Disease idea critique

[Storminator]

Here's my first pass at a disease for 4e. What think you? (except for my players, who should know better than to look here . . . )

[sblock]Lycanthropy Level 13
Stage 0: Cured
Stage 1: Will -2; Perception +2
Stage 2: While bloodied, the target must make a saving throw at the end of each turn. If the saving throw fails, the target makes a melee attack on its next turn against a random target within 5 squares of it. If no targets are within 5 squares, the target does nothing but move in a randomly chosen direction.
Stage 3: Involuntary transformation. During the night the target becomes a werewolf
Stage 4: Permanent transformation. The character dies and is replaced by a werewolf
Check: At the end of every extended rest the character makes an Endurance check if it is at Stage 2 or 3.
14 or less: the disease stage increases by 1
15-19: No change
20+: The disease stage decreases by 1*
Special: The disease cannot be cured by an Endurance check. It must be cured by a Heal check using an infusion of silver and wolfsbane. [/sblock]

PS

 

[Ferghis]

This looks good. How would a ritual (for example, remove affliction or cure disease) affect it?

 

[Storminator]

This looks good. How would a ritual (for example, remove affliction or cure disease) affect it?

That's an excellent question. I'll have to think about that.

PS

 

[CM]

Here's my first pass at a disease for 4e. What think you? (except for my players, who should know better than to look here . . . )

[sblock]Lycanthropy Level 13
Stage 0: Cured
Stage 1: Will -2; Perception +2
Stage 2: While bloodied, the target must make a saving throw at the end of each turn. If the saving throw fails, the target makes a melee attack on its next turn against a random target within 5 squares of it. If no targets are within 5 squares, the target does nothing but move in a randomly chosen direction.
Stage 3: Involuntary transformation. During the night the target becomes a werewolf
Stage 4: Permanent transformation. The character dies and is replaced by a werewolf
Check: At the end of every extended rest the character makes an Endurance check if it is at Stage 2 or 3.
14 or less: the disease stage increases by 1
15-19: No change
20+: The disease stage decreases by 1*
Special: The disease cannot be cured by an Endurance check. It must be cured by a Heal check using an infusion of silver and wolfsbane. [/sblock]

PS

Does the victim move and make a melee attack, or charge, or something else? As it's phrased it sounds like the subject makes a melee attack with a reach of 5 but I'm sure that's not the intent. Might want to specify melee basic attack, or give it a bite attack or something like that?

 

[Ferghis]

The problem posed by rituals might be solved by requiring a special component for them:

Any ritual of less than level 21 attempting to remove this disease requires the blood of a werewolf lord to work. Otherwise, any such attempts will fail.

Does the victim move and make a melee attack, or charge, or something else? As it's phrased it sounds like the subject makes a melee attack with a reach of 5 but I'm sure that's not the intent. Might want to specify melee basic attack, or give it a bite attack or something like that?

Agreed. Further, what happens if the target is not holding a melee weapon?

Stage 2 might be better shoehorned within an existing framework for "crazy:"
When first bloodied during an encounter, the target suffers an attack: +[disease level+2] vs Will. Hit: the target is dominated (save ends).

Also, make sure to mention that this effect persists during the worse stages of the disease.

 

[pemerton]

In case it helps, here is a relevant extract from the Book of Vile Darkness entry on this disease:

[sblock]

Werewolf Bite * At-Will
Standard Action * Melee 1 vs one creature

Attack: Your level + 5 vs. AC
Hit: 2d6 +your level damage. If this attack bloodies the target, the target must make a saving throw at the end of the encounter with a -2 penalty. On a failed saving throw,
the target contracts lycanthropy (stage 1).​

You could use this to make sure that every affected target has a melee basic attack available - and is able to share the love![/sblock]

On the ritual issue - I wouldn't be too punishing. I would focus on special ingredients, and even more so on special conditions - I think it's more interesting, for example, if the ritual has to be performed while the subject is transformed.

 

[Storminator]

I'm liking the suggestions so far! New version:

[sblock]
Lycanthropy Level 13
Stage 0: Cured
Stage 1: Will -2; Perception +2. This persists for all higher stages.
Stage 2: When first bloodied during an encounter, the target suffers an attack:
+15 vs Will.
Hit: the target is dominated (save ends).
This persists for all higher stages
Stage 3: Involuntary transformation. During the night the target becomes a werewolf.
Stage 4: Permanent transformation. The character dies and is replaced by a werewolf.
Check: At the end of every extended rest the character makes an Endurance check if it is at Stage 2 or 3.
14 or less: the disease stage increases by 1.
15-19: No change.
20+: The disease stage decreases by 1.
Special: The disease cannot be cured by an Endurance check. It must be cured by a Heal check while at Stage 1 using an infusion of silver and wolfsbane.
Special: Cure Disease only works if the heart of werewolf is included in the components of the ritual, and the victim is in either transformed state.
[/sblock]

PS