I'm thinking of a creature that's normally covered by illusions but you see its true form Dreadful Truths are revealed, likely resulting in something like insanity. I'm not sure what mechanics for an ability like that should be, though. Any suggestions?
For something like this I would draw on the idea of aversions (you can't do X) and compulsions (you must do X). You can build a pretty easy twofold table using six to ten circumstances (eg, "while the sun is up", "when you are in the presence of magical fire", "five times a day at evenly spaced intervals") and six to ten compulsions or aversions (eg, "you must only use sentences with a prime number of words", "you are unable to move diagonally", "you must pour a cup of clean water on the ground"). Then just have your players roll two dice, one for each table, to generate a unique madness. My examples lean towards the silly because I tend not to like when games take "madness" too seriously, but you could make the conditions more debilitating if you wanted.
I'm sure there is already a unique demonic creature with this exact ability. She was from a species of creature that was around before the Abyss even existed.
She appeared as a female figure with a veil across her face. The veil was actually due to the universe itself hiding her true form as it was anathema to the current reality. But as an action she could temporarily lift it, revealing her true form and causing bad things to happen to anyone who saw it.
Unfortunately, can't remember the creature's name! Anyone else remember?
I'm sure there is already a unique demonic creature with this exact ability. She was from a species of creature that was around before the Abyss even existed.
She appeared as a female figure with a veil across her face. The veil was actually due to the universe itself hiding her true form as it was anathema to the current reality. But as an action she could temporarily lift it, revealing her true form and causing bad things to happen to anyone who saw it.
Unfortunately, can't remember the creature's name! Anyone else remember?
I second the use of the Madness tables for something like this. Maybe they get Long Term Madness from a single encounter and multiple encounters could lead to Indefinite Madness.
I'm sure there is already a unique demonic creature with this exact ability. She was from a species of creature that was around before the Abyss even existed.
She appeared as a female figure with a veil across her face. The veil was actually due to the universe itself hiding her true form as it was anathema to the current reality. But as an action she could temporarily lift it, revealing her true form and causing bad things to happen to anyone who saw it.
Unfortunately, can't remember the creature's name! Anyone else remember?
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
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I'm thinking of a creature that's normally covered by illusions but you see its true form Dreadful Truths are revealed, likely resulting in something like insanity. I'm not sure what mechanics for an ability like that should be, though. Any suggestions?
Are you talking about seeing through illusions and how to do that, or the consequences that you want ideas for?
About the consequences. I know of several ways of seeing through illusions and if the PCs come up with more, that's not an issue.
For something like this I would draw on the idea of aversions (you can't do X) and compulsions (you must do X). You can build a pretty easy twofold table using six to ten circumstances (eg, "while the sun is up", "when you are in the presence of magical fire", "five times a day at evenly spaced intervals") and six to ten compulsions or aversions (eg, "you must only use sentences with a prime number of words", "you are unable to move diagonally", "you must pour a cup of clean water on the ground"). Then just have your players roll two dice, one for each table, to generate a unique madness. My examples lean towards the silly because I tend not to like when games take "madness" too seriously, but you could make the conditions more debilitating if you wanted.
If you want it simple, you could use the new exhaustion penalties. Just minuses to everything would be easy to remember and meaningful.
Or you could give other effects, like blinded would make sense. Or frightened. Or use a random beholder eye ray to give some effect.
I'm sure there is already a unique demonic creature with this exact ability. She was from a species of creature that was around before the Abyss even existed.
She appeared as a female figure with a veil across her face. The veil was actually due to the universe itself hiding her true form as it was anathema to the current reality. But as an action she could temporarily lift it, revealing her true form and causing bad things to happen to anyone who saw it.
Unfortunately, can't remember the creature's name! Anyone else remember?
An actual suggestion to your own question: the DMG does have some optional madness rules: https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/dnd/basic-rules-2014/running-the-game#GoingMad. Or you could use the effects of the Confusion spell and narratively dress it up as a form of insanity.
I second the use of the Madness tables for something like this. Maybe they get Long Term Madness from a single encounter and multiple encounters could lead to Indefinite Madness.
name of Pale Night.
Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!