D&D 5E (2024) ADHD Medication Design Challenge: Let's skin this cat.

[aco175]

I was torn between magic items and spells, but chose spells. I could use some cool bad-guy spells from clerics of evil gods. I recall using the old powers and pantheons books for FR and limiting spells to certain gods. Gave them a flavor- much like 11 herbs and spices.

 

[Horwath]

Feats.
but, it depends on how class is open to customization.
I is barbarian that has only 6 choices, 5 ASI's and subclass or more like warlock where is 5 ASI's, 15 spells, 10 invocations and 4 mystic arcanums(can be counted as additional spells) and 4 even cantrips if you feel like splitting hairs.

if a class has over 10 levels 25 features to gain, some preselected, some open feat slots, what would that ratio be?

3.5e fighter with just open feat slots, semi limited like subclasses or just rigid take or leave it?

to me, if there is 25 slots,

6 should be rigid,
if fighter is an example, those can be extra attack, action surge, second wind.
4 semi limited: subclass slots.
15 open feat slots. or maybe less, depending on how much you want to clutter each class with things to do.

OFC, feats should be both "active" and "passive".

active being, you must decide to use them, and probably only one can be used per specific action, maybe some can combine.
and passive; just number improvements. More HP, more AC, better saves, more attacks, more and better skills, more usages of already acquired active feats, more speed.

 

[GuyBoy]

I voted magic items, but what I'd really love to see the most would be an adventure, or, better yet, an adventure path from you!

 

[Jim | Variant Codex Press]

Yeah I was wondering what that was as well, I'll vote for it to find out

Archetypes are what A5E calls subclasses.

 

[Steampunkette]

I am in America, yes. And I've been on prescription medication for ADHD, before.

The next section is spoilered for folks 'cause it might be TMI. Nothing gross or nasty, just explaining why I haven't been on medication for 30 years.

Spoiler: Lifestuff

I was diagnosed around 6 years old and it was the 80s so I was immediately medicated. I was to take a pill before I went to the bus stop, and carried one with me I had to take at lunch, since each lasted 4-5 hours. My grades went up, my teachers were delighted, my friends were shocked at the change. And every 6-8 months I'd hit a plateau of tolerance and it would stop functioning.

So they upped the dose to make it work, again!

Until they couldn't increase the dose any further without risk of killing an 11 year old kid. Then they swapped me to Adderall.

From day 1 at the lowest dose, Adderall was just as effective as Ritalin for me, though my hunger fell off like a lead balloon. I would get nauseous thinking about food and barely ate for an additional 2 years. By the end of which I was a stick figure with a giant head. I was hospitalized for malnutrition, the Adderall was stopped, and I had to drink Ensure twice a day for over a year to try and get my weight up.

Then I had a growth spurt of 6 inches in 2 days because my body finally had the fuel required for growth as a young teen! Let me tell you, that HURT.

I've had a lifelong fear of medication, ever since, to the point of avoiding taking pain pills even when in extreme pain. I was prescribed oxycodone for my back multiple times and would only take a pill when the pain was so extreme I couldn't sleep. After 7 months of recovery I dropped off over 6 months worth of Oxy at a drug-dropoff at the local sheriff's department.

So this is actually really important to me! Big step in emotional recovery and admittance that I need help, y'know?

So. Y'know. Filled to the brim with nervous excitement.

 

[Pedantic]

I've had good results with the non-stimulant options, but that's very variable from person to person. My doctor randomly disappeared (seems to have taken a job with Kaiser without telling her patients), her office was replaced with a walk in clinic and they cut off my prescription and would not re-up when I scheduled an appointment and learned all this. Very weird.

I'm in the process of finding a new care provider now, but that's significantly more difficult with untreated ADHD.

Anyway, best of luck trying a new medication, hopefully you find a comfortable place.

 

[Steampunkette]

I've had good results with the non-stimulant options, but that's very variable from person to person. My doctor randomly disappeared (seems to have taken a job with Kaiser without telling her patients), her office was replaced with a walk in clinic and they cut off my prescription and would not re-up when I scheduled an appointment and learned all this. Very weird.

I'm in the process of finding a new care provider now, but that's significantly more difficult with untreated ADHD.

Anyway, best of luck trying a new medication, hopefully you find a comfortable place.

Have you tried online providers?

I'm having to use online providers 'cause the closest local provider is about 2 hours away...

 

[Clint_L]

I hope the medication works out for you - balancing new meds is always tricky and usually takes time, as I'm sure you know. I don't envy the transition period. I voted for magic items, as I think they have the largest audience and your stuff is always really good.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

@Steampunkette

I have a suggestion. If you're going to do a design, why not do something involving Pumpkin Spice? There is a contest going on.....

Thread 'The 2025 Pumpkin Spice RPG Contest Submissions'

Sep 9, 2025

Time is running out to get your submission in!
For more info, read on!
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The balmy heat of summer has scarcely faded, yet everywhere you look there are cardigans and scarves and back-to-school backpacks. Did you notice the delicious, warm, and spicy aroma wafting in the air? That slight chill in the breeze, carrying notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger? Did you see the lines of minivans and teenagers outside your local coffee shop? Did you notice the sudden abundance of white coffee cups, each with a signature cardboard collar across the middle...

• CleverNickName
• Replies: 93
• Forum: *TTRPGs General

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[Seramus]

Custom Vote. I would love monster ecologies! One of my favorite things was reading all the ecology entries in Dragon Magazine. Most of them have gone away, in favor of the notion that monsters should be setting generic - and I don't disagree with that, but the ecologies were still incredibly fun!