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Message: <blockquote data-quote="touc" data-source="post: 9496897" data-attributes="member: 19270">I primarily alter monsters, but here's a few things I've gone with for grittier games currently or in the past:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Replace Death Saves with Vitality points (your starting HP and what damage your body can actually take, only increases if your CON score increases or take a HP increasing feat), much harder to recover than Hit Points. <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At 0 HP, take 1 Vitality damage, gain 1 level of lesser exhaustion (stacks with regular exhaustion but 1 level removed by short rest or lesser restoration, or all by anything that removes normal exhaustion).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">At 0 HP, all further damage goes to Vitality. At 0 Vitality, dead.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Concentration save to avoid dying and instead become staggered. </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dying: lose 1 Vitality at start of turn (1d4 if critical failure on save) until stabilized or healed. If failed save by 5 or more, gain lingering injury from DMG.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Staggered:  0' movement (can use Dash action to move), no reactions, cannot use both Action and bonus action, foes resist your class abilities with advantage. If hit, Concentration save to avoid dying. Ends if gain 1 HP.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Vitality healed at rate of 1 per long rest. If at full HP, every instance of 10 points of healing restores 1 Vitality. Regeneration always heals 1 per tick.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Slot encumbrance. A visual where you fill in what you're carrying and where. If you don't have a free hand or spot, you can't carry it.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Undead drain, no save.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Many monster resistances restored from AD&D/3E such as golem spell immunities and demon immunities. Epic foes like Demon Lords cannot be fully harmed without +3 weapons.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">On DC 20+ skill checks, cannot succeed unless proficient in that skill.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">On DC 15+ traps, only the rogue class can disable.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Cantrips, limited by # known per short rest.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Raise Dead escalating difficulty per Matt Mercer.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spell changes (e.g. Tiny Hut functions as original, not a force field; remove abusive non-PHB spells).</li> </ul></blockquote>

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