Herbalist Skill
For the DM who wants more information on Profession (Herbalist), we offer the following starter rules. This skill focuses on the collection, preparation and storage of various plants in a manner that is not only safe, but is also medicinal and/or useful in some way. Since some plants are poisonous all of the time, while others are poisonous seasonally, and yet others have only specific parts that are deadly, preparation can be risky for the untrained.
Herbalist can be used to replace the Healing Skill if you would like to have more specific details and realism in your campaign.
Checks
The tables below illustrate some of the plants that may be prepared through the use of the Herbalist skill. As with many skills, this can be expanded by the players themselves to include specific examples for any campaign. There are three DC checks required for the different stages. Each stage typically takes 1-4 hours.
Collection: This DC is for gathering a “batch” of the required material. A batch will create 1-4 doses that can be prepared at separate times. Collection involves knowledge of what parts of the plant to collect and even which seasons are best. Failure indicates the batch was not able to be collected; extreme failure that the plant was even destroyed in the process.
Preparation: This DC is for the actual preparation of the plant, whether tea, poultice (a moist mass applied to skin), salve (ointment or lotion), astringent (skin wash), tincture (alcohol extract) or other technique. Failure indicates that the batch is ruined.
Storage: This DC is for long-term storage. Success indicates that the leaves were properly dried, the bark was properly ground, etc. Failure indicates that the batch will be ruined in d6 x 8 hours.
Synergy
Five ranks of Alchemy will add a +2 synergy bonus on storage checks.
Five ranks of Healing will add a +2 synergy bonus on preparation checks.
Five ranks Knowledge (Nature) will add a +2 synergy bonus on collection checks.
The Self-Sufficient feat will grant a +2 synergy bonus on all three checks.
Five ranks Survival will add a +2 synergy bonus on collection checks.
Five ranks of Profession (herbalist) will grant a +2 synergy bonus on Alchemy checks.
Five ranks of Profession (herbalist) will grant a +2 synergy bonus on Survival checks.
Retry and Failure
There are no retry rolls in cooking. Something was either prepared correctly or not. A new roll may be made for a new batch, however. Failure can result in accidental poisoning…
Table I: Examples of Simple Natural Plants
Plant, DC, Form, Result
Amaranth, 18, Tea, +2 saves against ingested poison for 10-60 minutes
Angelica, 18, Tea, +2 saves against fear for 10-60 minutes
Birch, 12, Astringent, Heals d4 acid damage
Black
Alder, 15*, Tea, Cures minor poison
Boneset, 18, Tea, +2 Fortitude saves for 10-60 minutes
Bulrush, 15, Poultice, Treats puncture wounds from caltrops, spikes, etc.
Bunchberry, 15, Poultice, Heals d8 damage from burns
Cattail, 12, Tea, Heals d4 damage
Chicory, 18, Tea, +3 temporary hit points for 10-60 minutes
Coltsfoot, 12, Astringent, Heals d4 “sting” damage
Comfrey, 15, Ground Root, Stops bleeding and heals d4 hit points
Goldenrod, 18, Tea, +2 Temporary Str. For 10-60 minutes
Greenbrier, 15, Salve, Heals d8 damage from burns
Milkweed, 15, Sap, Heals skin diseases1
Mint, 18, Tea, +2 Concentration checks for 10-60 minutes
Mulberry
(Red), 15, Ground Bark, Heals digestive diseases1
Mullein, 15, Steam Vapors, Heals respiratory diseases1
Pine, 15, Inner Bark, Stops bleeding
Plantain, 15, Poultice, Cures Infection1
Evening
Primrose, 18, Tea, +2 Will saves for 10-60 minutes
Shepherd’s
Purse, 18, Tea, +2 saves versus poisons in bloodstream for 10-60 minutes
Sphagnum
Moss, 12, Poultice, Stops bleeding
Sumac, 18, Poultice, +2 saves versus natural poisons for 10-60 minutes
Yarrow, 18, Tea, +2 Reflex Saves for 10-60 minutes
*— For particularly strong diseases or poisons, such as a Mummy’s, the advanced or magical remedies will have to be used. However, these simple plants could add a synergy bonus to a character’s roll.
Special thanks to Charles Fischer for writing this article.