Steve Jackson Games Forums - View Single Post - [Basic] Disadvantage of the Week: Chronic Pain

Celti · 01-27-2018, 12:46 AM

A while back I wrote up a “generic” version of Chronic Pain: Chronic Affliction.

Chronic Affliction
Variable

You have a disadvantageous form of Affliction (p. B35), representing an injury, disorder, illness, or curse that afflicts you with an incapacitating or irritating condition regularly, perhaps when triggered by something in your environment.

Roll against the frequency of appearance for your affliction once per day. If you roll below this number, you suffer from a bout of your condition. The timing of this attack is up to the GM, but is usually during waking hours — you might wake up with it, or some trigger might set it off during the day.

The affliction endures for a fixed “interval,” after which you again roll against the frequency of appearance to recover. If you succeed, your ordeal is over — for today. If you fail, the attack continues for another interval, after which you may attempt another roll to recover, and so on.

Find the point cost of Chronic Affliction by choosing an Incapacitating or Irritating condition (or, at the GM's option, a simple Attribute Penalty), determining the base cost, and then multiplying that cost to reflect the duration and frequency of attacks. Drop all fractions.

Condition
Chronic Effect has a base cost equal to one-quarter the value of the respective enhancement to Affliction (p. B35-36).

Interval
Multiply the base cost to reflect the length of the affliction's interval:

One-hour interval: ×0.5
Two-hour interval: ×1
Four-hour interval: ×1.5
Eight-hour interval: ×2

Frequency of Appearance
Multiply the base cost to reflect the frequency at which the affliction occurs:

Attack occurs on a roll of 6 or less: ×0.5
Attack occurs on a roll of 9 or less: ×1
Attack occurs on a roll of 12 or less: ×2
Attack occurs on a roll of 15 or less: ×3

Triggered Afflictions
Some afflictions are triggered by a particular condition; e.g., sneezing caused by exposure to pollen. Instead of a frequency of appearance, select a trigger, which modifies the cost of Chronic Affliction based on its rarity. Instead of rolling for recovery, you recover automatically after the interval is up if you are no longer exposed to the trigger; otherwise, the attack continues for another interval.

Multiply the base cost to reflect the rarity of the triggering substance or condition:

Rare (e.g., exotic minerals or radiation): ×0.5
Occasional (e.g., microwave radiation, intense normal cold, airborne pollen): ×1
Common (e.g., smoke, nearby magic, horses, loud noises): ×2
Very Common (e.g., sunlight, living plants): ×3

Examples

Arthritis: Chronic Severe Pain (2 hour interval; 9 or less) [-15].
Divine Curse: Chronic Terrible Pain (1 hour interval; Rare Trigger, Holy water and artifacts) [-3].
Hay Fever: Chronic Sneezing (2 hour interval; Occasional Trigger, Pollen) [-5].
Narcolepsy: Chronic Drowsiness (8 hour interval; 9 or less) [-25].
This Is Very Ridiculous: Chronic Unconsciousness (8 hour interval; Rare Trigger, Hearing a particular obscure Russian idiom) [-50].

01-27-2018, 12:46 AM	#5
Celti Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: USA, Arizona, Mesa	Re: [Basic] Disadvantage of the Week: Chronic Oain A while back I wrote up a “generic” version of Chronic Pain: Chronic Affliction. Chronic Affliction Variable You have a disadvantageous form of Affliction (p. B35), representing an injury, disorder, illness, or curse that afflicts you with an incapacitating or irritating condition regularly, perhaps when triggered by something in your environment. Roll against the frequency of appearance for your affliction once per day. If you roll below this number, you suffer from a bout of your condition. The timing of this attack is up to the GM, but is usually during waking hours — you might wake up with it, or some trigger might set it off during the day. The affliction endures for a fixed “interval,” after which you again roll against the frequency of appearance to recover. If you succeed, your ordeal is over — for today. If you fail, the attack continues for another interval, after which you may attempt another roll to recover, and so on. Find the point cost of Chronic Affliction by choosing an Incapacitating or Irritating condition (or, at the GM's option, a simple Attribute Penalty), determining the base cost, and then multiplying that cost to reflect the duration and frequency of attacks. Drop all fractions. Condition Chronic Effect has a base cost equal to one-quarter the value of the respective enhancement to Affliction (p. B35-36). Interval Multiply the base cost to reflect the length of the affliction's interval: One-hour interval: ×0.5 Two-hour interval: ×1 Four-hour interval: ×1.5 Eight-hour interval: ×2 Frequency of Appearance Multiply the base cost to reflect the frequency at which the affliction occurs: Attack occurs on a roll of 6 or less: ×0.5 Attack occurs on a roll of 9 or less: ×1 Attack occurs on a roll of 12 or less: ×2 Attack occurs on a roll of 15 or less: ×3 Triggered Afflictions Some afflictions are triggered by a particular condition; e.g., sneezing caused by exposure to pollen. Instead of a frequency of appearance, select a trigger, which modifies the cost of Chronic Affliction based on its rarity. Instead of rolling for recovery, you recover automatically after the interval is up if you are no longer exposed to the trigger; otherwise, the attack continues for another interval. Multiply the base cost to reflect the rarity of the triggering substance or condition: Rare (e.g., exotic minerals or radiation): ×0.5 Occasional (e.g., microwave radiation, intense normal cold, airborne pollen): ×1 Common (e.g., smoke, nearby magic, horses, loud noises): ×2 Very Common (e.g., sunlight, living plants): ×3 Examples Arthritis: Chronic Severe Pain (2 hour interval; 9 or less) [-15]. Divine Curse: Chronic Terrible Pain (1 hour interval; Rare Trigger, Holy water and artifacts) [-3]. Hay Fever: Chronic Sneezing (2 hour interval; Occasional Trigger, Pollen) [-5]. Narcolepsy: Chronic Drowsiness (8 hour interval; 9 or less) [-25]. This Is Very Ridiculous: Chronic Unconsciousness (8 hour interval; Rare Trigger, Hearing a particular obscure Russian idiom) [-50].