Cancer/disease mage

[LVOD]

Any advice on creating a character based around spreading disease to his opponents? Im thinking a mage with a rat familiar that I could send in to pass on some disease.

Maybe a variety of diseases for every occasion? Not sure.

Ideas?

[ImSAMazing]

Any advice on creating a character based around spreading disease to his opponents? Im thinking a mage with a rat familiar that I could send in to pass on some disease.

Maybe a variety of diseases for every occasion? Not sure.

Ideas?

Rats don't automatically pass diseases in 5th edition. There aren't really normal diseases you can give to someone, except Contagion and Eyebite.

[Sigreid]

You could use bestow curse as a stand in, or really refluff nearly any control or damage spell.

[MinotaurWarrior]

This concept just isn't supported in 5e. I think I'd really say to just save it for your next pathfinder game. Plague bombs are the bomb.

Contagion is a famously OP spell, but there's no real disease system in 5e, so this doesn't really work as a full concept.

[Bupp]

I converted the Crimson Scourge spell from Dragon Magazine #162 to 5e rules...

Crimson Scourge
5th level necromancy
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S, M (scarlet robe and a faceless red mask, both made from the finest silk, worth at least a 1,000 gp each)
Duration: Special

This terrible spell can affect one humanoid being. Upon pronouncing the curse, you touch the victim, who gets a Constitution saving throw. Failure results in the victim bleeding profusely through the pores of the skin, taking 1-2 hp damage per day from your maximum hit points. Regular first aid cannot prevent this damage, and most magical curatives have no effect upon the affliction. Such spells as remove curse, and cure wounds can staunch the hemorrhaging, but hit points may be re-gained fully only through time and rest. A heal spell, on the other hand, can dispel the results of this evil magic entirely.

The most horrible property of the crimson scourge, however, lies in the contagiousness of its effects, for whenever an afflicted victim comes into physical contact with someone else, the touched person has to make a Constitution saving throw or become likewise afflicted. Fortunately, you can never suffer the effects of your own crimson scourge. Certain plagues throughout history have, in fact, been attributed to this spell (that often goes by the name of the red death). However, the spell does not really cause a biological illness and is, therefore, unaffected by any spells that cure disease.

The working of this curse requires that the wizard wear a scarlet robe and a faceless red mask, both made from the finest silk, worth at least a 1,000 gp each. These components are not lost in the casting and may be used as many times as desired.

http://5egrognard.blogspot.com/2014/10/crimson-scourge.html

[R.Shackleford]

Frostbite cantrip, refluff.

Fester
You point your hand at a creature and cause a disease to incubate just under their skin. The target must pass a Con save or take 1d6 Poison damage and have disadvantage on their next attack roll.

At levels (whatever) the damage increases by 1d6.