Would immunity to poison protect you from unbreathable air?

[Piratecat]

Picture an atmosphere full of poison gas; let's say the bottom on a volcano. Normally, it will kill a PC licketty-split who doesn't have a spell like Filter up.

But what if that PC ate a Heroes Feast that morning, and is thus immune to poison? Would that count? I'm honestly not sure. It isn't a typical injected poison, but...

Well, I'll hold judgment until I hear your opinions.

Thanks!

 

[youspoonybard]

I'd say they might avoid the poisonous part of the air...but they're still being suffocated...

 

[Desdichado]

It would make them immune to the poisonous components of the air, but if the air doesn't contain sufficient oxygen, they'll still bite it.

That's how I'd do it, anyhoo.

 

[Magic Slim]

But is there actual oxygen to breathe in, say, a "normal" cloud of poisonous gas?

Slim

 

[youspoonybard]

That would be fine.

Level 9 Druids could live in Cloudkill if they wanted to.

Look at Cloudkill..."Creatures immune to poison are unaffected by the spell"...

Look at Poison under the DMG: There's an Inhaled type...

 

[FrankTrollman]

Most poisonous gasses are in addition to the normal constituents of air. If you are immune to poison, those extra poisonous elements mean nothing to you.

If, on the other hand, you were in an area where the poisonous gas was instead of the normal air - you'd be suffocating.

The example which springs immediately to mind is being under water. Immunity to poison does not include the ability to breathe water.

As to whether the specific situation you are in has enough oxygen to sustain a character - that depends upon a lot of things. Volcanic activity sends out a lot of sulfur in a variety of forms. The air right over a lava pit is corrosive, poisonous, and extremely hot. For simplicity, in D&D we normally call that poisonous fumes coupled with heat damage (where poison ends and acid begins is very questionable, so we are just going to ignore it here).

Unless the situation were very strange (for example, on another world), I would simply have the oxygen hold out for those who were able to sustain themselves in the face of the poison and the heat.

Note: if the area is enclosed, there are in fact rules for how long it takes the oxygen to run out.

-Frank

 

[green slime]

That would be fine.

Level 9 Druids could live in Cloudkill if they wanted to.

Look at Cloudkill..."Creatures immune to poison are unaffected by the spell"...

Look at Poison under the DMG: There's an Inhaled type...

That does not prove anything...

If a gas contains say 20% Carbon monoxide and 20% oxygen (normal air contains 79% Nitrogen, 20% oxygen and about 1% "other") you would in RL die of oxygen starvation; the carbon monoxide latches more readily onto your red blood cells as they pass through the aveoli in your lungs. What is worse is that you don't notice this. The carbon monoxide in this mixture would be equivalent to a "poison" and thus you could be protected by a immunity to poison. Once protected, you can access the oxygen (your body ignores the deadly CO)

On the other hand, if there is absolutely no breathable Oxygen available, it doesn't help being immune to the poison: You must have oxygen to breath. Otherwise "immunity to poison" would enable you to survive underwater or in a vaccuum, which is clearly not the intent.

I should also point out that oxygen is also toxic at high pressures. Breathing 100% Oxygen at 1 atmosphere's pressure for long periods of time is also a no-no.

 

[Magic Slim]

Warning this post contributes in nothing to the topic at hand.

(normal air contains 79% Nitrogen, 20% oxygen and about 1% "other")

ie Cow Farts.

I should also point out that oxygen is also toxic at high pressures. Breathing 100% Oxygen at 1 atmosphere's pressure for long periods of time is also a no-no.

I think you'd burn (seriously), no?

Slim

 

[youspoonybard]

Note - Please read my original post.

If there's enough oxygen to breathe they'd be fine, if not, they'd be under suffocation, but not poison.

I was just continuing after MagicSlim asked about normal poisonous gases, when there was air.

 

[green slime]

Note - Please read my original post.

If there's enough oxygen to breathe they'd be fine, if not, they'd be under suffocation, but not poison.

I was just continuing after MagicSlim asked about normal poisonous gases, when there was air.

*umm* sorry, yeah. I understood that after I reread the topic.

BTW, nope on that burning. (though you don't want to start smokers nearby) It is used in various medical treatments, but only in short spurts (10 minutes, 30 minutes)

100% oxygen can be applied to scuba divers who have burst a lung, for example, as, with one lung not quite well, you need to guarantee the victim is getting enough. Or in cases of the bends, where it speeds up the purging of the nitrogen. (Nitrogen being the cause of the bubbles in the body that cause the bends).