Ability Damage Descriptions

[Casper the Spook]

Can anyone give advice on how a DM would describe the effects of ability point damage in the 3X or Pathfinder setting? These are examples I have been given or have thought of: Strength: Muscle spasms, muscle cramping, involuntary relaxing or numbness across the body. Dexterity: Muscles becoming stiff, numb, loss of hand/eye coordination due to dizziness or something similar to when drinking too much ale. Constitution: Feeling sick, rapid heartbeat, feverish, difficulty breathing or something similar. Intelligence: A mental stupor where things just don't click accompanied with a headache, possibly mental fatigue or sleepiness. Wisdom: A mental fog and the person's attention span is lessened, dizziness or the other mentioned symptoms of Int damage. Charisma: I really have no clue how this would be described unless a person suddenly feels socially awkward, timid, or unable to read social cues.

 

[Grogg of the North]

I think part of the description depends on the source of the ability damage. Poisons would be described as a burning beneath the skin. Physical abilities I tend to describe as a loss of strength, feeling weak and sluggish or even dizzy. Mental ablities usually involve a mental fog. If I really wanted to hammer home Charisma, I would describe it as being plagued by self doubt since charisma can represent a force of personality.