How would you handle the aftereffects of magic?

[blackshirt5]

In my world, something that I wrote into the backstory but haven't really explored(except to try to warn the players "you shouldn't rely on being able to have Greymore heal you up after every battle) is that even beneficial magic messes with the mortal body; things like cure spells, stat boosters, and the like can be harmful if used too much. What do you think would be a good way of simulating this?

 

[Greybar]

Becoming beholden to the powers at work might be a subtle and interesting approach.

You may like Pelor and all, but after being healing by a Pelorite for a couple years, you may find that your choices/dream/desires are starting to become driven by Pelor's doctrines.

Is constant exposure to lawfully-oriented healing making it harder for you to enjoy a night's bash of drinking and wenching after an adventure? Is the chaotic-magic you've been subject to for the past months the reason you've started sleep walking?

Where does that sorcerer's power come from? If you go with the draconic heritage idea hinted at in WOTC's official stuff, perhaps there are bad effects from being hasted a lot by dragon-power. Perhaps you'll find yourself easy prep for draconic suggestions or such.

I'm pulling on "standard" WOTC stuff intentionally, but you can adapt this to your world.

I'm all for healing leaving traceries of pink pseduoscars, for instance, but I think you're looking for something with more punch.

John

 

[blackshirt5]

Yeah, in my world there is no alignment, so the whole lawful healing thing, and stuff like that is kinda out. I was originally thinking things like they become dependent on it; i.e., Agon gets injured and turns around and has Greymore heal him; after awhile, if he's doing this after every fight, his blood is thinning a bit from the application of so much magic, and so he starts to hurt more easily, maybe has to rest up more often, as his body has gotten used to the cycle of pain and blood loss followed by spontaneous healing.

Or maybe becoming addicted to a Cat's Grace or Bull's Strength effect; you'll do anything, just so long as you don't stay as slow as you were. Works especially well when you're also using mental boosters, because then you start to get paranoid; you need those spells, because you never know when they're gonna come after you.

 

[jonesy]

How about something like this:

Total number of healing spell levels cast per hour equals:
1-2: no noticeable effect
3: uncomfortable feeling
4: noticeable pain, tolerable
5: slightly distracting pain, only tolerable for a short period of time
6: pain strong enough to make you gasp
7: pain that invokes agitation and dizziness
8: pain that causes loss of strength, interferes with concentration
9: pain intense enough to invoke vomiting
10: intense pain affecting eyesight
11: inability to think, possible seizure
12: pain that will bring unconsciousness
13: coma
14: death
So if you cast a cure critical wounds twice inside the same hour, the target enters stage 8.

Just a rough sketch, but I might actually try something along these lines.

Edit: and if you feel it's too harsh, just raise the numbers.

 

[Angcuru]

Use jonsey's system, and Agon is a goner.

 

[blackshirt5]

Agon: "I've got a scratch on my arm! Greymore, come quick!"
*pictures big anime sweatdrop appearing on Greymore's forehead*

 

[Centaur]

Keep a tally of the number "spell levels" of beneficial magics cast on each person. Give them a threshold equal to their wisdom or something. Each day, their current talley is reduced by their level. If their current tally goes above their threshold, bad things begin to happen.

Examples might be that beneficial magics simply don't work on him until the tally drops again. Maybe they take HP or temp stat damage based on the amount they go over which can only be healed by letting it drop again.

Maybe they become more "In Tune" with the magical weave or such and start to incure saving throw penalties against magical attacks.

As an option, you could rule the the use of magic items that buff a character all the time provide a certain base tally that the character can't go bellow unless he takes the item off and rests. Imagine a character who can't be safely healed because his buffing magical items put too much of a strain on his system...

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Well, if you haven't yet, you might want to take a look at my thread on stat boost spells and the possible consequences thereof... withdrawl effects and possible addiction seem to be relatively popular so far. Addiction would also be a prime candidate for cure drawbacks I'd think...

Second night back in town after a intensive week long dungeon crawl...

"Hey, man listen, I'm sorry to wake you, but.. I need one of those healing spells..."

"wha? What happened did you get in a bar fight?"

"uh, no, man, its just... I just NEED one, ya know... I think I might have some internal bleeding, maybe..."

"You look fine to me, why don't you just try to rest, and-"

"No man, you aren't LISTENING!!! I NEED THE SPELL! Just stop jerking me around and CURE ME DAMNIT!!!"

Insert traumatic "crossbow-whipping" scene and a later intervention...

"I guess I just had to hit rock bottom. I signed in to to the temples 'de-cure' program the next day...."



Kahuna Burger

 

[jonesy]

Keep a tally of the number "spell levels" of beneficial magics cast on each person. Give them a threshold equal to their wisdom or something. Each day, their current talley is reduced by their level. If their current tally goes above their threshold, bad things begin to happen.

Replace wis with con, and it sounds good to me.

 

[blackshirt5]

Well, if you haven't yet, you might want to take a look at my thread on stat boost spells and the possible consequences thereof... withdrawl effects and possible addiction seem to be relatively popular so far. Addiction would also be a prime candidate for cure drawbacks I'd think...

Actually, I was thinking of it earlier in the day when I was out picking up a new set of pads for my glasses, and then I couldn't remember it when I got home, and seeing your thread reminded me of what I was going to ask. So Kudos to you.

These are all good suggestions, I'm gonna try to decide what path I'll take on this one, but my game is about to get a whole lot grittier. Angcuru, I think you'll have enough time to run your FR campaign now.