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Pathfinder Rules Questions (Poison/Cure)

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:44 pm
by thehitcat
The Poison/Cure thing came up in my home game this weekend. My understanding of the rule is that getting to Cure (how ever many saves that takes) keeps you from taking additional damage due to that poison.

So if you get poisoned the poison has two key scores first the damage: it does 1 CON each round for 1d6 rounds then the cure: Make two saves to cure.

So round 1 missed save 1 CON
Round 2 made save no damage halfway to cure
Round 3 missed save 1 CON (2 total)
Round 4 missed save 1 CON (3 total)
Round 5 made save CURE no further saves required.

Actually healing the ability damage is done through rest here is the PRD Cure definition...

Cure: This tells you how the affliction is cured. Commonly, this is a number of saving throws that must be made consecutively. Even if the affliction has a limited frequency, it might be cured prematurely if enough saving throws are made. Hit point damage and ability score damage is not removed when an affliction is cured. Such damage must be healed normally. Afflictions without a cure entry can only be cured through powerful spells, such as neutralize poison and remove curse. No matter how many saving throws are made, these afflictions continue to affect the target.

He failed a DC 15 Fortitude save to avoid contracting it, so after the onset period of 1d3 days has passed, he must make another DC 15 Fortitude save to avoid taking 1d6 points of Strength damage. From this point onward, he must make a DC 15 Fortitude save each day (according to the disease's frequency) to avoid further Strength damage. If, on two consecutive days, he makes his Fortitude saves, he is cured of the disease and any damage it caused begins to heal as normal.

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 6:50 pm
by Shurijo
Here's the entry

Imp's entry:
Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 13; frequency 1/
round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Dex; cure 1 save. The
save DC is Constitution-based, and includes a +2
racial bonus.


From my understanding, to stop getting DEX ability damage/drain, you need to make a Fort save ("save Fort DC 13"). Then to "cure" (remove all effects), you need "1 save" ("cure 1 save"). Is the cure save and the fort save the same save or a different save/roll?

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:34 pm
by ardh05
I think it is. thehitcat's cure entry seems to be taken from dealing with magical diseases, but based on the entry, I'd say one made save negates any further damage... but the previous damage remains.

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:44 pm
by Trogdor
I echo that. Damage received has to be healed the normal ways damage is healed.

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 8:50 pm
by Vardaen
"cure 1 save"

Make one save, and you not only prevent that rounds damage, but you are cured and take no more damage. All damage you have already taken remains, it doesn't go away. It has to be healed via rest, restoration spells, healing checks, etc.

Also, thehitcat, in your example it is wrong.
"This tells you how the affliction is cured. Commonly, this is a number of saving throws that must be made consecutively."

I bolded the important word. If a poison's cure is 2 saves, they have to be back to back, consecutively. So in your example you'd move on to round 6...

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:00 pm
by thehitcat
Good point I missed on the consecutively. Thanks. I think the important thing that everyone seems to have now is that making your Cure saves does not heal your ability damage which Rest or Magic must heal for you.

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 9:03 pm
by Shurijo
There's a big FAQ write up at the Pathfinder OGC (and Pathfinder blog) on poisons, but it didn't really talk about curing.

Poison @ Pathfinder OGC

Poison FAQ at Paizo.com

Poison blog entry at Paizo.com

Paizo designer speaks on Poison via comment

Re: Pathfinder Rules Questions

Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2012 10:40 pm
by Eanwulf
Just follow standard rules for Ability damage. Dex damage just takes time to mend itself.

Core Rules pg 555
"Unless otherwise noted, damage to your ability scores is healed at the rate of 1 per day to each ability score that has been damaged.

Ability damage can be healed through the use of spells, such as lesser restoration."