Potions and Swallow Whole


Rules Questions


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In one of our recent encounters our DM deemed it necessary for his amusement that we should be eaten by sharks. As we crept (while swimming?) through some underwater caverns attempting to find an unruly Aboleth a shark caught my scent and got some very lucky rolls.
Rolled to hit through full concealment, grappled me, beat my initiative, swallowed me and then escaped from my party to digest his new found prize. Coming to terms with the fact that Shadow Jump would put me back within charging distance, and my light weapons would doubtfully cut a way out before its stomach could finish off my remaining 14 hp I opted for the more creative route (as suggested by the beautiful and lovely bard if she should ever read this post and think I was plagiarizing her ideas).

Move Action: Withdraw potion of Gaseous Form
Standard Action: Dump potion into the stomach I was now in
Free Action: Pray

After a fit of laughter from the party, my DM ruled that the shark exploded into a cloud of bubbles and started rising through the cracks within the cave system. And a successful bluff check now has my party's ranger believing I'm hiding more interesting powers up my sleeve.

His decision revolved around the idea that a 1 INT critter swallowing someone implied a willingness to devour anything on his person. Including a potion.

How far from RAW is this? My search-fu is weak, as such I cannot find any rules for force feeding a target a potion or how "willing" target interacts with this. Is this in the realm of homebrew or am I just being dense?


Alwaysafk wrote:

His decision revolved around the idea that a 1 INT critter swallowing someone implied a willingness to devour anything on his person. Including a potion.

How far from RAW is this?

Regardless of the rules minutia works out, this is awesome. Just be glad that you were not considered part of the shark's gear!


*shameless curiosity bump*


When someone (something?) swallows a potion they are considered the controller of the effect and are therefore both willing and voluntarily forgo any saving throw. Normally it is a full round action to administer a potion or oil to another creature, however. But overall, it seems the call was fairly close to RAW.


It certainly would have worked in my game.


Honestly, I'm usually a stickler for the 'well, RAW' aspect of this forum.

But just this once...

WHO CARES, THATS AWESOME!


In this particular case...how could the shark reasonably not swallow the potion? Great idea that I as a GM would award bonus XP for. Congratulations to the bard's player for thinking of it.

If she's single you should totally ask her out. Sounds like a gem.


Starfinder Superscriber

I'd have allowed it. Great idea and great rescue for yourself.


Gururamalamaswami wrote:

In this particular case...how could the shark reasonably not swallow the potion? Great idea that I as a GM would award bonus XP for. Congratulations to the bard's player for thinking of it.

If she's single you should totally ask her out. Sounds like a gem.

We've been dating for almost a year now. Gem indeed! I think everyone is going to have a similar potion on their person from now own. And they think I'm crazy for investing.


Alwaysafk wrote:
Gururamalamaswami wrote:

In this particular case...how could the shark reasonably not swallow the potion? Great idea that I as a GM would award bonus XP for. Congratulations to the bard's player for thinking of it.

If she's single you should totally ask her out. Sounds like a gem.

We've been dating for almost a year now. Gem indeed! I think everyone is going to have a similar potion on their person from now own. And they think I'm crazy for investing.

Good man. The female gamer in my life is now my wife. Hope your relationship turns out as well. :)


Total awesomeness indeed. Sounds like a fun time was had by all.

As a GM I would have done exactly the same thing. As a player I just wish I had a high enough opinion of myself to claim I would have thought of it.

Makes me wonder about other potions...


Totally friggin' Epic, GM or Player, I'd have roared to uphold it -- The letter of the law aside, The potion was poured into his belly, and if you needed consent, I'd still say he was keen on eating everything on your person when he swallowed you whole.

It's moments like these that every gamer waits to see, and can't wait to be a part of.

Top shelf, thanks for Sharing.

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