The Technicolor Tactical Rainbow.

I'm a bit under the weather today. So i have spent a good bit of time sleeping.

When i haven't been sleeping, i have been thinking about D&D. Because that is a perfectly normal thing to do when one is ill. Since i was currently attempting to make a savings throw. I might as well take a moment and better appreciate the experience, so that when i next visit this sort of thing on a PC i can hope to do it justice.

Let's talk for a moment about the nature of dungeons. They are traditionally kept clean by a random assortment of jellies, cubes and looters. None of those things leave behind anything that could be thought of as a disinfected space. Thus being one of the leading causes of dungeon belly.

Dungeon Belly is a common occurrence upon first opening a door to a dungeon that has been closed for a very long time. As a gamer who recently quit smoking. The effect of walking in to certain spaces can be memorable. So, entering a dungeon can be quite the assault on the senses. Each individual will react differently. But there is no getting around that first puff of 40 years of dead goblins and gold smell that first waifs out the door. While the effect of the smell will diminish with time. That first blast of stench should make man or animal react.

Simple savings throws can be made, because i am a jerk and because i have thrown up in the company of my fellows before. A second set should be made there after, just to see who let loose just because someone else did. Those that fail should be racked with retching for a few rounds. While they are not truly immobile. Everything attempted should be at a very stiff penalty.

That being said. A PC can still do a great deal while projectile vomiting. That may sound strange to many. But, if you don't care what kind of mess you are making. You can still run, climb or fight. Just not well. As a DM i would put all actions at a -4. If a PC tries to cast a spell that require Verbal or Somatic components the modifier should be -6 or higher. It is really hard to speak clearly when iron rations keep repeating on you. As for Somatic motions, simply imagine carrying off a flawless dance routine while spewing beef stew.

Each individual is going to react differently. It is not uncommon for certain people to completely come to a stop when being sick. They simply double over and retch. Nothing else can be done by those folks as the world narrows till it's just cheese and wine running the wrong way.

All things told. Dungeons are gross places and your PCs are just people. They are going to run into some rather vile things along the way. Some potions are going to tastes magically bad. A room that has been a fart box to a family of rust monsters. If you are looking for more ideas simply ask a 14 year old boy. He'll have a list of one million things you might step in while exploring a dungeon.

And many of them will make you wretch.

So, gentle reader, don't forget to pass the pleasure of your last flu or hangover onto your players. While it may not make them happy. It will make them think of their characters as people. That makes for better players.

As for me. I'll just keep answering the big porcelain phone.