Poison Damages

[Hiro]

I don't understand how it works in pathfinder though.

Does it just do to pops of damage if the saves are failed. or do they constantly do the second type of damage every round until cured?

[rockdeworld]

In brief, primary effects happen once: when the poison first takes effect.

There's an answer to this exact question at the bottom of this page: http://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/afflictions/poison. However, it is somewhat contradictory, and what I've written here is an attempt to make it clearer.

Here's an example,


Poison
Type
Fort DC
Onset
Frequency
Effect
Cure


Blue whinnis
injury
14
—
1/rd. for 2 rds
1 Con / unconscious 1d3 hrs.
1 save


Blue whinnis is an injury type poison, so it takes effect when (1) you apply it to a weapon, and (2) you deal damage with that weapon. Other types (contact, inhalation, ingestion) take effect in the obvious ways.

It has no onset, so it takes effect immediately. Other poisons have an onset, and take effect after the onset has passed.

When you are dealt damage by a weapon with blue whinnis poison, make a Fortitude save (DC 14).
-If you succeed, you're cured (because the cure is 1 save).
-If you fail, take 1 Con damage.

1/round for the next 2 rounds, make another save.
-If you succeed, you're cured
-If you fail, fall unconscious for 1d3 hours.

Example 2: Green Prismatic Poison
Green prismatic poison; spell; varies; —; 1/rd. for 6 rds.; Death/1 Con; 2 saves (tables are hard)

Lets assume you get hit by Prismatic Spray with a DC 20 (the minimum for that spell). Make a Fortitude save (DC 20).
-If you succeed, note 1 success
-If you fail, you die

1/round for the next 6 rounds, make another save.
-If you succeed, check if you've succeeded twice in a row. If yes, you're cured. Otherwise you're not, but don't suffer the poison's effects this round.
-If you fail, take 1 Con damage.