D&D 5E Characters using elite warrior drow poison

[Don Durito]

Why not just let them use it? I can't remember exactly what it does, but it can't be that awesome if it didn't keep the Drow alive against the party.

 

[Flamestrike]

If the necrotic damage from a Death Knight is part of its sword, then the players can aquire it. If its part of the death knights nature (enveloping the sword so to speak) then they cant.

Things like the drow poison seem "obviously" items to me, but expectations may vary.

It's not 'part of the sword'. It's part of the monsters DPR by CR calculations to bring it in line with its expected damage per round for its CR.

Im OK with leaving a vial of Drow poison on the bodies of fallen Drow Elites (as treasure) but that functions exactly as per the DMG (takes an action to apply, wears off after 1 hit, DC 13 Con save or KO, no extra damage etc) but the 'poison damage' caused by the Drow Elite warrior is a function of the Drow Elite Warrior (a blessing by Lolth if you must fluff it somehow).

 

[SkidAce]

It's not 'part of the sword'. It's part of the monsters DPR by CR calculations to bring it in line with its expected damage per round for its CR.

Im OK with leaving a vial of Drow poison on the bodies of fallen Drow Elites (as treasure) but that functions exactly as per the DMG (takes an action to apply, wears off after 1 hit, DC 13 Con save or KO, no extra damage etc) but the 'poison damage' caused by the Drow Elite warrior is a function of the Drow Elite Warrior (a blessing by Lolth if you must fluff it somehow).

Nah, while you are correct, if something in a monster's DPR by CR calculations is an item, or can be viewed as an item, then I will let the players loot it, and or use it.

I understand your point, and IMO, I agree that the Death Knight's necrotic is part of its aura, for being a death knight. I would let that necrotic damage work if the death knight picked up a normal mace for example.

But it could also be a function of the sword they are awarded upon being turned into a death knight.

Campaign's vary.

 

[Flamestrike]

Nah, while you are correct, if something in a monster's DPR by CR calculations is an item, or can be viewed as an item, then I will let the players loot it, and or use it.

No damage is part of the item; it's always part of the monster. The extra damage on monster attacks is designed to simply get their offensive CR up to par with their CR rating. It's not designed for PCs to use in any way shape or form.

Fluff it however you want to, but that's the clear intent.

Drow Elite warriors are simply blessed by Lolth and deal extra poison damage when they hit you with a melee or ranged weapon attack. They dont need to apply poison to their weapons as an action (or bonus action) the poison doesnt expire after a single attack, nor does it wear off after 1 minute.

PCs and Monsters use different rules in 5E. That's just how it is.

 

[BacchusNL]

Nah, while you are correct, if something in a monster's DPR by CR calculations is an item, or can be viewed as an item, then I will let the players loot it, and or use it.

I understand your point, and IMO, I agree that the Death Knight's necrotic is part of its aura, for being a death knight. I would let that necrotic damage work if the death knight picked up a normal mace for example.

But it could also be a function of the sword they are awarded upon being turned into a death knight.

Campaign's vary.

I know we are kind of picking at semantics here but in officialy published material when an npc has a magical item, a Flametongue Greatsword or potion of invulnerability for example, then it will be specificly mentioned in the description and either say "X will pop potion on 1st round of combat" or adjust the damage in the statblock to accommodate for the magical weapon. With the drow elite warrior these are all assumed as standard, suggesting that the poison is inherrent to the drow, or ,aybe scabbart, in some way.

 

[SkidAce]

I understand perfectly what you are saying, and I am not saying you are wrong.

But if my players want to loot the spiked shield from a lizardman they defeat that has one, I will let them.

Basically, if its readily apparent that something is an item, I am not going to make up excuses for why its not there or viable.

No worries, have fun!

 

[Flamestrike]

I understand perfectly what you are saying, and I am not saying you are wrong.

But if my players want to loot the spiked shield from a lizardman they defeat that has one, I will let them.

Basically, if its readily apparent that something is an item, I am not going to make up excuses for why its not there or viable.

No worries, have fun!

And they can have the spiked shield. It's an improvised weapon that deals 1d6 piercing damage.

Unless any of them have Tavern Brawler it's pretty pointless.

 

[Hexmage-EN]

just remembered the NPC assassin who seems to carry Wyvern poison - probably knows the “lasts lots of attacks” trick as well.

I just made an NPC based on that assassin statblock yesterday. I decided to interpret their envenomed sword as a magic item that deals the poison damage to it's attuned wielder once per day if they don't worship a god associated with venom like Zehir.

Serpentine Shortsword +1. If a creature that does not worship Zehir attunes to this blade it becomes a cursed item. Each time the attuned character draws the sword they are automatically hit by fangs that emerge from the hilt, which have the same effects as the blade itself.

 

[jasper]

Being niiii niii, UM Nice DM. One dose per dead drow but sunlight kills the poison.
Evil dm. As many doses as you want. All drow dream about you their next trance, due to Lolth loving you. They get advantage and 3d6 bonus poison damage against you. Until you are dead.

 

[MarkB]

Just give it a use-by date, and be up-front about it (have them make a Survival check if you really want to). It's spider venom that loses its potency within a couple of days of being harvested from the spider. If they can find a use for it before it expires, they're welcome to do so.