disease-pointless vs. 5th or higher lvl party?

[Sir Draconion]

just looking at some high level monsters and they have diseased attacks with a high DC but 1 or 1-4 days onset time whats the point any Cleric 5th lvl or higher can remove it, no problem no matter what kind or source. should there be a DC to overcome the disease, an extra save with bonuses, caster level vs DC....

tell me what you think

 

[BiggusGeekus@Work]

The Cleric/Druid still has to take the time to memorize the spell. You're basically saying that after the party rests the cleric has to start out with a spell cast to deal with a problem from the previous encounter. And if the party decides to wait until they get back to town and the cleric dies ... well ... use your best evil laugh!

 

[Mark]

There are a number of situations where it would be a problem. Being very far from a Cleric with no way to get to one, not having a Cleric who is willing to cast the remove spell on you, or finding a Cleric but them charging you much more than you have to remove the disease. I wouldn't take any form of healing for granted and more than I would take for granted someone standed at your side and swinging a sword. *shrug*

 

[Arnwyn]

I agree. In fact, I find that there's a lot of useless monster attacks that begin to show at low levels. For example, I've found that energy-draining undead are useless if a party has even a low-level cleric.

 

[megamania]

Sounds like a good time to tinker with advanced versions of the creatures and their diseases. Make it that only a cleric of said level or healing level can remove it. Make it aggravated damage. The removal of damage is greatly reduced etc....


Never allow your PCs to assume anything is not a problem.

 

[Mark]

Diseases that are magical in nature or require a combination of spells to remove are also an option. Perhaps one that requires a wish or some other higher level spell to be cast in conjunction with remove disease. Maybe remove disease needs to be cast upon hallowed ground to actually help in some circumstance. None of this need be told outright to the players. Maybe they will use a few divination spells to gain the knowledge of just how to cure such a thing.

 

[Nifft]

Who says the party knows they're infected? Let the fever burn in them for 1d4 days, then let them get sick. From then on, they'll either (a) risk disease, or (b) burn "Detect Disease" spells after every fight.

-- Nifft

 

[coyote6]

Diseases that are magical in nature or require a combination of spells to remove are also an option. Perhaps one that requires a wish or some other higher level spell to be cast in conjunction with remove disease. Maybe remove disease needs to be cast upon hallowed ground to actually help in some circumstance. None of this need be told outright to the players. Maybe they will use a few divination spells to gain the knowledge of just how to cure such a thing.

Nyambe has an interesting approach: diseases (at least some of them) have Spell Resistance. Therefore, to successfully remove disease you have to beat the SR with a caster level check. This lets you make diseases that Joe the 5th level cleric can't hope to cure.

(I had thought of basically the same thing, requiring a caster level check to cure a disease; I didn't think of just saying "the tough diseases have SR" )

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

Nyambe has an interesting approach: diseases (at least some of them) have Spell Resistance. Therefore, to successfully remove disease you have to beat the SR with a caster level check. This lets you make diseases that Joe the 5th level cleric can't hope to cure.

(I had thought of basically the same thing, requiring a caster level check to cure a disease; I didn't think of just saying "the tough diseases have SR" )

Now that's a good idea! Clever, interesting and a direct answer to the question of "If the king is dying, why doesn't someone just call a Cleric?"

 

[Sniktch]

Yeah, I like that. Consider it yoinked.