Y'all wanted this for some reason. I was joking. But here we are.
Stress levels go from 0 (no stress) to 10 (Tiamat just appeared and the world is ending stress)
You will start to experience effects from stress at stress level 1. From there the effects will increase at level 3, level 5, level 7, and level 10.
It will be a mental stat save (Charisma, Wisdom, or Intelligence) base DC 10 in order to resist gaining a level of stress. If you roll a Natural 1 you automatically jump to the next stress checkpoint. If you roll a Natural 20 you drop to the prior stress checkpoint. You can feel free to let me know if you think a situation would warrant your character making a stress level check, otherwise I will call for one at a time I feel is appropriate for your character. Times that will always require a stress save will be - Your character receiving a critical hit from an enemy, Your character dropping to 0 hit points, (more to be determined)
In order to remove stress levels, there are a variety of methods. Using Calm Emotions will temporarily suppress the effects of Stress Levels. A casting of Lesser Restoration will remove 2 stress levels from your character. Greater Restoration will remove 5. Depending on the source of the Stress Level a Remove Curse or Dispel Evil spell might also be effective. Taking a long rest will remove 1 stress level, as will spending 8 hours of downtime relaxing and recovering. Time spent at special facilities like fancy bath houses can possibly remove more.
- At Stress Level 1 you become more easily influenced. You subtract a [roll]1d4[/roll] from any save made against frightened or charmed. This does not effect those who are immune and applies after either advantage or disadvantage is taken.
- At Stress Level 3 your character begins to experience paranoia. They see things moving in the shadows just out of sight, hear voices whispering to them when they sleep but cannot remember the words. You have disadvantage against frightened or charmed and this effect overcomes normal immunity.
- At Stress Level 5 your character suffers a -5 penalty to mental saving throws (Wisdom, Intelligence, Charisma).
- At Stress Level 7 gain one of the following debuffs until stress is reduced one checkpoint (choose one)
- Distracted - AC reduced by 2.
- Headaches - Proficiency bonus not added to ability checks or saving throws.
- Madness - Roll on the Madness table. This effect lasts for 10 minutes, after which you drop 1 stress level
- Dread - Always place last on initiative order.
- At Stress Level 10 your character descends into insanity. Roll a [roll]1d100[/roll].
Madness Table
| 01–20 | The character retreats into his or her mind and becomes Paralyzed. The Effect ends if the character takes any damage. |
| 21–30 | The character becomes Incapacitated and spends the Duration screaming, laughing, or weeping. |
| 31–40 | The character becomes Frightened and must use his or her Action and Movement each round to flee from the source of the fear. |
| 41–50 | The character begins babbling and is incapable of normal Speech or Spellcasting. |
| 51–60 | The character must use his or her Action each round to Attack the nearest creature. |
| 61–70 | The character experiences vivid hallucinations and has disadvantage on Ability Checks. |
| 71–75 | The character does whatever anyone tells him or her to do that isn’t obviously self- destructive. |
| 76–80 | The character experiences an overpowering urge to eat something strange such as dirt, slime, or offal. |
| 81–90 | The character is Stunned. |
| 91–100 | The character falls Unconscious. |
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