### What’s good about diseases?

In the real world, nothing. But in the fictional world, they’re good for several reasons.

Long term injuries force a new perspective on the character, who now needs to overcome a difficulty. It's also an unusual type of “damage”, that’s rarely used.

### Levels of afflictions (3:48)

Three levels of afflictions: Until the end of the scene, until the end of the adventure, until you take care of it (if possible)

[Tomb of Annihilation](https://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop-games/rpg-products/tomb-annihilation)

### Disease as another resource drainer (5:30)

You now have to spend another X amount of resources to solve this/keep this in check.

### Disease as a timer (10:20)

There is a cure, but the disease will break out in X amount of time. Get the cure or die.

### Disease as an adventure hook (12:10)

You have caught a disease and need to find the blue flower of Flowerinium to get well. The town of Plantsville is plague by the illness of Suddenus-Diamus-No-Plotus and the party need to save the day.

### Disease as a railroading tool (14:22)

“You can’t go to Uncharted-ville, the city is riddled with a plague”.

[Subtle railroading](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/3686b9a8d8a11c/)

### Illness that changes the character (17:12)

Your experience as an ill person forces you to reflect upon your personality.

[How Uri plays consistent characters](https://dwarves.podiant.co/How-Uri-Plays-Consistent-Chars/)

### Diseases that change you forever (20:08)

You now have a low Constitution score and a persistent caught. You now have Lycanthropy. You are now a half-fungus humanoid.

[Player motivations](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/365abc29b5e3c2/)

### Tips on using diseases (26:22)

Have a balance. If you take something (left hand), give something (drama potential)

Escalate the situation slowly

Examples of diseases from the [Pathfinder SRD](

https://www.d20pfsrd.com/gamemastering/afflictions/diseases/), and from [reality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lists_of_diseases).

### What ARE diseases, in your world? (29:06)

[Warhammer Fantasy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhammer_Fantasy_Roleplay)

[Ars Magica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ars_Magica)

### Non-physical afflictions (31:40)

[Non-combat conflicts](https://dwarves.podiant.co/e/369746eafbd670/)

### Taking the load off (35:30)

Eran: [Thornwatch](https://store.penny-arcade.com/products/thornwatch-eyrewood-adventures)

Uri: [Fate universe](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Franchise/Nasuverse).

-----

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