d20 Bastion Press A Poisoner's Handbook.pdf

Bastion Press and the Bastion Press logo are trademarks owned by Bastion Press, Inc. Òd20 SystemÓ and the Òd20 SystemÓ logo are Trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used

according to the terms of the d20 System License version 1.0. Dungeons & Dragons and Wizards of the Coast are registered trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and are used with permission.

Introduction

Poisons are an integral aspect of fantasy gaming. Not only

do they provide certain classes with the means to disable

or even kill an opponent, but they also add an element of

danger to certain kinds of monsters and traps. Poisons are

the means to cripple powerful and sometimes careless

player characters. Their effects often stay with the charac-

ter over time and hamper his abilities.

Gamemasters who use poisons in their games often

do so with little or no planning. The poison is added on a

whim, as an afterthought, or as a last-minute addition to

an encounter. Poisons, though, have huge story potential

that should not be overlooked. With a little planning,

creative gamemasters can transform poisons into special

events, compelling stories, and memorable campaign

highlights. Consider the following three means to help turn

poisons into exciting game elements that your players will

talk about for years to come.

4. A scholar discovered it but could not keep it a secret;

5. A summoned demon revealed it to a wizard; or

6. One of a countryÔs enemies gives to another to aid it

in a conflict against their common foe.

There are, of course, many other possibilities

gamemasters might think up concerning the origins of an

especially nasty toxin in their campaigns.

3) Creation

How is the poison made or processed? Consider adding

complexity, scale, or wonderment to this link in the chain

to add value to your campaigns:

1. Special time requirement (i.e. mixed on the equinox

or simmered for ten years over an open flame). (This is

especially useful for toxins derived in part or whole from

arcane elements.)

2. Unusual location requirement (i.e. near a volcano,

on the astral plane, and so on).

3. Powerful energy needed (i.e. a fireball must be cast

on it or a dragon must breathe on the mixture).

4. Strange equipment needed (this can be machinery

from a higher tech level, magical equipment, or simply

something foreign).

The Poison Chain

When poison finally reaches the glass of wine or the edge

of a blade, youÔre seeing just one link in a larger chain of

events. ItÔs within each step of this chain where your sto-

ries and adventures lie. LetÔs look at the seven links in a

typical Ñpoison chainÒ:

4) Obtaining The Poison

There are several opportunities to weave the seller, buyer,

and transport arrangements into interesting plot threads.

Assuming the maker of a poison isnÔt creating the

poison for personal use, she needs a buyer. Is there a

criminal organization that she could approach? Corrupt

agencies or guild members? A black market zone or

meeting area? The same problem exists for a buyer who

needs to find a supplier.

Then thereÔs the problem of transport. A substanceÔs

toxicity, ability to be identified, bulkiness, and ability to

be contained are all great options for creating storylines

or background campaign events with which to flesh out

your game world. For example, something is causing

inhabitants of a particular neighborhood or town to sicken

or even die. Investigation might discover a hidden alchemy

lab that accidentally spilled a toxin into the groundwater.

ItÔs up to the PCs to decide what to do about it.

1) Ingredients Or Source

What is the source of the poison? Is it a mixture of ingre-

dients? If so, what are those elements? Rare and exotic

ingredients and sources are ideal for quests, jobs, plot

hooks, and story lines.

For example, the powder from boiled-off black rose

broth creates a deadly substance, but it requires 1,000

petals to ensure the broth is potent enough. Harvesting

that many flowers is difficult and might take the PCs to

new lands or strange locations. This, in turn, leads them

into other stories and side plots.

The source could be difficult to handle. Imagine trying

to scoop out and carry hot lava. Turn the mission into a

puzzling dilemma by making the source dangerous,

aggressive, and poisonous (a green dragon, for example).

Unless the PCs brought processing equipment with them,

the source in its raw form could be heavy or cumbersome,

making it difficult to transport.

What are the legalities surrounding the ingredients or

poisonÔs source? An illegal source could be hard to find

and dangerous to transport. A sacrilegious ingredient

could pose many problems for PCs from followers of

various deities.

5) Application And Use

How must the poison be administered? Ingested, inhaled,

skin contact? Go one step further than this by adding a

little style to a poisonÔs application and use.

♦

Replace the classic needle trap with a stinger,

tooth, or claw trap. Find monsters with body

parts suitable for delivering poisons into a

wound.

♦

A wealthy merchant hollows out random gems

in his vault and fills the fragile husks with a

deadly liquid.

2) Discovery

If the poison is already known, who discovered it and

how? This tale would be great to weave into your cam-

paigns in the form of bardÔs tales, rumors and gossip,

world history, or skill-based lore.

Here are six ideas concerning how a poison might have

been discovered:

1. The poison was an accidental discovery;

2. The poison was initially created to be a healing agent;

3. The PCs unwittingly discover it;

♦

The poison is put into incense form and packaged

in black foil with gold lettering.

6) Effects

Look for story potential as to how the poison works and

how the victim is affected. For example, rather than slow,

painful death, the poison causes anger and violent rage.

Everyone in town is wondering at the reason behind a

series of recent attacks by local guardsmen. Meanwhile,

the PCsÔ new job of protecting the tannery workers as they

cart their production waste downstream is becoming more

and more dangerous....

could turn out to be useful or essential to another race,

species, or society. This creates a lot of potential for

misunderstandings and story conflicts.

5) Magic- or technology-based. Radiation has created

more comic heroes and villains than any other poison. A

popular science fiction showÔs main villains uses

nanotechnology to overcome opponents. With magical

poisons, the skyÔs the limit for effects and treatments.

Use Poison To Sow Fear

And Create Tension

The use of poison in most games creates two opportuni-

ties for tension. The first is the saving throw. An impor-

tant die roll such as this should always be ÑcelebratedÒ in

the same way game show hosts delay or embellish to add

drama to a final challenge or answer. Start by making the

game table quiet. Then ensure that everyone knows what

the player is rolling for. Next, describe the characterÔs cur-

rent, almost-poisoned state. Delay the dice roll for several

seconds then let the player nervously roll Ódem bones....

The second source of tension is fear of the unknown.

Is the poison lethal? How deadly is it? Even if the character

resists will she still suffer some effects? Will those effects

be permanent? The players wonÔt know the limitations,

7) Treatment

Antidotes are classic material for adventures and quests.

Add new twists and elements by considering the antidote

to be similar to a poison, complete with its own Ñchain of

eventsÒ. Consider an antidoteÔs source, discovery, creation,

availability, application, and effects.

The next time you or the PCs employ poisons in your

campaign, think about the poison chain and make an

adventure out of it. Pick just one link, some links, or use

them all to create side plots, story twists, and entire

adventures.

Adding A Twist

Here are some ways you can add twists to the poisons in

your games in order to surprise players and bring new

life to a classic game element.

1) Poisons donÔt have to be deadly. They can be

employed for reasons other than to kill. Here are a few

possibilities:

* Self-defense. The poison acts fast to incapacitate

an attacker.

* Truth drug. The poison reduces a victimÔs

inhibitions and self-control making

them easier to intimidate or trick.

* Social sabotage. The poison

creates large, red skin blotches and

acne and is perfect for use in social

conflicts, such as bard competitions

or in the pursuit of a love interest

shared by a rival.

* Coma. The poisoner wants to

manipulate others so he puts a loved one

into a coma and holds the antidote to

pressure a rival.

2) Delayed effect. Imagine a poison

that takes four weeks after initial contact

to take effect. The assassin is long gone

and the PCs start with a cold trail....

3) Mind-altering effects. The poison

generates a specific psychosis, such as

turning allies into enemies that the PCs

wonÔt want to simply hack down. A

poison-induced change in

personality or behavior creates a

mystery. And players can have

fun playing weird, poison-

induced quirks until their

PCs are successfully

treated.

4) One manÔs

poison is anotherÔs

cure. The poison

effects, and side effects of the poison and that creates a lot

of healthy game tension.

Use this to your advantage. Before the PCs even come

into contact with the poison, let them hear rumors that

their foe is known to use poison. Feed them exaggerated

tales of what happens to poison victims. Give them

conflicting information about treatment and antidotes. Use

fake poisons to create false alarms. Make hidden rolls from

time to time. Often, the mere presence of poison in the

campaign creates a little player tension.

a higher political office is simply, cleanly, and silently Ñto

take care ofÒ those that stand in the way. In these sorts of

Ñpromotions,Ò poison often becomes the silent partner that

tips the scales in favor of one individual over another.

In a game, the great thing about poison is that it is

almost exclusively within the province of the gamemaster.

Player characters sometimes use poisons in combat, but

few use them as plot elements to bring a strategy to

fruition. In many cases, the characters are not morally

inclined to use poisons; those who do are usually amoral

or at least dishonorable. Even then, access to poisons is

most often controlled by the gamemaster, unless the

characters also have the required skills to make the poisons

they use. It is the gamemaster, therefore, who best sets

the tone for poisons in the campaign. Knowing what

poisons can do and setting up plots centered around them

can make for exciting game sessions. Player characters

armed with such knowledge can enhance the air of

intrigue, as well as better prepare themselves for the time

that they become the victims....

Poisons In Your Campaign

Throughout history, the applications of poison have

been varied and numerous. Despite what many might

assume, not all of these applications have nefarious

designs at their roots. Often, poison has been used to

help nearly as often as it has been to harm. Several of

these uses are as follows, along with the reasoning

behind them, and why those who elect to use

them do so.

Most commonly, people use poisons to

eliminate rivals. In the context of history,

this particular usage of poison is so

prevalent as to seem commonplace.

Kings and nobles, merchant princes

and guilders...they all retained a few

specialists schooled in killing off those

opposed to their employers. The less

fortunate have also used poison to strike out

against an undefeatable and unflinching tyrant.

In an attempt to free themselves from tyrannical rule,

rebellious insurgents often turn to the only weapon that

can pierce the unassailable tyrantÔs walls and murder him

subtly, thus assuring (or so they hope) their liberty and

freedom.

Political maneuverings, as well, often go hand and

hand with the use of poison. Many wars have begun as a

result of an ambassador falling to poison while in a foreign

land. While the death of an ambassador or other high-

ranking official while on foreign soil already creates an

atmosphere of tension between two powers, once the

presence of poison is detected, the stakes rise

considerably. Couple an event of this magnitude with a

pre-existing attitude of mistrust and apprehension and

the situation deteriorates rapidly from there. Such

raw-edged scenarios attract assassins and

poisoners like carrion attracts vultures.

Poisons are used not only to sow the

seeds of doubt, war, and murder in the

political arena but also to provide

convenient avenues for achieving

or furthering personal dreams,

aspirations, and careers.

The simplest way to

gain rank, status, or

Poisons: A

Comprehensive Look

One of the problems concerning poisons is its effects on

high- or even epic-level characters: specifically, the high

likelihood that the character will make his saving throw

on nearly every time. In an attempt to counter this prob-

lem, we have created a variant system that allows a

gamemaster to bring the fear of poisons back to those char-

acters. Furthermore, we have created a means for a

gamemaster to quickly find a poison of appropriate po-

tency to use against his party on the spur of the moment

by establishing a toxicity rating to the poisons.

The Poison Summary Table (Table 2) represents a

comprehensive collection of poisons from nearly every

open content source available to date. In addition, we have

also obtained permission from Mystic Eye Games,

Necromancer Games, and White Wolf Publishing to

include poisons from their products that are classified as

Product Identity (see the OGL declaration at the end of

this book for specifics). We wish to publicly thank them

for contributing to this book in such a gracious manner.

DC Modifier = +1 (DC 13)

Damage Die Modifier = +2 (1 + d4)

Special Circumstance Modifier = +8

(Ability Drain (Con (x2)) + Hit Point Damage)

Final Toxicity Result = 11

Table 2 represents a comprehensive compilation of

nearly all poisons available from other publishers that are

both open game content and also product identity (used

with permission). If you plan to duplicate any portion of

this table or the poisons listed, you should reference the

legal information on the last page of this book to determine

what is open gaming content.

Table 2 runs across the bottom of a number of pages,

with poisons sorted alphabetically. An asterisk (*) in an

entry indicates that the effect is permanent. The

abbreviations listed under Type stand for Con tact,

Ing ested, Inj ected, and Inh aled. Always check the entry

for clarifications on the poisonÔs effects.

Variant Damage (Optional):

Variant damage is a new optional rule that puts the fear

back into poisons by causing additional hit point damage

to a character. Under this rule, a character must contend

with the poison on a long-term basis as it courses through

his system. Just as with the normal poison rules, the char-

acter must make both saving throws and if successful, his

body staves off the effects of the poison. The new rule,

however, raises the DC on the second save by two (DC +

2). If the character successfully saves, then he avoids the

secondary damage. If he fails the save, he incurs hit point

damage starting at a particular designated value and then

dropping by one per round until reaching zero. This means

that the character not only takes the initial and secondary

listed poison damage, but also suffers from continual hit

point damage until the poison has either run its course or

is cured through magical means. This optional rule is

meant to show how truly dangerous a poison can be if left

untreated. It also makes a spell such as delay poison much

more valuable to have in a spellcasterÔs repertoire.

For example, if an aranea poisons Brungar, the half-

orc barbarian, he must still make his initial Fortitude save

(DC 13) with failure resulting in experiencing the effects

of the initial damage (1d6 temporary Strength loss). One

minute later he must make a second Fortitude save (DC

15). Failure of the second save results in an additional loss

Definitions and Formulas

In addition to the normal terms used with the d20 system

and poisons, we introduce two new terms for use with

Table 2: toxicity and variant damage. These are meant to

add new elements to the game and provide gamemasters

with additional tools to use in their campaigns.

Toxicity

The toxicity rating of a poison serves as a quick reference

guide to the strength and potential lethality of the poison

and can be determined by the following mathematical for-

mula:

Toxicity = DC modifier + Damage Die modifier

(per die) + Special Circumstance modifier

(You should refer to Table 1 to determine the appropriate

modifier for the category.)

An example of this would be the determination of the tox-

icity for Bone Moss acid:

Table 1: Toxicity Modifier Table

Modifier

Damage Die(per die)

Modifier

Special Circumstance

Modifier

10-12

None

Ability Damage (per effect)

13-15

Blindness

Ï1

16-18

Death

+10

19-21

Hit Point Damage

22-24

Other

25-30

Paralysis

Ï1

31-35

Permanent

36-40

d10

Spell-Like Effect

41-45

+11

d12

Unconsciousness

Ï1

46-50

+15

d20

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: