1001 Homebrew Curses

[rferries]

(As I type this, I can't get rid of What's New, Pussycat.)

Now you've inflicted it on me! (Perhaps the only way to break that curse is to transmit it?)

4) Degeneration

The victim is cursed with rapid aging, progressive memory loss, physical and social ineptitude, or some other ill effect. With each passing day they suffer a cumulative -1 penalty to certain ability scores (see below), to a maximum of -6. No ability score can be reduced below 1 in this way.

Curse	Affected Ability Scores
Arrogance	Cha, Wis
Bestiality	Cha, Int
Clumsiness	Cha, Dex
Fatiguability	Con, Dex
Idiocy	Int, Wis
Idleness	Dex, Int
Impermanence	Con, Int
Inadaptability	Dex, Wis
Incompetence	Str, Wis
Meekness	Cha, Str
Sloth	Dex, Str
Uselessness	Int, Str
Vulnerability	Con, Wis
Warping	Cha, Con
Withering	Con, Str

5) Exhaustion

The victim is permanently fatigued (which can worsen to exhaustion as normal) and takes 1d6 points of nonlethal damage for every hour they do not spend resting.

6) Ineptitude

The victim is virtually incapable of lying or focusing, becomes incredibly gullible, or is in some way unable to perform a certain activity. They take a -30 penalty on a particular skill check (typically Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Perform, Profession, or Sense Motive).

7) Madness

The victim is incurably (and sometimes violently) insane. They gain a +6 bonus to their Charisma score, a -6 penalty to their Wisdom score, and are immune to all mind-affecting effects. At the start of each encounter they must make a DC 20 Will save or become confused for 1d4 rounds. They may also develop paranoia, megalomania, or other subtle mental illnesses.

8) Misfortune

The victim has truly horrendous luck. They take a -2 luck penalty on attack rolls, saves, skill checks, and their Armour Class. They treat a roll of a natural 20 on a d20 as a natural 1.