Scratching with a poisoned needle

[DanHoward]

Originally Posted by Anthony

Dung was used as a poison historically (because tetanus), but again, really needs a certain depth to actually be effective.

It also has an incubation period of 3 to 21 days (average is 10 days) so it has no influence on the outcome of a battle.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by acrosome

Is there a RAW answer to what skill to use when scratching a target with a poisoned needle? Knife? Or Brawling? Or DX?

If the needle is built into gloves or claws I'd use Brawling skill (or its default to DX) to scratch in otherwise unarmed combat. Per RAW, that's the way "scratchers" built into cyberware poison delivery systems work.

If you're specifically slashing or stabbing with a needle built into some other object, like a Hypodermic, use Knife skill instead.

In a non-combat situation, use whatever Influence skill allows you to get close to your target then use Sleight of Hand to deliver the poison unobtrusively. Your target will almost certainly notice, unless they've got the Numb disadvantage or they're exited and distracted, so roll vs. Acting, Diplomacy, or Fast Talk to apologize for the "accidental" injury.

[Varyon]

For something like a needle mounted on a handle (including a hypodermic needle on a syringe, but then you're looking at a stab-and-inject rather than a scratch), you'd use Knife. For something like a sewing needle or bo shuriken, you'd use Brawling. For needles that are mounted on the hand in some fashion (such as on a ring or attached to gloves), you could probably manage with a grappling skill of some flavor. I'd still be inclined to call for an appropriate combat skill for a surreptitious stabbing (or scratching), but you'd use other skills to get away with it - Shadowing to get close to the target without getting noticed, Sleight of Hand to prevent anyone from noticing you're armed, Acting to play it off as an accidental collision, etc.

As others have noted, realistically even if a scratch is enough to get a proper dose of the poison it will take some time to have an effect, typically making poison a poor choice for tactical combat (it can be useful at the strategic level, potentially making minor wounds markedly more severe and also damaging OpFor's morale... but if it basically gives OpFor permission to ignore the laws of war, it may well backfire). But poisons that work at a tactical time scale (in seconds - or even instantly - rather than in minutes) are extremely common in fiction and RPG's, which can potentially make a poisoned needle a useful weapon.

[whswhs]

If you're not in a combat situation, you could use Physician. Doctors (and nurses, who also have Physician skill) learn to give injections, including doing so in difficult situations. Veterinarian could probably work took.

[acrosome]

The envisioned use is sort of what witches used to get accused of- covertly pricking a victim with a poisoned needle in a public place. Fantasy setting.

[zoncxs]

Originally Posted by acrosome

The envisioned use is sort of what witches used to get accused of- covertly pricking a victim with a poisoned needle in a public place. Fantasy setting.

That means its not combat, Sleight of hand skill would be used vs a persons Per.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by whswhs

If you're not in a combat situation, you could use Physician. Doctors (and nurses, who also have Physician skill) learn to give injections, including doing so in difficult situations. Veterinarian could probably work took.

A DX-based roll vs. either skill would be entirely appropriate.

Veterinarian would actually be the preferred skill. Doctors generally don't have to worry about patients who struggle to avoid getting vaccinated and are in the habit of biting, kicking, or scratching back.