Noticing that in earlier editions, being Poisoned was much more common because more spells and more monsters didn't just do "poison" as a damage type, but inflected a condition of lower performance-aptitude due to poison. This is largely absent in lower levels of play.
Has anyone tried re-introducing poison as a larger influence on combat? What was the effect?
The Poisoned (much like Frightened) can be brutal in Tier-1 simply because of how much lower the PCs’ stats are. They are already that much less likely to hit a moderately high AC of 19ish. Adding disadvantage on their Attack Rolls too can be rough. But as long as they aren’t both Poisoned and overwhelmed it can be a fantastic way to really ratchet up the tension.
Unfortunately, it does not look like the DDB Monster Search thingie lets anyone look up monsters by the type of damage they do, only by the type of damage resisted or by damage immunity.
there's also yellow mold and poisoned needle traps - both of which typically only pester lower level characters.
After getting rid of the higher CR demons and devils as well as currently playable species, it also looks like maybe they reduced the use of Poisoned condition to prevent Druids from getting access to forms that could inflict it. Most of the lower than CR 1 beasts cannot inflict the Poisoned condition unless the creature they've attacked is brought down to 0 h.p., which is not very practical from a combat perspective (though useful for keeping a prisoner alive and immobile).
Most of the lower than CR 1 beasts cannot inflict the Poisoned condition unless the creature they've attacked is brought down to 0 h.p., which is not very practical from a combat perspective (though useful for keeping a prisoner alive and immobile).
most INT<3 beasts don't keep prisoners....its to keep you for lunch.
Most of the lower than CR 1 beasts cannot inflict the Poisoned condition unless the creature they've attacked is brought down to 0 h.p., which is not very practical from a combat perspective (though useful for keeping a prisoner alive and immobile).
most INT<3 beasts don't keep prisoners....its to keep you for lunch.
That's part of what bothers me. Many of these are supposed to be paralysis-causing poisons, but for lower CR monsters, they only cause HP damage; they don't even slow the injected creature down until it reaches 0 HP, at which point, it's pointless from the poisoning creature's standpoint of defense. The fear of any predator is to be injured badly by their prey. Poison evolved in most reptiles and arthropods as a means of both quickly immobilizing or killing prey animals and to provide a means of defense. The way that lower-tier Poison effects got changed shifts the world-building aspect of the game to favor PCs a lot.
Another example of this is how Neutralize Poison used to be a 3rd level spell. Lesser Restoration did not exist. Instead, there was a Slow Poison spell at 2nd level. So not only did they get rid of the Poisoned condition for a lot of Beasts, they also made getting rid of Poison a lot more accessible.
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Noticing that in earlier editions, being Poisoned was much more common because more spells and more monsters didn't just do "poison" as a damage type, but inflected a condition of lower performance-aptitude due to poison. This is largely absent in lower levels of play.
Has anyone tried re-introducing poison as a larger influence on combat? What was the effect?
There's a Poisoned condition
The Poisoned (much like Frightened) can be brutal in Tier-1 simply because of how much lower the PCs’ stats are. They are already that much less likely to hit a moderately high AC of 19ish. Adding disadvantage on their Attack Rolls too can be rough. But as long as they aren’t both Poisoned and overwhelmed it can be a fantastic way to really ratchet up the tension.
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Unfortunately, it does not look like the DDB Monster Search thingie lets anyone look up monsters by the type of damage they do, only by the type of damage resisted or by damage immunity.
Its not absent, here's a list of monsters from the MM that can inflect the poisoned condition (only a few of which are >CR 5):
there's also yellow mold and poisoned needle traps - both of which typically only pester lower level characters.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Thanks. Is this list from DDB or another source?
After getting rid of the higher CR demons and devils as well as currently playable species, it also looks like maybe they reduced the use of Poisoned condition to prevent Druids from getting access to forms that could inflict it. Most of the lower than CR 1 beasts cannot inflict the Poisoned condition unless the creature they've attacked is brought down to 0 h.p., which is not very practical from a combat perspective (though useful for keeping a prisoner alive and immobile).
just flipping through the MM and looking for 'poisoned' in the stat blocks...i was bored.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
most INT<3 beasts don't keep prisoners....its to keep you for lunch.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
That's part of what bothers me. Many of these are supposed to be paralysis-causing poisons, but for lower CR monsters, they only cause HP damage; they don't even slow the injected creature down until it reaches 0 HP, at which point, it's pointless from the poisoning creature's standpoint of defense. The fear of any predator is to be injured badly by their prey. Poison evolved in most reptiles and arthropods as a means of both quickly immobilizing or killing prey animals and to provide a means of defense. The way that lower-tier Poison effects got changed shifts the world-building aspect of the game to favor PCs a lot.
Another example of this is how Neutralize Poison used to be a 3rd level spell. Lesser Restoration did not exist. Instead, there was a Slow Poison spell at 2nd level. So not only did they get rid of the Poisoned condition for a lot of Beasts, they also made getting rid of Poison a lot more accessible.