Scratching with a poisoned needle

[Varyon]

Originally Posted by benz72

Stipulating that when we are discussing 'relevant in combat' I understand us to be limiting that idea to small groups in second-by-second tactical combat I would like to point out that many forms of combat in warfare take significantly longer. Chemical weapons are definitely poisonous (at least in GURPS terms) and are forbidden from use for their indiscriminate and cruel method of killing rather than because 'they just wouldn't work'. Even something like tear gas has considerable tactical use.

This is important to keep in mind, and is part of what I was trying to get at with my tactical/strategic divide back in my first post. A poison that takes a few minutes to have a significant impact on the target is one that you can hit the target with, and then just keep away from them until it either weakens them enough you can take them out easily or just takes care of them for you (with ranged combat, this can mean hitting the target and then just hiding behind cover for a while).

Tear gas, CS gas, and similar are things that I don't think this consideration (that even delayed effects are useful) really applies to, because they have the fairly immediate effect of directly activating pain receptors on the skin and in the mucous membranes. Those truly are tactically useful, even at the breakneck pace of GURPS combats.

[acrosome]

OP, here. Just to settle this- I am not talking about a poison that is effective on a combat timescale. In fact, having effect at a significantly later time is desirable. The point behind using a tiny needle is so that the target may not even realize that they have been attacked, or at least be so trivial that they forget about it by the time the poison takes effect. So you can all stop obsessing about that.

I will stipulate longitudinal grooves near the tip of the assassination needle to hold an adequate amount of poison. Perhaps even a bifurcated needle. It's a low-tech setting, so contact agents seem unlikely.

Carry on.

[Anthony]

Originally Posted by acrosome

I will stipulate longitudinal grooves near the tip of the assassination needle to hold an adequate amount of poison. Perhaps even a bifurcated needle. It's a low-tech setting, so contact agents seem unlikely.

If you're willing and able to jab someone with a needle there are quite a few options, though you might need a hollow needle (say, a snake fang) and a poison sack of some sort. It's not going to be a subtle scratch, though, it's going to be 'you stabbed me!'. If you actually want subtle, you probably want something oral (either poison food, or apply to hands in expectation that the hands will go in the mouth).

[The Colonel]

Originally Posted by Anthony

If you're willing and able to jab someone with a needle there are quite a few options, though you might need a hollow needle (say, a snake fang) and a poison sack of some sort. It's not going to be a subtle scratch, though, it's going to be 'you stabbed me!'. If you actually want subtle, you probably want something oral (either poison food, or apply to hands in expectation that the hands will go in the mouth).

There was a recent crime wave in the UK of "spiking" where predatory individuals were ... allegedly at least ... injecting their victims with sedatives under cover of a nightclub crowd. Not sure how much of this was genuine and how much hysteria, but it implies that in at least some cases it was possible to dose someone with a needle without an immediate "hey, someone stabbed me" response.

I know the company med tech administered my last flu shot without me really feeling it, and I was stood there with my sleeve rolled up expecting to be injected...

[Witchking]

Originally Posted by The Colonel

I know the company med tech administered my last flu shot without me really feeling it, and I was stood there with my sleeve rolled up expecting to be injected...

And was not likely drinking before and after...