How to make a magic contagion using the DnD 2024 DMG

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magic in Dungeons and dragons It has made life relatively easy for the inhabitants of many fantasy worlds, but it can easily make it hell. One way this can happen is through magical contagions, a type of disease featured in the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide.

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The three sample contagions serve perfectly as a jumping off point for creating your own versions, but there are few instructions on how to make them work. While the freedom is appreciated, some players may find it daunting, but that's why we're here to help.

How to create magical infections

A Dungeons and Dragons image showing a mage creating slime.
The art of Olga Derbas

The only general aspects to consider when creating a magical contagion are these How easy it is to play and how much Rest affects healing. If your contagion allows any kind of break, then Three days of rest Allows inventory to a Constitution saving throw (DC 15), possibly increasing Advantage in saving against contagion for 24 hours.

Primary infection

A Dungeons and Dragons image showing an adventurer being hit by a slime.
Art by Diana Serelli

Your magical contagion can come from it All kinds of sourcesJust like common diseases in the real world. Contaminated water, air, or food can spread it, as can touching it or being attacked by organisms that carry it. It is better if you define it Only one way to get infected so as not to be unnecessarily complicated.

All three examples of magical contagions in Dungeon Master's Guide 2024 Contagion effects occur 1D4 days after infectionso it's a good starting point for any contagion you create. If you spend many meetings in one day, then Contagion should be made the next dayso players have a chance to remember what infected them.

spread of contagion

The Dungeons and Dragons image shows a festival held in the player's dungeon.
Spring Festival by Ralph Horsley

The point of a magical contagion is this To expand itworks as both A danger to players And as A design hook In this way, the spread of the virus must be observed The center of your designnot just a random disease that affects a village that the guest never needs to visit again.

You may not want contagion to happen there A very urban cityHowever, unless you are prepared Manage the chaos it can bring. Quarantine zones, areas of mass infestation, and isolated parts of the city are just some of the things that can make an adventure difficult, but very memorable.

Treatment of contagion

Dungeons & Dragons image showing a human droid giving less regeneration to an ally.
Credit: Martin Mott.

How to treat any disease It depends on the individual effectsbut it doesn't have to be anything too complicated. think What your spread revolves around And how do you usually treat it? You can also have some Special artifact as an immediate solution which the party must find.

Visual decayan example of contagion in Dungeon Master's Guide 2024, can be Cured by spells that remove the blind conditionwhile the rest can be rested.

It is important for that Your infection is treatable And it's not a permanent condition that your players have to learn to live with.

Effects of magical contagions

A dungeons and dragons image showing a wizard.
Art via Wizards of the Coast

Based on the examples in the Dungeon Master 2024 Guide, contagions can range from One to three destructive effects This speaks of the severity of the contagion Make players more careful When dealing with dirty sewers or rabid enemies.

exhaustion

A Dungeons and Dragons image featuring three adventurers in Traverin Pandemonium.
Art by Chris Rallis

Fatigue is used in some examples of magical contagion A way to show fever and fatigue High fever is often present in many diseases and viruses that plague the world, so be aware The best way to show it It can help you determine the more interesting effects of whatever you have in mind.

Adverse effects can be fatigue Punishment alone is enoughHowever, this is why the sewer plague magical contagion doesn't add any other adversities other than getting rid of hard fatigue.

conditions created

A Dungeons & Dragons illustration featuring a timid ranger and a brave wizard.
Henry by Clint Searly

All Sight Rot does is give the player A “permanent” version of blind statusit simplifies the creation of various infections based on other conditions. Not all of them fit well In the form of contagion, but they can provide excellent jumping off points to create what you want.

The contagion it gives Disability status Only allows one character Use their movement speedseverely limits their action in the game. Currently, a spread based poisoned state It's not complicated enough, but you can add some luck to it Prone to falling and vomiting Whenever the affected character is attacked.

Positive effects

Dungeons and Dragons illustration showing a barbarian receiving a blessing or spell from a unicorn.
Art by Axel Dafoy

Magical contagions It is not supposed to have positive effectsbut they make an interesting deal, like There was a rush after the spell ended. Positive points It should not be more than negativeOtherwise, however, players may want to stay sick forever.

Examples of this can be A contagion that causes strange muscle growthgiving a plus one to strength checks but Halve the character's speed Or in another case, it can be the contagion that gives personality A wear level but Allows them to talk to plants Because they feel they are delusional.

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