Symptoms:
Blackened veins subtly visible under the skin.
Occasional fatigue or mild discomfort.
Itchiness or a dull ache at the site of infection.
Pros:
Heightened Awareness:
Infected players gain a slight edge in perceiving corrupted or magical phenomena (e.g., advantage on Arcana or Perception checks related to blight-afflicted areas or creatures).
Resistance to Disease:
The infection boosts resistance to natural diseases or poisons, as the body adapts to combat the foreign magic.
Shadow Affinity:
Players find it easier to hide or blend into darkness, as their appearance begins to dull and merge with shadowy environments (advantage on Stealth in dim light/darkness).
Cons:
Exhaustion Risk:
Players must make a Constitution saving throw after strenuous activity (e.g., combat or travel) to avoid gaining one level of exhaustion.
Magic Disruption:
Casting spells feels slightly "off," requiring a minor concentration check (DC 10) for spells with a duration longer than 1 round.
Distrust:
Observant NPCs may notice subtle signs of the infection, resulting in lowered attitudes or outright suspicion.
Symptoms:
Veins darken further, spreading visibly across the body.
Skin becomes pallid or discolored (ashen gray or greenish tones).
Intense fatigue, muscle spasms, and occasional lapses in focus.
Pros:
Blighted Strength:
+1 to Strength or Dexterity-based attack rolls as well as +1 DMG for Spell Saving DCs / To Hits if it is a damage type spell
Dark Vision:
Players gain the ability to see in darkness up to 30 feet, even if they lack it normally.
Fear Aura:
Hostile creatures may hesitate or react with fear when approaching the infected (DC 12 Wisdom saving throw to avoid being frightened for one round).
Cons:
Ability Score Reduction:
Players lose 1 point in Constitution (permanent until cured).
Disadvantage on Charisma-based skill checks due to unnerving appearance.
standard 5% wild surge for casters and a temporary 5% chance for a "reckless attack" for fighters, after taking damage
Chaotic Magic:
Casting a spell has a 5% chance of producing a wild magic surge or causing minor harm to the caster (e.g., psychic damage equal to spell level).
Infection Spread:
Close allies and NPCs in prolonged proximity must make a Constitution saving throw (DC 13) to avoid infection.
Vulnerability to Radiant Damage:
The infection's corruption makes the player more susceptible to radiant energy (+1d4 damage from radiant sources).
Symptoms:
Veins and skin are almost entirely blackened or mottled with strange, glowing sigils.
Constant pain, hallucinations, and compulsions to protect or spread the blight.
The character's mind begins to slip, teetering on the edge of madness.
Pros:
Enhanced Physical Abilities:
+2 to Strength and Dexterity temporarily in combat.
Increased movement speed (+10 feet).
Blight Magic:
Players can unleash blight-fueled abilities, such as:
Blighted Strike: A melee attack deals an additional 2d6 necrotic damage.
Tainted Aura: Hostile creatures within 10 feet take 1d6 necrotic damage at the start of their turn.
Immune to Fear or Poison:
The character's corrupted form no longer feels fear and is immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.
Cons:
Permanent Madness:
The character must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 15) at the start of every day or develop a permanent short-term madness effect (e.g., paranoia, hallucinations).
Player Control Loss:
In moments of high stress (combat or significant emotional events), the DM may take temporary control of the character to represent the blight’s influence.
Hostility from NPCs:
The character is visibly a blighted creature, causing NPCs to react with extreme prejudice or fear.
Life Drain:
Every long rest, the character loses 1 hit point permanently unless they consume a source of life energy (e.g., draining HP from a living creature).
At this point, the player is entirely corrupted by the blight and becomes a monster or servant of the blight, losing their free will and becoming an NPC controlled by the DM.
Pros (Before Transformation):
Near-immortality and unmatched power in combat, with access to legendary-like abilities.
Temporary immunity to death from critical hits or massive damage.
Cons (Before Transformation):
Total rejection by all living creatures and divine entities.
Complete loss of control as the character becomes a part of the blight's hive mind.