Bestow Curse

[Sejs]

Perhaps a modification is in order: If the caster selects some task or event that can remove the curse, then the curse cannot be removed by remove curse or similar spells? Makes it more powerful, sure, but also makes it more flavorful, and forces the characters to seek the story-based solution.

Ozmar the Curse Weaver

Actually in the case of Bestow Greater Curse, it's pretty much got that already built in. Break Enchantment doesn't work on a greater curse, neither does a limited wish, and for Remove Curse to have any effect the caster has to be lv 17 or higher.

A houserule that allows a removal condition other than magicing it away for curses across the board would be interesting, but as it stands curses are already pretty nasty. Certainly something to consider though. Maybe an enhanced curse one spell level higher than normal, or the like.

 

[Vanye]

Few more curses:
Any rope you touch disintegrates. (Some useful potential to this...but potentially restrictive to the character).

When you touch someone, you take 1 point of ability damage (ability determined randomly). This applies only to the first time you touch them that day. A new day is considered to start at midnight.

If you are not solidly supported by the earth, your weight and any armor check penalties double.

All spell and spell like effects of the Conjuration (Healing) school applied to you have only one-half their normal effect.

Greater Bestow Curse
You are affected as if by a dimensional anchor spell.

All spells of the Conjuration (Healing) school do their minimum possible effect. (yes, weirdly enough, Heal and Mass Heal skate by on this...)

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Perhaps a modification is in order: If the caster selects some task or event that can remove the curse, then the curse cannot be removed by remove curse or similar spells? Makes it more powerful, sure, but also makes it more flavorful, and forces the characters to seek the story-based solution.

Ozmar the Curse Weaver

Gee, wouldn't that be fun. After the third fight with an evil cleric, every character in the party has his speed reduced by half, their int and cha vary inversely by the phase of the moon, and all their magic items will be destroyed in a month. Unless they murder the high priest of Pelor and sacrifice his heart to Erythnul upon the altar of Heironeous, that is. Yeah, "story-based" solutions are exactly what this kind of thing calls for. Not.

Better to simply find a new DM and start a new campaign.

Living Greyhawk has given me far more than enough experience with so-called story based curses that can't "simply be magicked away" to know that, 1: they aren't fun, and 2: "story based" means that your character is going to be stuck with them for years--and you should just hope you picked up a curse that is merely annoying rather than one that renders your character useless. (Fortunately, the campaign now seems to have reduced the number that you're likely to encounter to 2-3 per year).

 

[Elder-Basilisk]

Perhaps a modification is in order: If the caster selects some task or event that can remove the curse, then the curse cannot be removed by remove curse or similar spells? Makes it more powerful, sure, but also makes it more flavorful, and forces the characters to seek the story-based solution.

Ozmar the Curse Weaver

So, under this perspective, what exactly is the point of remove curse if it doesn't remove curses?

 

[Aust Diamondew]

Cursing someone's seed is always good and has been popular. Mechanically speaking all their children at birth have to make a save or they are effected by one of the standard curse effects. Or possibly even save vs. death (might be too good).

 

[gnfnrf]

Few more curses:
All spell and spell like effects of the Conjuration (Healing) school applied to you have only one-half their normal effect.

Greater Bestow Curse

All spells of the Conjuration (Healing) school do their minimum possible effect. (yes, weirdly enough, Heal and Mass Heal skate by on this...)

I would say that going to:

You cannot be affected by Conjuration (Healing) spells

for Bestow Curse and

Conjuration (Healing) spells affect you as if you were undead, if they harm undead, or not at all, if they do not

for greater bestow curse would be better balanced. But, I'm curious what others think.

--
gnfnrf

 

[CRGreathouse]

Cursing someone's seed is always good and has been popular. Mechanically speaking all their children at birth have to make a save or they are effected by one of the standard curse effects. Or possibly even save vs. death (might be too good).

The BoVD has maybe a dozen alternate curses, among which is sterility.