Stress Tracker

Fear and Stress

Terror takes a toll. The ramifications of frightful experiences might be an instant of instinct-triggering shock or a lasting, traumatic echo. 

A Hero starts with positive stress points equal to their Wisdom modifier.  Consult the following table to determine penalties for various stress levels after the Wisdom points are exhausted.

Effects of Stress:

Tired (1 Stress Point): the hero subtract two (-2) from future stress checks.

Stressed (2 Stress Points): The effects of 1 point continue, plus the hero must roll 1d8 at each short rest to determine a personality affect. Consult the Personal Stress table below.

Very Stressed (3 points) The effects of 1 & 2 points continue, plus the hero has a disadvantage on all charisma-based checks and all the above penalties. When surprised, this hero is affected for two rounds instead of one.

Extremely Stressed (4 Stress Points) this hero has a disadvantage on all ability checks and all the above penalties. this hero must make a Wisdom save each night to see if they can relax enough to remove a stress point.

Drained (5 Stress Points) All of the above effects, plus the hero suffers one level of exhaustion 

Post Traumatic Stress (6 or more Stress Points): The hero can remove the level of exhaustion but all of the other effects stay in effect.  See PTSD removal below.

Personal Stress Table

1. The hero has dissociated and are imposed disadvantage on all Dexterity based skill checks and saving throws.
2. The hero has depersonalized and are imposed disadvantage on all Charisma based skill checks and saving throws.
3. The hero has derealized and are imposed disadvantage on all Wisdom based skill checks and saving throws.
4. The hero has cognitive impairment and are imposed disadvantage on all Intelligence based skill checks and saving throws.
5. The hero has adrenalized and is awarded an increased movement speed of an additional ten feet, but difficult terrain cost double the normal amount. If the hero has a flying or swimming speed the increase applies.
6-8. No positive or negative effects.

Removing Stress Points: 

Heroes may reduce their stress levels by partaking in stress-relief or self-care activities that allow them to make a second wisdom-saving throw attempt to lower their stress levels. These rolls can be done without the risk of incurring further stress.

• A roll of 11-15: reduces by one point and a 16-20 reduces two points.
• Calm emotions (a 2nd-level spell) suppresses all effects of a character’s stress score for the duration.
• Lesser Restoration (A 2nd-level spell) removes one level of stress. 
• Greater restoration or Heal resets a character’s stress score to 0.
• A hero can 'unload his burdens' on another character.  This reduces the first character's stress level by one point but the second character's stress level increases by one.
• PTSD is very difficult to overcome.  A character needs to complete at least seven consecutive long rests in a safe place (town or base camp) to begin reducing their stress level as above or this disability can be overcome with the assistance of a cleric's Heal spell or some form of a wish spell.  The character gains a phobia.  Choose one of the following:

Seeds of Fear (Phobias)