Dungeon Masters, how do you typically handle (or would handle if it came up) a beast master ranger PC with a poisonous beast companion that wants to harvest the beast's poison to apply to their (the ranger's) weapon as well? The DMG clearly states the creatures needs to be dead or incapacitated to harvest. Would the creature being a beast companion get some DM fiat? I can see allowing it since all poisons save for the basic poison is a one-time use kind of thing and if that's how the ranger wants to spend their downtime, so be it.
The one of the great things about beast master is they can command it to become incapacitated (Even though it doesn't make sense compared to most real world harvesting) . incapacitated defined as part of being asleep. The ranger just orders the pet to Long rest earlier than they do. The dmg calls out a time limit 1d6 min per harvest. A harvested injury poison dose not have a time limit to use on application (Unlike basic poison). Most dms are hesitant to give you more than a couple of attempts because it adds up quickly. I usually get (or give if dming) the recalling information bonus from beast Favored enemy and the Terrain bonus. Generally dms do not allow wild shapes or familars to be harvested because they aren't actually the poisonous creature just a magical Facsimile.
I don't mind giving extra doses (via several attempts) though because of the risk/reward requiring a 20 success is pretty hard at early levels and the below 15 Penalty makes it not overpowered. My group has a lot of fun with it. the party laughs knowing the ranger might deliberately try and harvest poison at the beginning of the day and start out weaker. I might also wait till the end of the day and risk my remaining HP for essentially stored up damage (rewarding players who got hit less). As for the strain on the pet I think its moot, if a snake can bite 3-10 Times in an adventuring day that amount should be potentially harvestable. If the dm wants they can call for a con save for exhaustion And I won't complain. I usually only get one dose a day anyway to avoid having to worry the dm about how op it can be. I usually save poisoned weapons for boss battles or when I can't use HM but still want extra damage. (fog cloud, Zephyr strike, concentration check failure and out of spells)
The difference with an incapacitated animal that isn't a companion is rough because you have to keep it alive and docile. The risk of escape at watch or other bad times is too much. dead creatures usually only get one shot for harvesting.
Note: flying snake poison is the best IMO because it requires no save Unlike other poisons. Also, The damage bonus(Prof) May be applied to the poison because its part of the attack. I like that ranger flying snakes are better than Zentarim flying snake when it comes to poisons. (I've had mixed opinions on that though)
Dungeon Masters, how do you typically handle (or would handle if it came up) a beast master ranger PC with a poisonous beast companion that wants to harvest the beast's poison to apply to their (the ranger's) weapon as well? The DMG clearly states the creatures needs to be dead or incapacitated to harvest. Would the creature being a beast companion get some DM fiat? I can see allowing it since all poisons save for the basic poison is a one-time use kind of thing and if that's how the ranger wants to spend their downtime, so be it.
The one of the great things about beast master is they can command it to become incapacitated (Even though it doesn't make sense compared to most real world harvesting) . incapacitated defined as part of being asleep. The ranger just orders the pet to Long rest earlier than they do. The dmg calls out a time limit 1d6 min per harvest. A harvested injury poison dose not have a time limit to use on application (Unlike basic poison). Most dms are hesitant to give you more than a couple of attempts because it adds up quickly. I usually get (or give if dming) the recalling information bonus from beast Favored enemy and the Terrain bonus. Generally dms do not allow wild shapes or familars to be harvested because they aren't actually the poisonous creature just a magical Facsimile.
I don't mind giving extra doses (via several attempts) though because of the risk/reward requiring a 20 success is pretty hard at early levels and the below 15 Penalty makes it not overpowered. My group has a lot of fun with it. the party laughs knowing the ranger might deliberately try and harvest poison at the beginning of the day and start out weaker. I might also wait till the end of the day and risk my remaining HP for essentially stored up damage (rewarding players who got hit less). As for the strain on the pet I think its moot, if a snake can bite 3-10 Times in an adventuring day that amount should be potentially harvestable. If the dm wants they can call for a con save for exhaustion And I won't complain. I usually only get one dose a day anyway to avoid having to worry the dm about how op it can be. I usually save poisoned weapons for boss battles or when I can't use HM but still want extra damage. (fog cloud, Zephyr strike, concentration check failure and out of spells)
The difference with an incapacitated animal that isn't a companion is rough because you have to keep it alive and docile. The risk of escape at watch or other bad times is too much. dead creatures usually only get one shot for harvesting.
Note: flying snake poison is the best IMO because it requires no save Unlike other poisons. Also, The damage bonus(Prof) May be applied to the poison because its part of the attack. I like that ranger flying snakes are better than Zentarim flying snake when it comes to poisons. (I've had mixed opinions on that though)