So, 'Black Lotus' has been a sneaky drug reference in a number of books and games to a drug in DnD for some time, and since I am trying to put some gritty realism into my module, and since I think that it could create some very interesting role playing experieces, I have decided to put different types of 'Lotus' into my world. This is just a preliminary idea. I would love to know how people think the 'dependence' mechanism should work, other ways of handling side effects, or other ideas for different lotus effects/ disadvantages.
NOTE: I know this isn't going to be a perfectly realistic representation of drugs, their effects, and their risks. The risks and side effects are to balance the powers of the drugs and to add to the fact that Hey, you don't always know what you are getting.
Background for players
‘Lotus’ has become the thieves cant nickname for the various drugs used in this world, based on the famous Black Lotus flower. Although they may not all be actual Lotuses, they are all potent. They can all have powerful effects in battle, and usually cheaper than normal potions. However, they can also have dangerous side effects.
Dependance
When each lotus potion/preparation is consumed, the consumer must make a Constitution save or get 1 dependance point of that colour. For each dependance point the character loses 1 charisma and 1 wisdom point. Each Lotus has a different Dependency DC, depending on how addictive it is.
Each type/colour of Lotus has their own separate dependence points. A character can be gaining or losing dependence on difference types of Lotus at the same time.
A greater restoration spell, or 1 full week without that kind of lotus, can remove 1 dependence point of that colour. (3 dependence points requires 3 weeks, or 3 spells.)
Edit: Taking Lotus of a kind that you are dependant on will remove any penalties to Charisma and Wisdom you have from that particular Lotus Dependence, until your next long rest.
Purity and Effect.
Each lotus has an Exhaustion die to show how many exhaustion points are received at the end of the duration.
Whenever any lotus is taken, roll a 'Purity' percentile dice. (Round down).
A successful nature check / or Alchemists Toolls Skill Check (DC = 15+1d4) will allow you to roll this dice before the Lotus is taken, and know the purity to a 95% accuracy. (1-5% roll again). A critical success tells you the purity with 100%percent accuracy.
1-10%: Half Duration, Double Exhaustion
10-20%: Half Duration, Normal Exhaustion.
20-30%: Half Duration, Half Exhaustion.
31-40%: Normal Duration, Double Exhaustion.
41-60%: Normal Duration, Normal Exhaustion.
61-80%: Normal Duration, Half Exhaustion.
81-90%: Double Duration. Normal Exhaustion.
91-100%: Double Duration, Half Exhaustion
Types of Lotus Black Lotus, "Dead Man Walking" Highly Addictive. Con DC 20 Cost: 2d20+20 GP Exhaustion: 1d4 Duration: 10 minutes
Max/Current HP goes up by 1d20+10. Strength +3 Character is immune to fear, charm or paralysis. Resistance to Bludgeoning and Piercing and Slashing Damage.
Disadvantage: Cannot speak.
White Lotus, "The Rogue's Rush." Highly Addictive. Con DC 20 Cost: 1d20+20 Exhaustion: 1d4 Duration: 10 Minutes
Dexterity +3. Character is immune to fear, charm or paralysis. Has Improved Haste.
Disadvantage: Speaks too fast (Perception DC 15 to understand)
Red Lotus, "The Minotaur Matador" Moderately Addictive. Con DC 15. Cost: 1d20+10 Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 10 Minutes
+2 Strength, Character goes into a 'Rage', until the durations end. Orange Lotus, "Assassins Snuff" Moderately Addictive. Con DC 15. Cost: 1d20+10 Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 60 Minutes
+2 Dexterity, Character gets advantage on Stealth, Perception and Investigation checks.
Yellow Lotus - "The Clerics Confession." Moderately Addictive. Con DC 15. Cost: 1d20+10 Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 60 Minutes
+2 Wisdom, Character get's 5 spell slots to spend*, and can choose from any spell they know, even if they haven't been memorised.
*One level 5 spell, or five level 1 spells, or any such a combination.
Green Lotus, 'The Flirting Fae' Mildly Addictive. Con DC 10 Cost: 1d10+5 GP Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 180 Minutes
+2 Charisma. Character is Immune to Charm, and gets Advantage on all Persuasion and Deception rolls.
Blue Lotus 'The Devil's Danceshoes' Mildly Addictive. Con DC: 10 Cost 1d10+8 GP Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 90 Minutes
Character is immune to paralysis, slow, grapple, or any restriction on their movement. Purple Lotus, 'The Druids Mushroom' Mildly Addictive. Con DC: 10 Cost 1d10+4 GP Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 180 Minutes
+2 Wisdom, Advantage on all Insight and Nature checks.
Violet Lotus, 'The Apprentice's Magician." Mildly Addictive: Con DC: 10 Cost: 1d10 +4 GP Exhaustion: 1d2 Duration: 180 Minutes
+2 Intelligence, Character has haste, and may re-memorise spells as if they had had a long rest.
I realised that there isn't much reason for a player to keep taking the drugs/ no mechanism to make 'dependence' actually dependent.To get around this, I have changed it so that taking lotus of a kind that you are dependent on removes any 'dependency' penalties to Charisma and Wisdom for the rest of the day.
My main question is whether the drugs should all have another small disadvantage (Like Black and White lotus do), or is the Exhaustion system disadvantage enough?
Actually dependence is the damage temporary and permanent you take when coming down off the drug.
In my Campaign there are versions of "Spiced Black Lotus", the assassin guild uses to gain official royal or imperial recognition for the "ratcatchers guild".
When On "Spiced Black Lotus"; taking the wrong "recipe" is almost always lethal, and coming off these versions is also very lethal.
Takers gain a save bonus to most weapon usable poisons, and a bonus to taste, smell and visual perception smell to the point of 10' radius smell based blindsight.
All useful to the guards of the Sovereign.. who is the only one who knows what recipe the counter assassins take.
This is great! I would also encourage you if you have $25 dollars to spare, to check out the Grim Hollow Campaign Guide. I just purchased their PDF and they have 3 different drugs that they introduce; complete with (what I think is) a really simple mechanic for developing addiction, what it would take to overcome said addiction, as well as what penalty you pay if you don't "get your fix" while addicted.
Obviously drug use is a major issue in our world and is never something to make light of, but I do think that for those of us who are interested in adding "gritty realism" or a darker spin on our games, they can be a very interesting component to implement.
Also, they have some interesting Diseases that they introduce and a whole section on Curses that are really fun to read through as well.
You should take a look at any non-D&D fruits and mushrooms books, just to spot how many ""mushrooms" are considered poisonous, or with at least 1 drug-ish effect inside them. In Spain, it exist 2 different mushroms, considered "non-edible" but, their taste is literally like the chili pepper.
You should take a look at any non-D&D fruits and mushrooms books, just to spot how many ""mushrooms" are considered poisonous, or with at least 1 drug-ish effect inside them. In Spain, it exist 2 different mushroms, considered "non-edible" but, their taste is literally like the chili pepper.
Inedible doesn’t necessarily mean “poisonous.” Inedible just means you cannot eat it. Many mushrooms are considered inedible for texture reasons as an example, since they are so fibrous it would be like trying to chew firewood.
I try to keep rules for items like this simple, but fun.
So for 'White Lotus' I'd go with something like:
White Lotus, "The Rogue's Rush." Duration: 15 minutes While under the effects of White Lotus you have disadvantage on Persuasion checks, but ignore all Exhaustion until the effect ends.
This keeps it simple, easy to track, and gives it a kind of combat potency.
Question. I am planning on using this for a one shot based off Polyphemus's story with the lotus Eaters. "The odyssey"
What if the dependent points are taken one from each skill?
For example, if you're using a lotus to gain dex, after the duration it takes off a point from the Dex, or if you use it for strength, a point off from strength, (perhaps after the second or third time of usage)?
I'm reading through the comments, and that's what came to my mind. 🤔
Reason for creating
So, 'Black Lotus' has been a sneaky drug reference in a number of books and games to a drug in DnD for some time, and since I am trying to put some gritty realism into my module, and since I think that it could create some very interesting role playing experieces, I have decided to put different types of 'Lotus' into my world. This is just a preliminary idea. I would love to know how people think the 'dependence' mechanism should work, other ways of handling side effects, or other ideas for different lotus effects/ disadvantages.
NOTE: I know this isn't going to be a perfectly realistic representation of drugs, their effects, and their risks. The risks and side effects are to balance the powers of the drugs and to add to the fact that Hey, you don't always know what you are getting.
Background for players
‘Lotus’ has become the thieves cant nickname for the various drugs used in this world, based on the famous Black Lotus flower. Although they may not all be actual Lotuses, they are all potent. They can all have powerful effects in battle, and usually cheaper than normal potions. However, they can also have dangerous side effects.
Dependance
When each lotus potion/preparation is consumed, the consumer must make a Constitution save or get 1 dependance point of that colour. For each dependance point the character loses 1 charisma and 1 wisdom point. Each Lotus has a different Dependency DC, depending on how addictive it is.
Each type/colour of Lotus has their own separate dependence points. A character can be gaining or losing dependence on difference types of Lotus at the same time.
A greater restoration spell, or 1 full week without that kind of lotus, can remove 1 dependence point of that colour. (3 dependence points requires 3 weeks, or 3 spells.)
Edit: Taking Lotus of a kind that you are dependant on will remove any penalties to Charisma and Wisdom you have from that particular Lotus Dependence, until your next long rest.
Purity and Effect.
Each lotus has an Exhaustion die to show how many exhaustion points are received at the end of the duration.
Whenever any lotus is taken, roll a 'Purity' percentile dice. (Round down).
A successful nature check / or Alchemists Toolls Skill Check (DC = 15+1d4) will allow you to roll this dice before the Lotus is taken, and know the purity to a 95% accuracy. (1-5% roll again). A critical success tells you the purity with 100%percent accuracy.
1-10%: Half Duration, Double Exhaustion
10-20%: Half Duration, Normal Exhaustion.
20-30%: Half Duration, Half Exhaustion.
31-40%: Normal Duration, Double Exhaustion.
41-60%: Normal Duration, Normal Exhaustion.
61-80%: Normal Duration, Half Exhaustion.
81-90%: Double Duration. Normal Exhaustion.
91-100%: Double Duration, Half Exhaustion
Types of Lotus
Black Lotus, "Dead Man Walking"
Highly Addictive. Con DC 20
Cost: 2d20+20 GP
Exhaustion: 1d4
Duration: 10 minutes
Max/Current HP goes up by 1d20+10. Strength +3 Character is immune to fear, charm or paralysis. Resistance to Bludgeoning and Piercing and Slashing Damage.
Disadvantage: Cannot speak.
White Lotus, "The Rogue's Rush."
Highly Addictive. Con DC 20
Cost: 1d20+20
Exhaustion: 1d4
Duration: 10 Minutes
Dexterity +3. Character is immune to fear, charm or paralysis. Has Improved Haste.
Disadvantage: Speaks too fast (Perception DC 15 to understand)
Red Lotus, "The Minotaur Matador"
Moderately Addictive. Con DC 15.
Cost: 1d20+10
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 10 Minutes
+2 Strength, Character goes into a 'Rage', until the durations end.
Orange Lotus, "Assassins Snuff"
Moderately Addictive. Con DC 15.
Cost: 1d20+10
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 60 Minutes
+2 Dexterity, Character gets advantage on Stealth, Perception and Investigation checks.
Yellow Lotus - "The Clerics Confession."
Moderately Addictive. Con DC 15.
Cost: 1d20+10
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 60 Minutes
+2 Wisdom, Character get's 5 spell slots to spend*, and can choose from any spell they know, even if they haven't been memorised.
*One level 5 spell, or five level 1 spells, or any such a combination.
Green Lotus, 'The Flirting Fae'
Mildly Addictive. Con DC 10
Cost: 1d10+5 GP
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 180 Minutes
+2 Charisma. Character is Immune to Charm, and gets Advantage on all Persuasion and Deception rolls.
Blue Lotus 'The Devil's Danceshoes'
Mildly Addictive. Con DC: 10
Cost 1d10+8 GP
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 90 Minutes
Character is immune to paralysis, slow, grapple, or any restriction on their movement.
Purple Lotus, 'The Druids Mushroom'
Mildly Addictive. Con DC: 10
Cost 1d10+4 GP
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 180 Minutes
+2 Wisdom, Advantage on all Insight and Nature checks.
Violet Lotus, 'The Apprentice's Magician."
Mildly Addictive: Con DC: 10
Cost: 1d10 +4 GP
Exhaustion: 1d2
Duration: 180 Minutes
+2 Intelligence, Character has haste, and may re-memorise spells as if they had had a long rest.
.
Edit:
I realised that there isn't much reason for a player to keep taking the drugs/ no mechanism to make 'dependence' actually dependent.To get around this, I have changed it so that taking lotus of a kind that you are dependent on removes any 'dependency' penalties to Charisma and Wisdom for the rest of the day.
My main question is whether the drugs should all have another small disadvantage (Like Black and White lotus do), or is the Exhaustion system disadvantage enough?
This is great, I'll be using some of this for an arc in my campaign, thanks! I think the exhaustion is penalty enough :)
Actually dependence is the damage temporary and permanent you take when coming down off the drug.
In my Campaign there are versions of "Spiced Black Lotus", the assassin guild uses to gain official royal or imperial recognition for the "ratcatchers guild".
When On "Spiced Black Lotus"; taking the wrong "recipe" is almost always lethal, and coming off these versions is also very lethal.
Takers gain a save bonus to most weapon usable poisons, and a bonus to taste, smell and visual perception smell to the point of 10' radius smell based blindsight.
All useful to the guards of the Sovereign.. who is the only one who knows what recipe the counter assassins take.
Itinerant Deputy Shire-reave Tomas Burrfoot - world walker, Raft-captain, speaker to his dead
Toddy Shelfungus- Rider of the Order of Ill Luck, Speaker to Friends of Friends, and Horribly big nosed
Jarl Archi of Jenisis Glade Fee- Noble Knight of the Dragonborn Goldcrest Clan, Sorcerer of the Noble Investigator;y; Knightly order of the Wolfhound
Do you have any prices for this stuff so I could make a vendor for it
if so can you get back to me on discord
Peetoom5#3116
This is great because one of the other players in my group is a hippie druid drugdealer
This is great! I would also encourage you if you have $25 dollars to spare, to check out the Grim Hollow Campaign Guide. I just purchased their PDF and they have 3 different drugs that they introduce; complete with (what I think is) a really simple mechanic for developing addiction, what it would take to overcome said addiction, as well as what penalty you pay if you don't "get your fix" while addicted.
Obviously drug use is a major issue in our world and is never something to make light of, but I do think that for those of us who are interested in adding "gritty realism" or a darker spin on our games, they can be a very interesting component to implement.
Also, they have some interesting Diseases that they introduce and a whole section on Curses that are really fun to read through as well.
question, What would happen if someone where to take multiple doses of the same lotus at once?
You should take a look at any non-D&D fruits and mushrooms books, just to spot how many ""mushrooms" are considered poisonous, or with at least 1 drug-ish effect inside them. In Spain, it exist 2 different mushroms, considered "non-edible" but, their taste is literally like the chili pepper.
My Ready-to-rock&roll chars:
Dertinus Tristany // Amilcar Barca // Vicenç Sacrarius // Oriol Deulofeu // Grovtuk
Inedible doesn’t necessarily mean “poisonous.” Inedible just means you cannot eat it. Many mushrooms are considered inedible for texture reasons as an example, since they are so fibrous it would be like trying to chew firewood.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I try to keep rules for items like this simple, but fun.
So for 'White Lotus' I'd go with something like:
White Lotus, "The Rogue's Rush."
Duration: 15 minutes
While under the effects of White Lotus you have disadvantage on Persuasion checks, but ignore all Exhaustion until the effect ends.
This keeps it simple, easy to track, and gives it a kind of combat potency.
Question. I am planning on using this for a one shot based off Polyphemus's story with the lotus Eaters. "The odyssey"
What if the dependent points are taken one from each skill?
For example, if you're using a lotus to gain dex, after the duration it takes off a point from the Dex, or if you use it for strength, a point off from strength, (perhaps after the second or third time of usage)?
I'm reading through the comments, and that's what came to my mind. 🤔