These
rules are an attempt to make D&D diseases into the subtle and frightening
killers that real-life diseases can be. In game terms this means drawing
out the effects of the disease and making the player unsure of exactly what is
wrong with him. Each of the diseases detailed here follow the same format,
the details of which are described below. At the end of the list of
maladies is an in depth treatment of various symptoms that accompany many
ailments. The effects of many of these symptoms will be just as dangerous
as the disease that causes them. All of the diseases that are described
below are from reality, except Corpse Fever that is from Domibia. Also it
should be mentioned that I have intentionally given treatments that are
appropriate for a fantasy setting, i.e.: low tech. At some point I might
add the modifiers for modern drugs and treatment.
WARNING!!!! As with all of my rules, these add quite a bit of detail and
realism and of course that means some more bookkeeping and additional
complexity.
Infection:
To avoid infection an exposed character must make a Fortitude check (- any modifiers for being Fatigued or Exhausted). The
DC of the disease is its Virulence rating.
Incubation:
All diseases have an incubation period, during which they are undetected. After
the incubation period ends, the disease begins the 1st Stage. Once
the 1st Stage has run its course the 2nd Stage will begin,
after which recovery is possible if still living.
Diagnosis:
A Heal skill roll may not be attempted for diagnostic purposes until the 1st
Stage of the disease has begun. All diseases have two modifiers to diagnostic
use of the Heal skill, one for the 1st Stage and one for the 2nd.
A failed diagnostic Heal roll will result in a misdiagnosis, the effects of
which vary from disease to disease and are listed in the description of each
disease.
Treatment:
Treatments for each of the diseases are listed in the descriptions. Treatment
that is begun during the 2nd Stage of a disease will not be as
effective, multiply any modifiers by 75% and round down.
Treatment involves a Heal skill check using the same DC as the diagnosis
attempt.
Recovery:
If a character receives proper treatment (not necessarily limited to the
specifics listed under Treatment) for a disease, they may attempt a Recovery
roll after each Stage of the disease has passed. If a character does not
receive proper treatment a Recovery roll may only be attempted when the 2nd
Stage has run its course. Recovery is a Fortitude check modified by the Heal
skill of person giving aid + Treatment modifiers.
Death:
There is a chance of dying if the Recovery roll fails after the 2nd
Stage, the roll to avoid death is listed in the description of each disease. This is a straight Fortitude check, with no modifiers for
Heal skill or treatment.
Post Recovery: If death is avoided then the character begins the Post Recovery Stage. The Post Recovery Stage has two values, one for use with characters who received no medical treatment and one for those that did.
Examples
of Some Common Diseases
|
Dysentery |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contaminated food and/or water |
Incubation Period; 1-3 days |
|
Virulence; DC 13 |
1st Stage; 3 days |
|
Symptoms; Abdominal pain, diarrhea |
2nd Stage; 7 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; DC 25 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 3 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Cholera, Minor Disease |
Post Recovery Stage; 7 days |
|
Treatment; Replace Fluids (+9), |
With Treatment; Fatigued / 7 days |
|
Relieve
Pain (+5) |
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 3 days, Fatigued / 4 days |
|
Cholera |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contaminated food and/or water |
Incubation Period; 1 day |
|
Virulence; DC 10 |
1st Stage; 3 days |
|
Symptoms; Abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea |
2nd Stage; 3 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; DC 27 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 5 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Dysentery |
Post Recovery Stage; 4 weeks |
|
Treatment; Relieve Pain & Fever (+8) |
With Treatment; Exhausted / 2 weeks, Fatigued / 2 weeks |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 3 weeks, Fatigued / 1 week |
|
Hepatitis |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contact with infected person, contaminated food and/or water |
Incubation Period; 1d6 weeks |
|
Virulence; DC 7 |
1st Stage; 3 days |
|
Symptoms; Body pain, fever, malaise |
2nd Stage; 5 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 20 |
Recovery; DC 23 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
15 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 4 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Minor Disease |
Post Recovery Stage; 2 weeks |
|
Treatment; Relieve Pain & Fever (+8) |
With Treatment; Fatigued / 2 weeks |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 2 weeks, Fatigued / 2 weeks |
|
|
|
|
Food Poisoning |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contaminated food |
Incubation Period; 1 day |
|
Virulence; DC 7 |
1st Stage; 2 days |
|
Symptoms; Severe abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, 40% = fever |
2nd Stage; 7 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; DC 31 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 3 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Cholera |
Post Recovery Stage; 2 weeks |
|
Treatment; Relieve Symptoms (+8) |
With Treatment; Fatigued / 2 weeks |
|
If
Heal roll is made by 5+ (+10) |
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 1 week, Fatigued / 1 week |
|
Pneumonia |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contact with contaminated person, air-borne particulates |
Incubation Period; 1d6 days |
|
Virulence; DC 10 |
1st Stage; 5 days |
|
Symptoms; Cough, fluid-filled lungs, fever, chest pain, general discomfort |
2nd Stage; 9 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; 27 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 4 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Minor Disease, Plague |
Post Recovery Stage; 1 week |
|
Treatment; Relieve Pain & Fever (+8) |
With Treatment; no effect |
|
If
Heal roll made by 2+ (+9) |
Without Treatment; Fatigued / 1 week |
|
Typhoid Fever |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contact with contaminated person, contaminated food and/or water |
Incubation Period; 1-3 days |
|
Virulence; DC 7 |
1st Stage; 1 week |
|
Symptoms; Severe fever, general body pain, cough, apathy |
2nd Stage; 1-2 weeks |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 20 |
Recovery; 26 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
15 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 4 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Pneumonia, Plague |
Post Recovery Stage; 6 weeks |
|
Treatment; none |
With Treatment; Exhausted / 3 weeks, Fatigued / 3 weeks |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 4 weeks, Fatigued / 2 weeks |
|
|
|
|
Typhus |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Carried by body lice |
Incubation Period; 1 day |
|
Virulence; DC 7 |
1st Stage; 5 days |
|
Symptoms; Fever, headache, rash |
2nd Stage; 10 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 10 |
Recovery; 25 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
7 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 5 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Minor Disease |
Post Recovery Stage; 2 weeks |
|
Treatment; none |
With Treatment; no effect |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 2 weeks, Fatigued / 2 weeks |
|
Rabies |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contact with body fluids, usually through animal bites |
Incubation Period; 1d6 weeks |
|
Virulence; DC 5 |
1st Stage; 2 weeks |
|
Symptoms; 1st Stage: Fever, malaise, sore throat |
2nd Stage; 1 week |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; 33 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 22 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Minor Disease |
Post Recovery Stage; 20 weeks |
|
Treatment; none |
With Treatment; Exhausted / 10 weeks, Fatigued / 10 weeks |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 15 weeks, Fatigued / 5 weeks |
|
Bubonic Plague |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Rat-borne fleas |
Incubation Period; 1d6 days |
|
Virulence; DC 7 |
1st Stage; 5 days |
|
Symptoms; Fever, swollen lymph nodes, severe abdominal pain |
2nd Stage; 10 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; 27 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 22 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Minor Disease, Pneumonia |
Post Recovery Stage; 15 weeks |
|
Treatment; Relieve Pain & Fever (+5) |
With Treatment; Exhausted / 8 weeks, Fatigued / 7 weeks |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 10 weeks, Fatigued / 5 weeks |
|
|
|
|
Pneumonic Plague |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Contact with air-borne particulates |
Incubation Period; 1d6 days |
|
Virulence; DC 13 |
1st Stage; 3 days |
|
Symptoms; Fever, swollen lymph nodes, severe abdominal pain, severe cough,
chills |
2nd Stage; 7 days |
|
Diagnosis; 1st Stage;
DC 15 |
Recovery; 30 |
|
Diagnosis; 2nd Stage; DC
10 |
Roll to Avoid Death; DC 22 |
|
Misdiagnosed as; Minor Disease, Pneumonia |
Post Recovery Stage; 15 weeks |
|
Treatment; Relieve Pain & Fever (+3) |
With Treatment; Exhausted / 8 weeks, Fatigued / 7 weeks |
|
|
Without Treatment; Exhausted / 10 weeks, Fatigued / 5 weeks |
|
Minor Disease |
Course
of Disease |
|
Transmission; Varies |
Incubation Period; 1-3 days |
|
Virulence; DC 2 - 7 |