Snake Oil

[VRMH]

Snake Oil:

Description
This mildly toxic liniment numbs flesh and can soothe injuries. Though the tincture is actually poisonous, an imbiber who avoids becoming poisoned recovers from minor injuries.
Type poison (contact); Save Fortitude DC 12
Onset 1 round; Frequency 1/minute for 5 minutes
Effect On a failed save, snake oil deals 1 point of nonlethal damage. However, on a successful save, the toxin heals 1d6 points of nonlethal damage; Cure 1 save

It's an interesting thing, this poison. Having a beneficial effect on a successful save is, afaik, unique. But on which save does it do that? On the initial one, as you then "avoid becoming poisoned"? Or on the next save, as that's when a poison would start to have an effect?

And while on the subject: is there any way to decrease a poison's DC? Or increase it's potency without increasing the DC?

[dragonhunterq]

Poisons take effect immediately. /click here - point 4 applies
Your first save will either cure 1d6 non-lethal and end, or deal 1 non-lethal and force a save again in 1 minute.

[Turin the Mad]

"Onset: 1 round" disagrees with "immediately". Point 4 says "Unless the poison has an onset time," which this poison does.

[dragonhunterq]

well spotted sir, seems like you want to fail that first save then.

[VRMH]

dragonhunterq wrote:

well spotted sir, seems like you want to fail that first save then.

That was my guess. In fact, you can safely fail the second one too: a single point of nonlethal damage is guaranteed to be undone by the healing done once you do make your safe.

Still, it would be nice if the DC could be lowered - poisons are more easily applied/shared/created than CLW potions, and 6gp per hitpoint healed isn't all that bad.

[swoosh]

dragonhunterq wrote:

well spotted sir, seems like you want to fail that first save then.

Given that you're at minimum going to make it back it's not a problem, but you're still not going to WANT to. You'll receive the benefit effect if you save the first time, too.

[Azothath]

CRB wrote:

Applying Poison

One dose of poison smeared on a weapon or some other object affects just a single target. A poisoned weapon or object retains its poison until the weapon scores a hit or the object is touched (unless the poison is wiped off before a target comes in contact with it).
Applying poison to a weapon or single piece of ammunition is a standard action. Whenever you apply or ready a poison for use, there is a 5% chance that you expose yourself to the poison and must save against the poison as normal. This does not consume the dose of poison. Whenever you attack with a poisoned weapon, if the attack roll results in a natural 1, you expose yourself to the poison. This poison is consumed when the weapon strikes a creature or is touched by the wielder. If you have the poison use class feature (such as from the assassin prestige class or the alchemist base class), you do not risk accidentally poisoning yourself when applying poison.

well - as a poison, those without Poison Use will have to make a Check when they open it not to poison themselves, lol. 1//20 that you get a free use. As that's silly a GM will say no, but there you have it.

Increase DC & possible effect, take 2 and call me in the morning, or take them sequentially 6 minutes apart to increase effect.