Diseased Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Diseased Character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
coff
11-07-05, 02:50 PM I want my elf in an upcoming faerun campaign to have some sort of disease, magical or otherwise, that he needs to travel to Evermeet to cure. I'd like one that might affect gameplay but want to think of something a little more creative than a stat reduction. Any thoughts?
Blakeman101
11-07-05, 06:35 PM Make him a afflicted lycanthrope that is my favorite plot hook. I think you should be a werewolf or wererat.
Fithero
11-08-05, 01:20 AM Being a were animial is a good idea, but something truly odd... something that a elf would loath to be (more so than a wererat)

Here are a few possibilities-

weresnake
wereboar
werecow (hey... its stupid... but ill be damned if it aint funny)

Failing that, give him some sort wasteing disease (magical or not) or just have him become tainted (look in UA) thats usually pretty bad, but you can choose to embrace it to try and slow it down.

Later
Setherial
11-08-05, 05:53 AM being a lycantrophe would require a level adjustment and then getting cured would **** up your character :)

I was thinking about something along the lines of some sort of rot. He has one arm and hand totally wrapped in rags and will try to hide his handicap from others though he knows time is running out, the rot is spreading rapidly.
You can discuss it with your DM and come up with roleplayed penalties like, you can't carry anything with your rotting hand, you get dizzy at times to the point of fainting (Fort Save), you sweat a lot like you have a fever, you look really pale even for an elf, you cuff up blood, (you have a deseased touch attack :)...
coff
11-08-05, 11:23 AM being a lycantrophe would require a level adjustment and then getting cured would **** up your character :)

I was thinking about something along the lines of some sort of rot. He has one arm and hand totally wrapped in rags and will try to hide his handicap from others though he knows time is running out, the rot is spreading rapidly.
You can discuss it with your DM and come up with roleplayed penalties like, you can't carry anything with your rotting hand, you get dizzy at times to the point of fainting (Fort Save), you sweat a lot like you have a fever, you look really pale even for an elf, you cuff up blood, (you have a deseased touch attack :)...

This guy's got the right idea. Thanks for all the suggestions. Lycanthropy as previously mentioned Level Adjustment. I could Embrace that and get points in Control Lycanthropy or whatever the skill is. That would defeat the purpose and also aren't elven wearwolves good? I think there is something about it in the faerunian monster compendium (sorry I'm at work and can't check it). Maybe its only certain ones.

Any way to (here's a poor word choice) flesh out the rot? Origin? I'm gonna be a multiclassed Sorc and Druid Wild Elf so I'll have a familiar and animal companion. The familar I want to be a Hawk and it will probably be trained to gather herbs of some sort to help slow the disease.

Any more you can tell me about taint? (gosh that sounds wrong too) Is it demonic? Is there a level adjustment? What are the penalties? How do I remove it?
Uberwoot
11-08-05, 02:18 PM A character's taint score applies as a penalty to his Constitution and Wisdom scores....

A tainted character experiences the Constitution and Wisdom penalties in a number of ways, from mild nausea, joint pain, or disorientation to rotting flesh, severe skeletal warping, and irresistible murderous urges....

It is possible to remove taint from characters in several ways, including through the use of spells, the performance of good deeds, and cleansing in a sacred spring....

This isn't a bad idea. See if your DM will allow you to have acquired taint from exposure to a unique source of great evil in the world that has now departed for another plane; not knowing of the availability of spells to remove your taint (or perhaps such spells simply don't work), and as an elf (or perhaps as a follower of any number of elven deities), you know of only one sacred spring at which you can cleanse yourself: on Evermeet.

Some symptoms I think would be appropriate for a tiny taint score (one or two, at most) are:

-Occasional nausea or vomiting
-Disorientation
-Mild hallucinations
-Phlegmy, wracking cough
-Pale, grayish, dead complexion
-Sunken eyes, cracked lips

You need not have all of these traits (just pick one to three, perhaps). The symptoms and their source make you sufficiently uncomfortable as to undergo a trip to Evermeet to be cured of your vile affliction.
Setherial
11-09-05, 04:41 AM Any way to (here's a poor word choice) flesh out the rot? Origin? I'm gonna be a multiclassed Sorc and Druid Wild Elf so I'll have a familiar and animal companion. The familar I want to be a Hawk and it will probably be trained to gather herbs of some sort to help slow the disease.

I'm glad you whish to play a spellcaster bacause such an affliction would be devestating to a fighter or rogue. Ofcourse when the fever comes concentration checks will have to be made to overcome it and focus on spells. This might exhaust your character, using fatique rules (sorry to cripple him like this but it's rather interesting from a roleplaying point of view).
Also when wildshaping into an animal one can clearly see the animal is sick, wounded or otherwise visually disabled. This might be a very nice touch when you are dealing with a magical kind of rot. (wildshaping would also not restore hit points)
Also the druid class would be fantastic for this character and a reason he is still alive, he will have specialized in herbs that slow down the rot and he'll cast spells to keep him from collapsing.
The cause of the rot might be a good background hook for your DM, either he comes up with a cause himeself or you invent something along the lines of being attacked by a Hag or a demon you've been searching eversince.

Another great touch, if your DM wants in on it, would be that you can spread the disease if you are not carefull. Ofcourse animals and commen folk would die from it quite fast without your druidic knowledge and elven blood to keep them alive.

Another radically different background could be that you were a famous explorer gone missing after a failed expedition in a desert like location. The truth behind it is that your party was killed by a mummy and you barely escaped with your life. Noone currently knows you are that famous explorer but again it's something your DM might use in his campaign.
You ofcourse want to hide your identity as it would raise many questions and draw much attention to you, soon people would discover you are sick and panick would break out. God knows what would happen then...
coff
11-15-05, 10:31 AM Ok, So I've settled on some sort of magical (and evil) rot afflicting his left arm. I'm thinking on ANY critical failure my character will become fatigued. I also want it to be similar to Harry's Scar or Frodo's wound from the Morgul dagger. So a fortitued save around evil outsiders and the penalties would be ??? any help there? He's now a straight up Druid and the Hawk would mearly be a pet. One of his 3 tricks would be finding the proper herbs for me. Once the character reaches level 3 I think it is he has to save a spell for remove disease or slow disease or whatever the spell is. I am also thinking about some sort of strength penalty. -4 when using both arms perhaps. Can't carry a shield heavyer than ___? What about using a bow? I don't think he would be using any mighty bows but what about a regular plain old bow? What would be the penalty? Decreased range incriment on account of the lame arm? Or something more dire? Your help is appreciated.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
coff 11-07-05, 02:50 PM	I want my elf in an upcoming faerun campaign to have some sort of disease, magical or otherwise, that he needs to travel to Evermeet to cure. I'd like one that might affect gameplay but want to think of something a little more creative than a stat reduction. Any thoughts?
Blakeman101 11-07-05, 06:35 PM	Make him a afflicted lycanthrope that is my favorite plot hook. I think you should be a werewolf or wererat.
Fithero 11-08-05, 01:20 AM	Being a were animial is a good idea, but something truly odd... something that a elf would loath to be (more so than a wererat) Here are a few possibilities- weresnake wereboar werecow (hey... its stupid... but ill be damned if it aint funny) Failing that, give him some sort wasteing disease (magical or not) or just have him become tainted (look in UA) thats usually pretty bad, but you can choose to embrace it to try and slow it down. Later
Setherial 11-08-05, 05:53 AM	being a lycantrophe would require a level adjustment and then getting cured would **** up your character :) I was thinking about something along the lines of some sort of rot. He has one arm and hand totally wrapped in rags and will try to hide his handicap from others though he knows time is running out, the rot is spreading rapidly. You can discuss it with your DM and come up with roleplayed penalties like, you can't carry anything with your rotting hand, you get dizzy at times to the point of fainting (Fort Save), you sweat a lot like you have a fever, you look really pale even for an elf, you cuff up blood, (you have a deseased touch attack :)...
coff 11-08-05, 11:23 AM	being a lycantrophe would require a level adjustment and then getting cured would **** up your character :) I was thinking about something along the lines of some sort of rot. He has one arm and hand totally wrapped in rags and will try to hide his handicap from others though he knows time is running out, the rot is spreading rapidly. You can discuss it with your DM and come up with roleplayed penalties like, you can't carry anything with your rotting hand, you get dizzy at times to the point of fainting (Fort Save), you sweat a lot like you have a fever, you look really pale even for an elf, you cuff up blood, (you have a deseased touch attack :)... This guy's got the right idea. Thanks for all the suggestions. Lycanthropy as previously mentioned Level Adjustment. I could Embrace that and get points in Control Lycanthropy or whatever the skill is. That would defeat the purpose and also aren't elven wearwolves good? I think there is something about it in the faerunian monster compendium (sorry I'm at work and can't check it). Maybe its only certain ones. Any way to (here's a poor word choice) flesh out the rot? Origin? I'm gonna be a multiclassed Sorc and Druid Wild Elf so I'll have a familiar and animal companion. The familar I want to be a Hawk and it will probably be trained to gather herbs of some sort to help slow the disease. Any more you can tell me about taint? (gosh that sounds wrong too) Is it demonic? Is there a level adjustment? What are the penalties? How do I remove it?
Uberwoot 11-08-05, 02:18 PM	A character's taint score applies as a penalty to his Constitution and Wisdom scores.... A tainted character experiences the Constitution and Wisdom penalties in a number of ways, from mild nausea, joint pain, or disorientation to rotting flesh, severe skeletal warping, and irresistible murderous urges.... It is possible to remove taint from characters in several ways, including through the use of spells, the performance of good deeds, and cleansing in a sacred spring.... This isn't a bad idea. See if your DM will allow you to have acquired taint from exposure to a unique source of great evil in the world that has now departed for another plane; not knowing of the availability of spells to remove your taint (or perhaps such spells simply don't work), and as an elf (or perhaps as a follower of any number of elven deities), you know of only one sacred spring at which you can cleanse yourself: on Evermeet. Some symptoms I think would be appropriate for a tiny taint score (one or two, at most) are: -Occasional nausea or vomiting -Disorientation -Mild hallucinations -Phlegmy, wracking cough -Pale, grayish, dead complexion -Sunken eyes, cracked lips You need not have all of these traits (just pick one to three, perhaps). The symptoms and their source make you sufficiently uncomfortable as to undergo a trip to Evermeet to be cured of your vile affliction.
Setherial 11-09-05, 04:41 AM	Any way to (here's a poor word choice) flesh out the rot? Origin? I'm gonna be a multiclassed Sorc and Druid Wild Elf so I'll have a familiar and animal companion. The familar I want to be a Hawk and it will probably be trained to gather herbs of some sort to help slow the disease. I'm glad you whish to play a spellcaster bacause such an affliction would be devestating to a fighter or rogue. Ofcourse when the fever comes concentration checks will have to be made to overcome it and focus on spells. This might exhaust your character, using fatique rules (sorry to cripple him like this but it's rather interesting from a roleplaying point of view). Also when wildshaping into an animal one can clearly see the animal is sick, wounded or otherwise visually disabled. This might be a very nice touch when you are dealing with a magical kind of rot. (wildshaping would also not restore hit points) Also the druid class would be fantastic for this character and a reason he is still alive, he will have specialized in herbs that slow down the rot and he'll cast spells to keep him from collapsing. The cause of the rot might be a good background hook for your DM, either he comes up with a cause himeself or you invent something along the lines of being attacked by a Hag or a demon you've been searching eversince. Another great touch, if your DM wants in on it, would be that you can spread the disease if you are not carefull. Ofcourse animals and commen folk would die from it quite fast without your druidic knowledge and elven blood to keep them alive. Another radically different background could be that you were a famous explorer gone missing after a failed expedition in a desert like location. The truth behind it is that your party was killed by a mummy and you barely escaped with your life. Noone currently knows you are that famous explorer but again it's something your DM might use in his campaign. You ofcourse want to hide your identity as it would raise many questions and draw much attention to you, soon people would discover you are sick and panick would break out. God knows what would happen then...
coff 11-15-05, 10:31 AM	Ok, So I've settled on some sort of magical (and evil) rot afflicting his left arm. I'm thinking on ANY critical failure my character will become fatigued. I also want it to be similar to Harry's Scar or Frodo's wound from the Morgul dagger. So a fortitued save around evil outsiders and the penalties would be ??? any help there? He's now a straight up Druid and the Hawk would mearly be a pet. One of his 3 tricks would be finding the proper herbs for me. Once the character reaches level 3 I think it is he has to save a spell for remove disease or slow disease or whatever the spell is. I am also thinking about some sort of strength penalty. -4 when using both arms perhaps. Can't carry a shield heavyer than ___? What about using a bow? I don't think he would be using any mighty bows but what about a regular plain old bow? What would be the penalty? Decreased range incriment on account of the lame arm? Or something more dire? Your help is appreciated.