a rogue. With the 2024 rogue feats, on the poison option for cunning strike it says they must have a poisoner's kit on their person to use this option. My question is, would it make since that this person would also need to be proficient with a poisoner's kit?
Since it doesn't specify, I know that it will ultimately be up to me as the DM to issue a ruling, but is it even worth it to go as far to make that ruling that they must be proficient with the tool? The logic behind it for me is along the lines of, "just because they have something, doesn't mean they know how to use it."
I would say no, no need to be proficient.
The skill takes away damage and gives it back in a different form. The requirement is simply to have the tools to only that. The proficiency would be to make other poisons or real poison.
Don’t forget a poisoned blade can still be used to sneak attack. So the attacker could take full advantage of sneak attack and have poison on the blade. Let alone all the options that are opened up when you create your own poisons.
I would also say no proficiency is required. The PHB does have multiple instances where they mention that proficiency in a tool is needed for specific things, and there is no such language attached to Cunning Strike.
I'm doing this with my rogue now. My DM has ruled that proficiency is not needed. The poisoner's kit is simply there to provide the means to store and apply the poison. The poisoner's kit also gives the ability to detect poisons at DC10. Since I lack proficiency in the kit, I must roll it straight to use this feature. Note that the poisoner's kit also allows one to craft basic poison. But the Player's Handbook specifies that to use a tool for crafting, you must have proficiency with that tool. My character can not use his poisoner's kit to craft basic poisons.